Shelly Schultz and Thomas Robertson

JUNCTION CITY - A Perry County township made a bold statement last week by supporting the Ohio Stands United movement to protect the US Constitution.

Jackson Township Trustees passed a resolution on Jan. 9, declaring the township a Second Amendment lawful gun owner sanctuary, and may be the first township in the state to do so, according to the trustees.

"With what is going on at the national level, and now the state level in terms of lawmakers from both parties trying to strip us of our constitutional rights, it's scary," said Township President Frank Fondale.

The Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms - an individual right affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the past few weeks, dozens of Virginia counties and cities have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries in an apparent revolt against the state legislature's proposals for new firearm restrictions.

Supporting the same movement, Ohio's population in favor of lawful gun ownership began banning together in communities throughout the state.

Resolutions have been passed in Meigs and Clermont counties already, while discussions are being held in numerous other communities including Muskingum County.

Ohio Stands United is a petition circulating throughout the state with a general message to lawmakers: We will work as connected, local communities throughout the state to mount local and state-wide action, and compel our elected officers to abide by the will of the people in our enumeration and defense of that which was granted by, and exists into the infinite.

"Basically, we are sending the message to lawmakers and elected officials that if you support new laws that strip us of our constitutional rights, we won't support you," Fondale told the Times Recorder on Thursday.

The township's first resolution of 2020 states:

Jackson Township supports the right of lawful gun owners to lawfully use firearms to defend themselves, their loved ones and other innocents; to lawfully hunt to provide sustenance for their families; and to lawfully participate in shooting sports up to and including Olympic sports.

Jackson Township opposes further interference with, or abridging of, the rights of lawful gun owners.

Jackson Township espouses holding accountable the violent criminal offenders, rather than irrational or disproven attempts to control lawful tools of self-defense, hunting and sport.

"Red Flag legislation threatens our constitution and we are afraid if we don't stand up and protect our rights, we will eventually lose all of them," Fondale said. "Our forefathers put those rights in place to protect us from the government."

The declaration, while it sends a message to the government, does not change any laws at the local level.

"From a legal standpoint, we still have to abide by state and federal laws," Fondale said.

Perry County Sheriff William Barker was not available for comment on Thursday, however, New Lexington Chief of Police Scott Ervin said he has been approached in recent weeks regarding his viewpoint on the Second Amendment Sanctuary.

"I have no objection to law-abiding citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights, and I refer back to the oath I took many years ago - the same oath all peace officers take," Ervin said.

I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America, the Constitution and Laws of the State of Ohio, and Laws and Ordinances of the political subdivision to which I am appointed and to the best of my ability will discharge the duties of this office.

Ervin said in his career he has dealt with gun owners from both ends of the spectrum.

"I have encountered citizens that I was certainly glad owned a gun, and I have encountered citizens that had no business with a gun," Ervin said.

Ervin doesn't believe more laws are the answer to support the state's agenda.

"There are plenty of laws already on the book," Ervin said. "I think what we need more of is accountability and common sense."

Muskingum County

A few Muskingum County citizens met with county commissioners on Thursday, expressing their support of Ohio Stands United and requesting commissioners declare the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

Commissioner Mollie Crooks said she is a gun advocate but she isn't certain why the resolution is necessary. "We don’t make law," Crooks said. "It’s not going to preempt any laws from being proposed or passed."

Commissioner Cindy Cameron concurred.

"If we were to pass a resolution supporting Second Amendment rights, should we do it for every constitutional amendment we support?"

Commissioner Jim Porter outwardly supported adopting resolution declaring Muskingum County a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

Whit Weiser, one of the citizens who brought the discussion to the commissioners, said moving forward with the resolution might encourage more Ohio counties to get on board and send a message to the statehouse.

Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz, who was in attendance, emphasized his support of the Constitution.

"As I have stated before and will continue to state, I have always been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio," Lutz said. "I nor any sheriff in the state of Ohio would ever try to enforce unconstitutional laws. We want as many guns as we can get in the hands of legal, law-abiding citizens."

Lutz, who previously served as president of the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association, shared his recent testimony at the statehouse opposing new legislation that would eliminate carrying concealed weapons permits.

"We, as the BSSA, were opposed to this new law because of the safety concerns to our citizens and our deputies," Lutz said. "The BSSA felt that a person carrying concealed should be trained. We also wanted to keep the notification process that a permit holder has to use when interacting with a deputy. Opposing the elimination of the permit had nothing to do with 'Constitutional Carry'. We are not against that, we just want to keep the training and safety in place that we have."

Lutz did, however, question whether the time is right to necessitate the resolution.

"The State of Ohio is nowhere near enforcing significant gun control measures," Lutz said. "I'm not opposed to you all declaring Muskingum County a sanctuary county because that's what I feel we have already."

cschultz3@gannett.com

740-450-6758

Twitter: @infoobtainer1