Wild Wild West

Sumner County has joined a growing list of Tennessee local governments in passing a resolution that asks local law enforcement to ignore duly passed state and federal laws regarding guns. On Monday night, the Sumner County Commission passed the "Wild West" resolution, essentially declaring the "unalienable right" to keep and bear arms. The resolution's language interprets the U.S. Constitution and multiple Supreme Court decisions in a way that views most or all regulations on gun possession and sale as an "infringement" on an individual's rights.

Specifically, the resolution says:

The sanctuary county resolution was first introduced by Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield and states that Sumner County “will not authorize or appropriate government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers, or offices for the purpose of enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any element of such acts, laws, orders, mandates, rules or regulations” that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms as described in the nearly three-page document.

A copy of the full resolution can be found on page 38 here.

The resolution passed 18-4 with only Commissioners Krueger, Ring, Echols, and DeWitt voting "NO."

The Hendersonville Standard reports on Commissioner Baker Ring's reservations:

“Our oath of office says we are to support and defend the constitution of the State of Tennessee and the constitution of the United States,” Ring said. “I cannot vote for the original resolution with wording in there that tells us we must violate state law if we pass this.”

Rather than take a firm stand, County Executive Anthony Holt responded in typical weasel-word fashion:

 

Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt said Monday that he would not veto the resolution. He also called for civility among everyone involved in the debate.

“Nobody… me, any elected official (or) any commissioner is going to take anybody’s guns in Sumner County,” Holt added. “I don’t know of anybody here that… needs to be demonized because they really believe that everyone’s Second Amendment rights needs to be protected.”

If the Sumner County Sheriff's office follows the plain language of the resolution, they would be in violation of state and federal law regarding guns.


For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews


Got news? Email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com

County Commission Passes Wild West Gun Resolution

A so-called "gun rights" resolution that, if followed, would turn Sumner County into the "Wild West" passed the County Commission on Monday night, with only four County Commissioners demonstrating the intellectual fortitude to vote "NO".

The four NO votes: Caroline Krueger, Loren Echols, Baker Ring, and Deanne DeWitt.

The resolution was sponsored by Commission gadfly Jeremy Mansfield, who last year opposed efforts to direct new county funding to schools, the jail, and infrastructure improvements.

According to the Hendersonville Standard, the Mansfield "wild west" resolution would:

The original version of the resolution stated that Sumner County would “not authorize or appropriate government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers, or offices for the purpose of enforcing or assisting in the enforcement” of anything that would “infringe on the right by the people to keep and bear arms as described” in a three-page document.

Essentially, the resolution calls on the Sumner County Sheriff's Office to ignore state and federal laws regarding gun possession and instead to follow a "purist" interpretation of the 2nd Amendment that means gun possession should not be restricted or regulated in any way.

Sumner County joins 25 other Tennessee counties in passing some version of this resolution.

Payne Blows Past Clary in Fundraising

Former Chamber of Commerce CEO Brenda Payne more than doubled current Mayor Jamie Clary's fundraising haul during the most recent reporting period, according to the Hendersonville Standard:

Documents show Payne raised $61,156 in the most recent reporting period. That includes $6,435 in contributions of $100 or less and $54,721 in itemized contributions of more than $100. 

 

Documents show Clary raised $24,175 for the same reporting period. The donations included $14,800 in itemized contributions of more than $100, and $9,375 in contributions of $100 or less. 

MORE>

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews 

United Way Study Highlights Struggles of Families in Sumner

The Hendersonville Standard has the story of a United Way study focused on families facing financial hardship:

Steve Doremus, executive director of United Way of Sumner County. “Unlike the official federal poverty level, which doesn’t accurately account for local costs of living, our report factors in the costs of housing, food, health care, transportation and other basic needs to determine what it truly costs to live in Tennessee.”

Key findings from ALICE:

*In Sumner County, there were 66,063 households, of which nine percent lived in poverty and another 21 percent were in the ALICE population.

MORE>

For more on news in Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews 

Got news? Email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com

Lady Hawks Take District Title

Main Street Preps has the story of the Merrol Hyde Lady Hawks basketball program and a big win:

Four years ago, there was no Merrol Hyde girls' basketball program. 

Fast forward to this season, and the Lady Hawks are cutting down the nets as the District 7-A regular-season champion. 

Finishing 10-0 during the regular season, Merrol Hyde earned the district's top overall seed in the upcoming tournament on February 21 at Merrol Hyde. 

MORE>