By: David Tripp
25 Feb 2020
Verification Citation/Source: Red Lake County Board of Commissioners
Resolution date passed: 25 Feb 2020
Vote Count: 4-0-1
RESOLUTION OF RED LAKE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SANCTUARY COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 02-01-20
WHEREAS, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution 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.” and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), affirmed an individual’s right to possess firearms, unconnected with service in a militia, for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010), affirmed that the right of an individual to “keep and bear arms,” as protected under the Second Amendment, is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states, and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939), opined that firearms that are part of ordinary military equipment, or with use that could contribute to the common defense, are protected by the Second Amendment, and
WHEREAS, the People of Red Lake County, Minnesota, derive economic benefit from all safe forms of firearm recreation, hunting, and shooting conducted within Red Lake County using all types of firearms allowable under the United States Constitution, and
WHEREAS, certain legislation, beyond existing laws to date, that has or may be introduced in the Minnesota legislature in the future, and certain legislation which has or may be introduced in the United States Congress in the future could have the effect of infringing on the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and
WHEREAS, the Red Lake County Board Commissioners is concerned about the passage of any new bill containing language which could be interpreted as infringing the rights of the citizens of Red Lake County to keep and bear arms, and
WHEREAS, the Red Lake County Board Commissioners wishes to express its deep commitment to the rights of all citizens of Red Lake County to keep and bear arms, and
WHEREAS, the Red Lake County Board Commissioners wishes to express opposition to any law in the future, beyond existing laws to date, that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the citizens of Red Lake County to keep and bear arms, and
WHEREAS, the Red Lake County Board Commissioners wishes to express its intent to stand as a County Dedicated to Second Amendment rights and to oppose, within the limits of the Constitution of the United States and the State of Minnesota, any efforts in the future to unconstitutionally restrict such rights, and to use such legal means at its disposal to protect the rights of the citizens of Red Lake County to keep and bear arms, including through legal action, the power to appropriate public funds, the right to petition for redress of grievances, and the power to direct the law enforcement and employees of Red Lake County to not enforce any future unconstitutional law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Red Lake County Minnesota:
That the Red Lake Board of Commissioners hereby declares Red Lake County, Minnesota, as a “Second Amendment Dedicated County”, and
That the Red Lake Board of Commissioners hereby expresses its intent to uphold the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Red Lake County, Minnesota, and
That the Red Lake Board of Commissioners hereby expresses its intent that public funds of the county not be used to restrict the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Red Lake County, or to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights, and
That the Red Lake Board of Commissioners hereby declares its intent to oppose any infringement on the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms using such legal means as may be expedient, including, without limitation, court action.
The undersigned Clerk of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Red Lake, hereby certifies that the resolution set forth above was adopted during an open meeting on February 25, 2020 by the Red Lake County Board of Commissioners with the following votes:
Anthony “Chuck” Flage, District #1: Yea
Ronald Weiss, District #2: Yea
Delane “John” Dudycha, District #3: Yea
Allen Remick, District #4: Absent
Charles Simpson, District #5: Yea
Robert Schmitz, Auditor/Board Clerk Red Lake County
