Medina County Commissioners back off gun 'sanctuary' support

The Medina County commissioners have decided not to pass a resolution that would make the county a Second Amendment sanctuary. "There will be no resolution from the county," Commissioner Bill Hutson said. "We support the Second Amendment. The county has no statutory authority to take a stand. As county officials, we have taken an oath. Whether we agree or disagree with a law, our responsibility is to enforce it." "Sanctuary city" is a term more often associated with cities trying to restrict cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities. Some Second Amendment sanctuary supporters say their decision to use the term was a deliberate knock on Democrats who support immigrant sanctuary cities. While Medina County is backing off from the designation, the push is making its way across the country with varying results. Arizona's most populous county Wednesday joined a growing national movement in which areas are declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries and proclaiming support for gun-ownership rights. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted in Phoenix to declare one of the nation's fastest-growing counties a "Second Amendment Preservation County," following dozens of counties nationwide and four others in Arizona that have approved similar symbolic resolutions meant to stave off gun-control policies that could be seen as unconstitutional. The resolution in Maricopa County, which has about 4.4 million residents, simply says the board supports the right to own guns. The proposal lost some of its edge when the board dropped a stipulation that government funds would not be used to infringe on gun rights. Supervisor Steve Gallardo, a Democrat, denounced the politically charged resolution. "Let's think about this. A resolution should not be divisive," he said. "It should not be partisan." Elected officials said multiple constituents in Phoenix had expressed support for the sanctuary designation that was first used in 2018 in Illinois and spread to California, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Virginia and other states. Medina County's Hutson said the local group, Ohio Stands United-Medina County, will focus its efforts on state issues and try to persuade legislators on those issues that affect firearms and educate the public on the Second Amendment. Commissioner Colleen Swedyk said commissioners have received several emails from people urging them not to pass a resolution on the matter. Spencer Township passed a resolution that it supports the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Hutson said. "Of course, we support the Constitution," Commissioner Pat Geissman said. "We took an oath for that. Of course, we believe in the Second Amendment. (Passing a resolution) was a symbolic gesture. That's all it is."