Commissioners declare this a Second Amendment Sanctuary County
PIERCE — The Pierce County Board of Commissioners on Monday of last week passed a resolution declaring its support of the rights of all county citizens guaranteed by the United States and Nebraska Constitutions, specifically the Second Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms.
Pierce County joins a number of other Nebraska counties that have approved “second amendment sanctuary county” resolutions, as a response to President Joe Biden’s executive orders on gun ownership.
The County Courthouse Boardroom was full Monday morning of supporters, some who spoke in favor of the resolution. None spoke in opposition.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has also declared Nebraska a second amendment sanctuary state.
Shannon Ball, Nebraska Sergeant-at-Arms and a member of the Northeast Nebraska Shooters Association located north of Pierce, said, “This administration has made it clear during their campaign that they hold in disdain the American gun owner and demonstrates their lack of respect for the civil rights exercised by millions of law-abiding citizens.”
He said 40 counties in Nebraska have done this. There are a lot of people in Pierce County who feel this needs to happen, and a majority of the people in the room are for it.
Ball said, “Pierce County Sheriff Rick Eberbardt supports this resolution and I hope that you (commissioners) take a stand because the constitution has been here over 200 years.
“And if somebody comes in with an executive action and declares the Second Amendment, or no amendment is absolute, it clearly shows they have no respect for what has happened in the past, and no respect for the law-abiding gun citizens in America.”
He concluded, saying, “I implore you to pass this resolution and make Pierce County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.”
Sheriff Eberhart said, “I don’t think we have a gun problem, we have a behavior problem in the United States and that’s how we need to address it. We let social media and the media run our lives and our kids’ lives.”
He said, “We lose 24,000 people each year in the United States to alcohol-related vehicle accidents... it’s equivalent to the whole city of Norfolk, gone. But, because someone gets drunk and does something horribly stupid, wrong, and criminal, do we go to the guy living 30 miles away and take his pickup truck away?”
Commissioner Tom Kuether said, “I am 100% for it. I know the state has been declared a sanctuary state, but if we pass this as a county, we are showing Gov. Pete Ricketts and the State we are behind them.”
Commissioner Jim Schmit said, “Personally, I’m okay with signing this resolution, but I do have concerns about guns getting in the wrong hands and mentally handicapped people getting ahold of them. There has to be some better way to control those situations.”
Commissioner Terry Wragge said, “No matter how many regulations you have, the bad guy is always going to have a gun. You are not going to keep it from them.”
Following the discussion, the board approved the resolution, voting 3-0, to affirm the right to bear arms in Pierce County. The resolution does not rescind or override any State or Federal law, it supports the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment, and the Nebraska Constitution.
It also reaffirms county support for the Pierce County Sheriff and deputies and their efforts to uphold those constitutions.
It could be compared to the situation with illegal immigration and sanctuary cities, where local law officials are not assisting the federal government with enforcement.
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