Commissioners resolve to support 2nd Amendment, sheriff
Gun Control
As a result of the increasingly divided debate over gun control in the United States, a growing number of cities, counties and states nationwide have created “Second Amendment sanctuaries” by passing resolutions affirming their support of the Second Amendment.
“Second Amendment sanctuary” refers to a jurisdiction — at the state, county or even city level — that passes a resolution affirming officials’ support of the Second Amendment and stating their intention to not authorize or appropriate government funds, property, manpower, resources or facilities to enforce any law that infringes on the right of the people to keep and bear arms. The resolutions vary, but generally, Second Amendment sanctuaries refuse to dedicate resources to enforcing things like “red flag” laws and bans on certain weapons.
The Second Amendment sanctuary movement began around March 2019 when Illinois’s newly-elected Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker pledged to enact gun safety measures within the state. After New Mexico expanded background checks in 2019, 30 of the state’s 33 counties became Second Amendment sanctuaries. The trend gained further traction after former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke made his lightning rod comment during the third primary debate back in September: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.”
Three states — Alaska, Idaho and Kansas — are Second Amendment sanctuaries, and 23 of the 50 states have some measure of Second Amendment sanctuary, whether it is at the county or even city level. Thirty-four of 254 Texas counties have adopted sanctuary resolutions, along with one city and one town individually.
On Monday, during a regular session of the Commissioners Court, Hopkins County joined that growing list. The commissioners unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Second Amendment, declaring the court will defend citizens’ rights and liberties guaranteed by the United States and Texas Constitutions. The resolution also affirms its support for County Sheriff Lewis Tatum.
Tatum told the News-Telegram, “I totally support the Constitution our founding fathers put into effect to protect our country. We’re going to follow that to the letter of the law.”
The Hopkins County Commissioners Court said passing the resolution was something they “just wanted to do,” according to County Judge Robert Newsom.
“We believe the founding fathers included the Second Amendment for a specific reason — not just for protecting homes and families, but to allow citizens to defend themselves against the government if need be. We want to hold that right sacred,” Newsom said. “Freedom is practically part of our DNA, both in America and in Hopkins County.”
In the Northeast Texas area, Titus, Upshur and Wood Counties have also passed similar resolutions. Hunt County joined the sanctuary movement, passing its own Second Amendment sanctuary resolution Tuesday.