RICHMOND — Wayne County commissioners don't plan to move forward on a citizen-submitted ordinance that would declare the county a "Second Amendment Sanctuary," but the person behind the proposed legislation isn't giving up.
Last month, Richmond resident Bert Holbert Jr. dropped off a copy of his draft ordinance, a six-page document that calls for ignoring any state or federal gun control laws or regulations that might be handed down in the future.
The "Second Amendment Sanctuary" term first was used in 2018. Since then, nearly 800 municipalities — counties, townships, cities and towns — in 34 states have passed similar legislation.
The sanctuary declarations have come in various forms, including full-fledged ordinances with potential consequences for those who fail to abide by the legislation as well as simple resolutions that voice support for people's gun ownership rights.
Holbert's ordinance was an example of the former. Commissioners consulted with County Attorney Ron Cross and other lawyers, who advised them that the ordinance wouldn't hold up under a court challenge.
"As a commissioner, when I took office and was elected, we swore to uphold the constitution of the state of Indiana, which makes it completely illegal for us to do anything in a sanctuary ordinance as was proposed," said Ken Paust, president of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.
"So at this point, we're not moving forward at all."
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