KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners considered two gun-related proclamations during a virtual meeting on Tuesday night.
The first was a proclamation declaring Kalamazoo County as a Second Amendment Constitutional County, which was brought forward by Commissioner John Gisler.
This proclamation was only brought forward for a first reading. If Commissioners had voted in favor of it, it would’ve been pushed forward for a vote at the next meeting.
This proclamation claims “more Kalamazoo County residents are concerned about personal safety during the current pandemic and are purchasing more firearms in recent months.” It adds, “Kalamazoo County residents deserve assurance that their second amendment rights are supported by Kalamazoo County government; and each Kalamazoo County Commissioner, took an oath to support the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution, both of which include citizens’ individual rights to keep and bear arms.”
Gisler noted that this proclamation is unrelated to the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County movement that has already been approved elsewhere in Michigan.
“The word ‘sanctuary’ is not in this proclamation, this is not to do anything in violation of any law anywhere, especially the constitution,” Gisler said. “It’s just a reminder that the second amendment is indeed a part of the constitution that we all have sworn to uphold.”
Other Commissioners, such as Michael Quinn, were in agreement, but the proclamation was met with opposition from other commissioners.
“I don’t understand the point of this,” Vice Chair Tracy Hall said. “I lived through eight years, we all did, of the Obama administration and the rumors that people were coming to get their guns, and none of this is happening. When I think about the constitution, we have 27 amendments. Why are we just picking one of the 27…why aren’t we a sanctuary county for the first amendment, or the fourteenth amendment, which says all individuals born in the United States shall be equally protected under the law? I don’t see that this is something we need.”
Hall also pointed out the recent protests on the Capitol lawn in Lansing that featured armed participants, along with violent threats made toward Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other leaders.
“The timing of this has me baffled,” Hall said.
Commissioner Christine Morse also spoke against this proclamation.
“While this proclamation does not talk specifically about what its goal is, which I agree with Commissioner Hall that I don’t understand why the second amendment needs special protection,” Morse said. “There is plenty of protection under the constitution, as well as supreme court decisions.”
The proclamation was not passed, and will not be moved to the next County meeting.
The second proclamation was a final vote on a proclamation for recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Commissioner Mike Quinn expressed dissatisfaction at the prospect of this proclamation being passed, while the Second Amendment Constitutional County was voted against.
“There is a heck of a lot of gun owners, me included, in this county,” Quinn said. “I am fully in support of reminding people to store their guns safely, use them safely, and not to use them to intimidate people as a protest group did in Lansing a couple times, I don’t approve of that. But I have to say I’m disturbed by what I’ve heard tonight.”
Commissioner Stephanie Moore spoke about the importance of being aware of violence resulting from guns, referencing gun violence occurrences in urban areas.
“[I want to live] in a safe neighborhood just as much as I want it to be beautiful,” Moore said. “I want to make sure that my kids can go outside of their door and not have to be exposed to the lifelong trauma, that lingers with witnessing gunshots and a victim dying. I think making sure that we have good policy in place that offers training, inspires and requires individuals to live up to the standard and the law of how to properly own, use, maintain, discharge and carry a firearm is a step in the right direction to making sure we are creating a safer community. Right now, it’s not.”
Other commissioners spoke in favor of this proclamation, citing factors such as school shootings and mental health regulations, while still supporting second amendment rights.
“I can’t support something that doesn’t acknowledge that we need to have some common sense and understand that safety is a huge part of what responsible gun ownership is,” Commissioner Jennifer Aniano said, referencing Gisler’s proclamation.
Ultimately, the National Gun Violence Awareness Day proclamation was approved by a majority vote.
