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.


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