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MOUNDSVILLE -- Marshall County resident Michael Bell asked the commissioners during their Tuesday morning meeting to follow Tyler County's lead and designate Marshall County as a Second Amendment sanctuary by pledging to oppose legislation that would restrict gun ownership.
"I know we, in the state of West Virginia, have open carry, we've got concealed carry already, but with what's going on in Virginia, I think we ought to join in with others and say that we're with the Second Amendment," Bell said, referencing legislation introduced in Virginia, which would have allowed authorities to take guns away from those deemed too dangerous to have them, termed "red flag" laws, among other legislation.
"I haven't gone that deep into it, but by signing up as a sanctuary city … if someone tries to raise taxes on ammo, or do a red flag law, or anything like that, they can be prosecuted," he said.
Commission President Scott Varner said that while he didn't disagree with the notion, the commissioners were already beholden to the U.S. Constitution, and felt that such a measure would be redundant.
"Obviously, we have to uphold the Constitution, protect it, so whether we're a sanctuary county or not, we already are one. … At our County Commissioners Association conference last week, there was some discussion about it, and in that discussion, everyone did state that we must uphold the Constitution, and make sure the Second Amendment is protected. It would be somewhat redundant to say that we are a sanctuary county, when we already are one.
"The legislative session ends the second weekend in March," Varner added. "We'll follow along, see how that goes, and, if it's necessary, I'm sure we'll do something."
Tyler County voted last month to became the third county in the state, following Putnam and Cabell, to become a Second Amendment sanctuary county.