July 6, 2022 3:55p
(WGTD)---The Kenosha County Board approved a watered-down version of a resolution declaring Kenosha County to be a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.” It also okayed a measure to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring guns into most county-owned buildings.
The Tuesday night meeting was the first since a session two weeks ago that was abruptly adjourned after a man refused to give up the podium during “citizens’ comments” and was arrested.
The concealed carry measure passed 14 to 7 even though a key member of the county board broke ranks with the conservative majority and announced his opposition.
Long-time criminal defense attorney Terry Rose said the timing of the proposal was as poor as could be given the Highland Park Independence Day parade shooting, and a shooting in Kenosha that evening that killed one and injured four others. And just as supervisors prepared to debate the matter, another Kenosha shooting—possibly tied to the first one---injured a 49-year-old man. Even though shot in the chest, the man is expected to survive, according to a police news release Wednesday.
The concealed carry proposal, as prescribed by state law, exempts the courthouse and the Public Safety Building and two interconnected buildings that house judicial and police functions.
An amendment to add the Job Center with its variety of human service programs failed on a vote of 13-8.
One amendment that did pass requires county employees who bring concealed weapons to work to keep them on their person at all times, and not laying on desks or stowed in purses. The amendment passed by a single vote.
Debate on concealed carry lasted nearly an hour and a half. It was preceded by nearly two hours’ worth of public comment on a variety of topics. The speaker who was arrested two weeks ago after getting into a verbal altercation with board chair Gabe Nudo was not at Tuesday night’s meeting. At least 7 sheriff's deputies and department supervisors ringed the gallery to assure order.
Also Tuesday, the board voted 15 to 6 to pass a resolution that labels Kenosha County as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.”
But the resolution was watered down during the committee process.
It originally affirmed “its support of the sheriff to exercise sound discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law” and vows that the board “will not appropriate any funds for any enforcement of unconstitutional laws” against Kenosha County citizens.
Those lines were struck.
The final version declares that the county board will oppose the enactment of any legislation “that would infringe upon the Right of the People to keep and bear arms.”
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