Over 50 people stood up to speak at the meeting of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors in Prescott on Thursday, Jan. 2 for the discussion of a single topic — a potential proclamation by the supervisors affirming the county’s support of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the right to bear arms.
The proclamation read in part: “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, by the authority granted by the laws of the state of Arizona and the people of Yavapai County, Arizona do hereby reaffirm the commitment of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and its individual members to support and defend the rights and liberties of the citizens of Yavapai County as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the of the State of Arizona,” the proclamation continued. “Be it further resolved that the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors encourages all citizens of Yavapai County to support and defend their right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arizona.”
The vast majority of the people who stood up to speak in front of the board were staunch gun advocates. They spoke of the need for guns for self-defense, of the right enshrined in the Constitution and belief in inalienable natural rights, and argued that guns are a bulwark against tyranny by the government.
They took issue with comments by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey considering possible “red flag” laws, which could allow guns to be taken away from individuals shown to have mental health issues or be a danger to those around them.
However, most of those who stood up in favor of gun rights did not advocate in favor of the proclamation. They argued instead that it did not go far enough. After hearing from those assembled, the board voted unanimously to not take up the proclamation, but to retool it for a future decision.
“This is America, and I cannot ignore America,” District 5 Supervisor Mary Mallory said, advocating that the board table the motion in response to the speakers, with a desire to create a more ambitious ordinance.
Many of those who spoke up called for the county not to just express its support for the Second Amendment, but to actually put into practice an ordinance that would prevent the state from infringing on county residents’ gun ownership.
They compared it to a previous ordinance passed in Mohave County which made the county a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.”
“This board will not authorize or appropriate government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers or offices for the purpose of enforcing laws that unconstitutionally infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms,” reads Mohave County’s resolution, passed in November.
“I was very disappointed to read the proclamation that is before you today, which bears little resemblance to the one that Mohave County voted on,” Hilda Angius, chairwoman of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, said at the Yavapai County meeting. “Without the statement of declaration to become a sanctuary county, the proclamation is meaningless, with no teeth to act should Arizona’s political winds change.”
“Proclamations are nice,” county resident Michael Orley said, while arguing that the country is facing the beginning stages of a civil war.
“They sound good on paper,” he said. “But what we need, ladies and gentlemen, we need right now, we need for you to go ahead and give us a stringent supportive ordinance that will ratify us as a Second Amendment sanctuary.”
Though the vast majority of those who spoke were gun rights advocates, there was some dissent from those who sought stricter gun control.
“Every country needs sensible and responsible gun laws,” Jacqueline Desa said. “The reality is that our country needs sensible and responsible gun ownership, where folks know not only when to use guns but are also trained. Putting out this proclamation without responsibilities is irresponsible in itself.”
