It was a packed house Thursday morning as the Berrien County Board of Commissioners heard from residents both opposed to and in support of a resolution declaring Berrien a Second Amendment sanctuary county. The resolution was proposed by local gun rights advocates last month. At Thursday’s meeting, dozens of speakers appealed to the board. Jack Straszewski of Niles told WSJM News if the Second Amendment can prevent violence, then he favors respecting it.
“A good guy carrying a gun, he can stop violence, but that doesn’t make the big news,” Straszewski said. “What makes the big news is somebody getting hurt, violence. Whether it’s a gun, a knife, a hammer, a car, whatever it is. That makes the big news.”
Retired educator Harold Bragg of Coloma said he’s concerned about the environment society is creating for its young people.
“Take away this kind of environment,” Bragg said. “Think and really be concerned about these young people.”
The resolution requested by Michigan for 2A Sanctuary Counties states that the county board “affirms its support for the Berrien County Sheriff and the Berrien County Prosecutor, in the exercise of their sound discretion, to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law.” Board Chair Mac Elliott told us the body likely will approve something next week, but not with the same language as was submitted. He noted such laws are governed by Lansing.
“They’ve retained that authority,” Elliott said. “What we do would be symbolic, and if we do a resolution next week that supports the Second Amendment, as some other counties have done in different ways, that is symbolic.”
Elliott said, whatever the county board does, it will send a copy on to Lansing. Elliott added “we have no authority, however, to legislate in this area.”
