JACKSON, MI – If Jackson County's sheriff and prosecutor ignore enforcing any future gun laws they find unconstitutional, they'll have the blessing of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

The board voted 6-2 Tuesday to become a 2nd Amendment refuge county – better known as a “sanctuary county.” The wording was changed, because of the negative connotation associated with the phrase “sanctuary cities,” county officials said.

More than 100 people packed the Feb. 18 county board meeting. While the majority of the crowd supported the resolution, 15 of the 32 people speaking to the board were against it.

The resolution states the prosecutor and sheriff can use “sound discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law.” Counties around the state are considering similar resolutions.

The vote was split along party lines – with Democrats Daniel Mahoney and Darius Williams voting no and all Republicans voting yes.

Republicans are worried Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is going to push for red flag laws in Michigan, like those recently passed in Virginia, Board Chairman James “Steve” Shotwell Jr. said.

“Governor said she’s going to," Shotwell said. "Very clear, the governor opened her mouth and said yes. If she’d have been silent, it’d have been a different matter.”

A trio of tense moments highlighted the night.

Commenter calls group 'white supremacists'

Public comment lasted more than an hour. Many comments were emotionally and politically charged from the split crowd.

Gun control advocate Kim Cwynar said she was dismayed to see a group of men in Proud Boys jackets, saying they’re a known white supremacist group – a label they took issue with.

"They are a hate group," Cwynar said. "They are white supremacists."

Shotwell scolded commenters multiple times to direct their thoughts to the board, instead of to the audience. He also called out interrupting jeers from the crowd.

All comments from gun rights supporters were met with a hearty applause.

“I should not have to have sanctuary to exercise my constitutional rights,” resident Michael Swope said. “Those rights are mine, by virtue of my birth and protected by the constitution of this nation.”

Democratic commissioner shut down from 'editorializing'

Once public comment ended and commissioner discussion started, Republican Commissioner David Elwell shared his opinion on the resolution.

“I think most people recognize that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens doesn’t make anyone safer,” Elwell said, adding that this sends a message to the legislature.

When Mahoney began sharing his thoughts, Shotwell cut him off.

"You cannot editorialize at this time," Shotwell said.

Mahoney called for a point of order, and the board voted 5-3 against allowing Mahoney to give his opinion. Commissioner Corey Kennedy was the only Republican to vote in favor of letting Mahoney speak.

"I thought that after there is a motion and a second, that we go into discussion," Mahoney said. "That didn't happen, today. I'm pretty disappointed about that."

Republican Commissioner Phil Duckham was later cut off by Shotwell for editorializing, as well.

"I wanted to keep it on track," Shotwell said after the meeting. "I didn't want this audience stirred up."

After the vote, commissioners get chance to speak

Before the meeting adjourned, commissioners had an opportunity to share their thoughts on the resolution.

"I'll be damned if any law would take something away from someone to defend their family," Kennedy said. "Never. Not in this county."

Mahoney, a gun owner who recently applied for a CPL, said he's "vehemently against" this resolution, even though he supports the Second Amendment.

“We’re giving the OK for the Jackson County sheriff and the prosecuting attorney to exercise their sound discretion – which isn’t always so sound, and we saw that,” Mahoney said. “You can Google our current sheriff and hear how sound his discretion is.”

The county board unanimously asked Sheriff Steven Rand to resign in 2018, after sheriff’s Lt. Tommy Schuette filed a civil rights and discrimination lawsuit against Rand and Jackson County. Schuette, who is hearing impaired, secretly recorded Rand making a host of demeaning statements about women and black, gay, Hispanic, disabled and overweight people.

Whitmer, who has the power to remove the Republican sheriff, has refused to do so despite requests from the city, county and Schuette’s attorney.

Related news:

'It’s a cop-out’, attorney says of Gov. Whitmer’s 3rd refusal to fire Jackson County sheriff

Should Jackson become a 2nd Amendment sanctuary county? Board to decide Tuesday

5 things to know about the ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’ movement in Michigan

Some lawmakers support making Michigan a ‘Second Amendment sanctuary’ state