Don Nunemaker Jr. of Plymouth addressed the Marshall County Commissioners during the public commend portion of their meeting on Monday with what he called a “touchy subject”. He asked the commissioners to consider designating the county as a Second Amendment sanctuary.
A Second Amendment sanctuary, also known as a gun sanctuary, is a state, county or locality in the United States that has adopted laws or resolutions that oppose the enforcement of certain gun control measures.
Nunemaker said the Fulton County has already been designated a sanctuary and Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said he believed Kosciusko County has been too.
Nunemaker told the commissioners, “The rational that I have about this is, I’ve been watching the federal government over the last year or so and to me things are going kind of in the wrong direction.” He continued, “One of the things that the Biden administration is talking about is basically taxing individuals $200 per semi-automatic weapon and $200 for a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds.” Nunemaker noted that just about any automatic weapon is designed to hold more than 10 rounds. He also commented that discussions are talking about making the taxation an annual event.
Representative Shelia Jackson Lee from Texas has proposed a gun control bill that would create a national firearm registry, set a minimum gun ownership age at 21 and both require licensing and psychological evaluations.
Nunemaker, who has a carry permit told the commissioners that it may have saved his life about a year and a half ago when he confronted a trespasser on his farm who he caught before. The man kept moving closer to him and would not answer his questions and Nunemaker eventually pulled his weapon and eventually fired it off to the side. He said it was only when he lined up the gun on the guys nose that he realized he might be serious.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said he’s had a couple people approach him on the same subject.
Sheriff Matt Hassel was asked his opinion on making Marshall County a Second Amendment sanctuary and he said, “I do support it. I think our second amendments going to be infringed upon if we don’t take a stand now. I do know there is a bill going through right now to make the state a Constitutional Carry state. Meaning no license. There are some financial burdens that go along with that bill for us, but I do know Jack Jordan reached out to me and know my opinion on it.” The sheriff said the state will need to be clear and advertised to the public so people with past criminal behavior or mental health issues do not think they can carry. Somebody needs to let them know they cannot carry that gun because they may get arrested even if Indiana becomes a Constitutional Carry state.
County Attorney Jim Clevenger said if the commissioners are interested in making Marshall County a Second Amendment sanctuary, he would suggest a resolution. He said, “I’m not sure anything we do at this level is going to carry the day. If congress decides they are going to tax the daylights out of your weapons I don’t know how far our little resolution or even ordinance is going to protect that.” He told the commissioners, “It makes a statement on where your position is, but I don’t know that it will have any great impact.”
All three commissioners were supportive of the request to pass a resolution designating Marshall County as a Second Amendment sanctuary.
Tim Hacket of Argos was supportive of the designation and said, “Many of us view the second amendment as an anchor to the other nine. If you lose the second amendment you’ve already lost the other nine. Consult your Bill of Rights and the constitution and review what you might be losing.”
