Log in Subscribe

Manatee County to become a "2nd Amendment Sanctuary"

Posted

BRADENTON – In a regular meeting Tuesday, Manatee County Commissioners moved to direct the county attorney to begin work on a resolution designating Manatee County a 2nd Amendment sanctuary county. The motion received six votes in favor with one commissioner absent at the time of the vote.
 
The item was added to Tuesday’s meeting agenda sometime the same evening as the deadline for written public comments had closed–February 10. It was added under commissioner agenda items by Commissioner Jason Bearden, who was elected in November.
 
In seeking support for the measure, Bearden told his colleagues that a majority of counties in Florida had already adopted such measures. Bearden questioned why Manatee County had not yet adopted its own resolution declaring the county a gun sanctuary, arguing that a truly conservative board should support such an action.
 
"With all the gun regulations going on right now, this would be a good opportunity to send a message to Joe Biden that his unconstitutional policies will not be tolerated here in Manatee County," Bearden said, omitting the title of President from Biden’s name. "And he can take his policies and stick it where the sun don’t shine," Bearden added.
 
Bearden did not specifically identify the federal policies he referenced as unconstitutional, but stated Tuesday that he was not elected to a county-wide seat to be "politically correct" but to "protect our God-given rights." Bearden said that he believed the measure is one largely supported by constituents.
 
Despite Tuesday's agenda deadline for submission of written public comments having passed, many county citizens attempted to reach their commissioners in opposition to the proposal by email–with some opting to complete the online written comment form regardless. Emails and comments received on the item were attached to Tuesday’s agenda following an agenda update on Monday.
 
Nearly four dozen written comments were recorded, with many expressing frustration with what they referred to as a "waste of time and taxpayer money." Other citizens reminded commissioners that February 14–the date of the meeting and vote–was also the anniversary of a mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in which 17 were killed.
 
Several members of the public wrote that they had safety concerns with such a measure and asked whether the local sheriff had been consulted. None of the written public comments or emails attached to Tuesday’s agenda update were in support of creating a resolution designating Manatee County as a "gun sanctuary."
 
Commissioner Mike Rahn acknowledged the many emails sent to commissioners over the weekend, but offered assurances to residents who had concerns that designating Manatee County a gun sanctuary would not "increase violence, guns, or crimes with guns." Rahn reiterated the point raised by Bearden, that many Florida counties and/or cities had already adopted their own similar policies.
 
Commissioner Amanda Ballard said such a preemptive measure was an important one, agreeing with points made by Rahn and Bearden. Ballard added, "What this is doing is saying that if there are state or federal laws that are contrary to the second amendment–in the event that those occur or be put into place–that Manatee County will not enforce those laws against the second amendment rights of our citizens."
 
In response to safety concerns raised by the public, Commissioner James Satcher offered that allowing "the good people to arm themselves" was the most effective way to curb crime. Satcher said this was evidenced by the City of Kennesaw, GA, his previous hometown, having adopted an ordinance in 1982 that required all heads of a household to own a firearm. Satcher conceded that the city's law was mostly "symbolic" but added that from the time the law was passed, crime plummeted and there had been "no murders or violent crime" since its adoption.
 
The Kennesaw ordinance referenced by Satcher, Ordinance Sec. 34-21, was amended to provide broad exemptions including for residents who do not want–or believe–in owning a firearm. Since the adoption of the ordinance, the population of Kennesaw has grown from roughly 5,000 in 1982 to over 33,000 today. Crime reports publicly available for download on the City of Kennesaw’s website show that between 2015 and 2016 incidents of aggravated assault rose by 20 percent, reported rapes rose by 33 percent, and one murder was reported. Although the city did see decreases in some violent crime statistics, and its reported crime rate is much lower than the national average, between 2016 and 2018 reported rapes increased, and in 2019 another homicide was reported.
 
In 2007, a police lieutenant of the criminal investigation division in Kennesaw told Reuters that the city’s gun law may have helped deter criminals but credited proactive policing and close police liaison with the community as the reason for the city's low crime rates.
 
Before the vote, Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge proposed an amendment to the motion, suggesting a change in language from "gun sanctuary county" to "Second Amendment sanctuary county." Van Ostenbridge acknowledged that while both mean essentially the same thing, a change in the name might help to abate some public opposition or confusion about the purpose or intent of the resolution.
 
"I am a supporter of the second amendment and I think in ways the second amendment has already been violated because it does clearly state that the right to bear arms shall not be infringed upon. I think the government has already crossed that line, in my opinion," Van Ostenbridge said without detailing the specific way or instances where he feels the right has been infringed. Van Ostenbridge added that he supports creating a "sanctuary to one of the amendments to this country that we feel is under attack by the federal government."
 
In his closing remarks, Bearden encouraged U.S. gun manufacturers to consider Manatee County’s tax abatement program. The program is designed to encourage new businesses to relocate and/or establish in the area.
 
"This would essentially create more jobs, good paying jobs, this is just good all around," said Bearden. "It could create economic growth, possibly."
 
Van Ostenbridge echoed Bearden’s invitation to potential gun manufacturers, stating his perspective that the local job sector could use more "diversity" beyond tourism, construction, and health care.
 
With the unanimous support of all members present, the motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner George Kruse absent. A resolution drawn by the county attorney will return to the board in a future meeting for its final adoption.

Comments

No comments on this item

Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.