PHOENIX – On Wednesday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to become a “Second Amendment Preservation County.”
The resolution affirms the County’s support of the constitutional right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
It also resolves that no County resources will be used to “infringe on the people’s constitutional rights, including the right to keep and bear arms.”
The Board passed the resolution by a 4-1 vote. Supervisor Steve Gallardo voted in opposition.
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone issued a statement in which he said that while he has the “responsibility to defend our Constitution, keep our community safe, and ensure the rights of all citizens are protected.” The resolution went to far.
“The core of my authority is the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments, which include the Second Amendment. I pledge to always protect the rights of lawful citizens to bear arms. I also pledge to protect and prioritize the safety of families and children from violence and harm,” stated Penzone. “The original resolution put forth at today’s Board of Supervisor meeting went beyond simply affirming the Second Amendment. It was potentially in conflict with current law enforcement operations and our ability to keep the community safe from persons who seek to do harm.”
Penzone complained that “no one sought law enforcement expertise or input from my office on the original resolution, which could have potentially prohibited law enforcement from intervening in harmful situations to save precious lives or put them at risk of costly litigation for following the laws of our land.”
Other counties in Arizona and across the country have adopted similar Second Amendment sanctuary status. In November, the Mohave Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a resolution making Mohave County a 2nd Amendment sanctuary county. Earlier this month, the Apache County Board of Supervisors followed suit and declared the County a 2nd Amendment sanctuary county.
Related article: Lamb Comes Out In Opposition To SB1625, Apache County Declared 2nd Amendment Sanctuary
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