SEND A MESSAGE: Tennessee county legislators pass “Second Amendment Preservation” resolution

Madison County, Tennessee Courthouse. Source: Buddy Rogers, Google Earth.

Believed to be one of the first counties in Tennessee to do so, commissioners in Madison County on Tues., Feb. 19 approved a resolution designed to take a stand against gun control and prevent federal infringement on the right to keep and bear arms.

“This resolution, basically, declares that we recognize our oath to the Constitution, and we believe in the rights of the Second Amendment that come from God,” said Adrian Eddleman, who co-authored the Madison County Commission “Second Amendment Preservation Resolution.”

The measure, which passed by a vote of 18-6 in a county of about 98,000 people and where about 7% of county residents have active handgun permits, also called for the nullification all federal actions that are deemed to be in violation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

“(T)he Madison County Board of Commissioners declares that all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, regulations — past, present or future — in violation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States are not authorized by the Constitution of the United States and violate its true meaning and intent as given by the Founders and Ratifiers; and are hereby declared to be invalid in this county,” the resolution reads in part.

Those voting in the majority also requested that the Tennessee State Legislature take similar action to reject the infringement of Second Amendment rights by the federal government, and called upon the state body to clarify the county sheriff’s “duty and responsibility” to defend the citizens of Tennessee against such federal infringement.

“Furthermore, we hereby ask the Sheriffs of the State of Tennessee to act on behalf of the citizens to defend them against infringements upon their rights and to hold the federal government to the limitations under the Constitution,” the resolution concluded.

Opponents of the measure said county and other local governments should not oppose federal laws, but support them.

“I believe state and local government should line up with the decisions of the federal government rather than take opposing positions,” District Five Representative James W. Pearson said on Wednesday in an interview with WBBJ, West Tennessee’s News Channel 7.