Commissioners declare Titus County a Second Amendment Sanctuary

Photo by Lou Antonelli

Sheriff Tim Ingram tells commissioners that with the resolution, he knows they would back him in not enforcing a federal law if it violates the civil rights of a Titus County resident.

By LOU ANTONELLI

Managing Editor

Titus County Commissioners have adopted a resolution declaring Titus County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

County Judge Brian Lee noted that Sue Evenwell had suggested adoption of the resolution at the previous meeting.

“Thanks for bringing this to our attention,” said Lee.

Both Evenwell – the Republican County Chairman – and Sheriff Tim Ingram spoke in favor of the resolution at the Monday morning meeting.

Ingram said the resolution allows him some discretion whether to enforce federal laws when people are using their firearms “in a legal matter.”

“We don’t want to violate anyone’s civil rights,” he said.

Evenwell the same resolution has been adopted by a number of Texas Counties, including Wood, Upshur and Smith.

“We should expect a lot more of the rural counties to do the same in the future,” she said.

Veterans Service Officer Steve Austin also said he supported adoption.

The resolution adopted unanimously to declare Titus County a Second Amendment Sanctuary reads as follows:

“Whereas, the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of our nation. The Second Amendment to the Constitution states ‘A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"’; and

“Whereas, the Texas Constitution, Article 1, Section 23 states "Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State." Due to dual sovereignty structure of the Constitution, the Federal government has no authority to enforce State laws and the States cannot be compelled to enforce federal laws; and

“Whereas, the last protectors of the U.S. Constitution are the County Sheriffs and ‘We the People of the United States of America’, and our ability to fulfill that role successfully rests on our Second Amendment rights. We, the People of Titus County, Texas, through this resolution hereby declare our rights, our freedom and our liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America; and

“Whereas, it is the desire of the Titus County Commissioners Court to declare its support of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution protecting citizens' inalienable and individual right to keep and bear arms. The members of Titus County Commissioners took an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution, the Constitution of the State of Texas and the laws of the State of Texas (insofar as that they are constitutional); and

“Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Commissioners of the County of Titus, by the authority granted to the Commissioners by the laws of the State of Texas and the people of Titus County, Texas to stand and defend their rights and liberties, which are guaranteed by the United States and Texas Constitutions, we hereby declare Titus County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.

“Be It Further Resolved that this Commissioners Court affirms its support for the duly elected Sheriff of Titus County, Texas in the exercise of his sound discretion and affirms its resolve to support decisions by our Sheriff to uphold the laws of the State of Texas and to uphold the Constitution of the State of Texas and the United States.

“Be It Further Resolved that this Commissioners Court will not authorize or appropriated government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers or offices for the purpose of enforcing laws that have been found to unconstitutionally infringe of the rights of the citizens of Titus County in the State of Texas.”