Editor’s note: The Boone County Fiscal Court is preparing a resolution pronouncing the county as a sanctuary city for second amendment rights.
In 1791, our forefathers ratified the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment authored by James Madison, which reads: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Brewer
Over the years, the meaning of these words — their original intention and what they mean today — have taken on drastically different interpretations by different people and this issue, now more than ever before, is at the very core of what it means to be an American.
In news reports in recent weeks, you may have heard the term “Second Amendment Sanctuary” or “2A Sanctuary” counties an cities. What these terms refer to are a county or city government that adopts a resolution or ordinance supporting the rights and protection set out for us in the Constitution to protect the right to bear arms, even if state or federal laws try to infringe upon this precious right.
While the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark Heller ruling, has clearly confirmed that individuals have the right to bear arms, many politicians have ignored this ruling. Liberals across the United States have been declaring “sanctuary cities” and refusing to enforce federal immigration laws they don’t like for several years now. But they are far less enthusiastic when conservatives do the same on behalf of the Bill of Rights, particularly when it involves the Second Amendment.
As an elected county commissioner in Boone County, I have decided that I, too, need to make this same promise and pledge to the Second Amendment. That’s why I am in favor passing a resolution that creates a Second Amendment Sanctuary right here in Boone County.
By making this pledge, I am taking action to ensure that good, law-abiding citizens can maintain a safe and free community free of harm and evil doing. I believe Jeff Cooper, author of the “Art of the Rifle,” said it best when he said, “The rifle itself has no moral stature since it has no will of its own.
Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.” I have yet to find a statement that holds more truth and meaning yet is so simple and to the point when it comes not only to the right to bear arms but the right to live a free and safe life.
My hope and prayer are that everyone can have a life that is free of tyranny, violence, and victimization. We all must be afforded the rights enumerated in the Second Amendment to ensure that we are able to do just that.
Jesse Brewer is a Boone County Commissioner
Sounds like Republican scare tactics to me. What’s next? A bill has been prefiled in the KY Legislature specifying which bathroom must be used according to the sexual organs one was born with. What a waste of time and resources.
The members of the Boone County Fiscal Court need to take a good history course to understand why the Second Amendment was written the way that it was. One of the most odious offenses that the colonists resented was the quartering of British troop among them. We wanted no standing army because of this. Secondly, the newly formed government of the US was bankrupt and heavily in debt. We could not afford a standing army and so the concept of the citizen army was an economic necessity. Now we have an enormous standing army and exorbitant military spending. See the difference??? Thirdly, state militias had formed a significant part of the Patriot military during the Revolution and they were deemed sufficient to the purpose of defense. Fourthly, America during the late 18th century was largely an untamed frontier full of potential enemies – Indians, the French, the Spanish among others. A heavily armed population in this environment was necessary. Now we are a highly developed urbanized nation with people packed together in close quarters. See the Difference??? The 2nd Amendment was clearly written to make possible the necessary militias at an economic price. WE ARE NOT LIVING IN THE 18TH CENTURY ANY MORE. Try to embrace the changes instead of pretending that everyone needs and is entitled to their own personal arsenal or at least, spare me the thoughts and prayers when you friends, neighbors and fellow citizens are the victims of needless slaughter.
Mr. Brewer, thank you for your thoughts. As a gun owning moderate, I see these actions of declaring “Sanctuary Cities” as garbage, and terrible policy and things that bad/bored leaders do. They are not following the laws and should be voted out.
The idea of a sanctuary city for 2nd Amendment is a garbage idea too. What is even worse, is your rationale for making Boone county a sanctuary city is because “… Liberals across the United States have been declaring “sanctuary cities” and refusing to enforce federal immigration laws they don’t like for several years now.” So you are doing this because liberals did it first? You are following up a stupid idea with another stupid idea? Liberals get to do that so we’ll do this, just to show them? Rather then lead, you are following. The declaration of the county as a Sanctuary City for the 2nd Amendment is a meaningless exercise and your efforts could be used elsewhere.
Please support the constitution and its laws. The 2nd Amendment and the immigration laws. All of them. You swore to do so.
I agree tenfold that we need stronger second amendment support everywhere and to make sanctuary areas for the 2nd amendment. America is the most prosperous, accepting, and best country in the history of the entire world due entirely to being the most free nation ever. It is freedom that makes us great.
There are 100 million guns in private hands right now and trillions of rounds of ammunition in private hands right now.
Right here in Kentucky and in the majority of states in the country, a month out of the year there are hundreds of thousands of deer hunters that are out and about everywhere with guns and ammo. Year after year.
If guns were really a problem in the country I think you wouldn’t know given those numbers. the 100 million guns are 99.99% in law abiding hands and not used for violence against others.
And its not coincidence that all of the countries that have overpowering, oppressive, authoritarian governments law, and suppress human rights, freedoms, and basic human needs are the ones that have the most strict gun laws. and the opposite is true for the countries that allow guns.
People need to stop buying the fake news that is fed to them and think for themselves and evaluate the real facts and how the real world actually works.