BROWN COUNTY, Wis — Brown County is one step closer to becoming a second amendment sanctuary county.
On Monday night Brown County's board of supervisors unanimously voted to approve a proposal to declare Brown County, as a second amendment sanctuary county.
"I think there was some misunderstanding of exactly what was in the resolution and what was exactly passed. They basically did not want their gun rights infringed upon. They didn't want anyone coming in and taking their guns from law abiding citizens," explains Tom Sieber, the Brown County Supervisor of District 1.
Sieber ultimately approved of the resolution, but only after several changes were made. A change he says that ensured the county was upholding the constitution.
"There were some things in there that allowed the county board and the sheriff to decide what was constitutional and unconstitutional. Which of course that power does not rest in the county board, that power rests in the in the judicial branch of government. So that part was unconstitutionally illegal," adds Sieber.
Sieber says changes were made to the language of the proposal to ensure that certain steps in gun control on the state or federal level, would have to be followed on the county level as well.
"It was good to know that the board wasn't going to bring up any language that was straight up unconstitutional," says Elizabeth Paulson of Allouez who was present for the vote.
Paulson says she found some comfort knowing that the potential change for Brown County really wouldn't impact most residents.
"It's language that doesn't really do anything. It seems like a security blanket for people who might be afraid that their guns are going to be taken away," says Paulson.
The referral for Brown County’s second amendment sanctuary status goes up for its final vote before the full county board on January 15th.
