By Mark Waite
Nye County commissioners followed up an ordinance on gun rights introduced at their last meeting with a resolution Tuesday declaring they would preserve and defend the Second Amendment.
The resolution is one of many passed in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. in December that took the lives of 20 children and six adults that spurred a new nationwide gun control debate.
The resolution, requested by county commission chairman Butch Borasky, repeats the wording of the Second Amendment.
“The Board of County Commissioners of Nye County, Nevada, desires to adopt a formal resolution to preserve and defend the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Section 11 of the Nevada Constitution,” the resolution states.
It adds the Second Amendment protects the right of self defense, defense of others, defense of the nation and assumes the right of hunting and sport shooting.
“There are forces in our country that are striving to take away our right to bear arms,” the resolution reads.
It refers to two U.S. Supreme Court cases, District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago, which held that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right.
“All 17 of the county sheriffs in Nevada expressed in a letter they feel the best way to address gun violence is not necessarily by limiting magazine capacities or types of guns for purchase but rather by addressing issues behind violence, such as mental illness, gangs and drugs,” the resolution states. “The county of Nye, State of Nevada, will not enforce any unlawful and unconstitutional statutes, executive orders, international treaties or other regulations and proclamations that conflict and are expressly preempted by the rulings of the United States Supreme Court on the right of an individual to keep and bear arms.”
The county commission encourages the head of each household within Nye County to possess a firearm fit for personal defense, to acquire professional training and maintain a safe household for that firearm in an effort to prevent accidents.
Borasky wanted to add two paragraphs from an Elko County Commission resolution. They state studies by the National Academy of Sciences and the Center for Disease Control found no evidence gun control laws actually reduce crime and that Americans today are safer from gun crime than at any time since the 1960s.
Commissioner Donna Cox said the resolution was discussed at a meeting of the Concerned Citizens for a Safe Community Monday night. The CCSC wanted to delete language about addressing issues behind the violence, like mental illness, gangs and drugs.
Cox also wanted to include wording that Nye County residents would have the ability to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Sheriff Tony DeMeo said that would be against state law.
Commissioner Dan Schinhofen, who was attending a Nevada State Legislature meeting, said by conference call from Carson City that he wouldn’t amend his motion to include Cox’s changes.
“We could get into the weeds here and make this 20 pages long, this is a resolution that really has no force of law,” Schinhofen said. He added, “We are encouraging heads of households to be armed. This doesn’t mean households have to be armed. This is just how the board feels.”
Commissioner Lorinda Wichman read a letter from Dennis Crooks of Pahrump who objected to the resolution and told commissioners to address higher priorities.
“The schools in Pahrump are extremely overcrowded, money for education is scarce and the dropout rate is one of the worst in America. The roads are horrible and badly in need of repair. Very few jobs and almost no good paying jobs can be found in this valley. Our health care system is ranked as one of the poorest in America,” Crooks wrote.
“So instead of trying to tackle any of the real problems we face, you will be wasting your time voting on a resolution about the Second Amendment. Please spend your time and energy on issues that will truly benefit the people of Nye County. Do not grandstand to the crazy gun crowd who thinks the government is actually going to take away their guns. This will never happen,” he wrote.
Crooks said, “Certain types of weapons probably do not belong in the hands of the general public. Shooting 20 six-year-old children with five to 10 bullets in each of their bodies in a minute or two demands some reasonable response.”
Amargosa Valley Town Board member John Bosta said he didn’t think it was appropriate to pass a resolution while the county commission was waiting for the public hearing on an ordinance addressing gun rights.
But there were a handful of supporters who spoke up in favor of the agenda item.
“This Second Amendment issue is not about guns, it’s about whether politicians and people in authority can nullify the rights of people as we speak,” Louis DeCanio said.
He added, “to create any new laws and stipulations basically nullifying the Second Amendment will not solve any problems, but force people to choose sides between the patriot freedom fighters and the gestapo. We all know gun laws only affect law abiding citizens.”
Dean Brooks said the state law the sheriff referred to was “a contradiction to the God-given right to bear arms.”
“All we have to do is violate those laws en masse and get them changed. In this country, according to the Second Amendment, in order to maintain a free state you need a well-armed militia and the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed. There should be no gun laws in this country,” Brooks said.
The National Rifle Association every month cites examples of four or five people who stopped crime simply by showing a gun, he said.
Brooks said the people should be able to have the weapons the military has.
Kenny Bent said he was grateful for the resolution.
“I think it’s Jefferson who said we will have as much tyranny as we accept until we draw a line in the sand. I appreciate we are making that move, making a statement as a community,” he said.
But like Cox, he thought the county was leaving the door open with the clause about people with mental illness.
“I would just like to see that portion of it removed so we’re not opening a door for setting up classes of people,” he said.
County Commissioner Frank Carbone agreed with Bent, he felt that clause could cause some people to lose their rights in a heartbeat. But it stayed in the resolution.
I like it. Its nice to see someone somewhere taking a stand for what they believe in and think is important, and right now, gun rights are VERY important as the Washington DC “Never let a crisis go to waste” crowd is trying to take them away via coordinated state and federal legislation.
Looks to me like Dennis Crooks moved to the wrong town. We don’t have much use for the same old tired MSNBC talking points on guns.
Certain people like to laugh at those who concern themselves with government tyranny, all the while the police nationwide (Thankfully not here), are becoming more and more militaristic, armed drones fill our sky, and now our government sought the right to kill Americans on US Soil just a few months ago.
I was at the commissioners meeting yesterday and did not speak up, i should have spoken. First as far as the cdc not having statistics on gun control or violence congress passed a law that led them to believe they could be prosicuted if they gathered informantion. Second in the Heller case the supreme court did state laws could be passed regarding regulation of guns. Third had the assault rifle ban still been in place Mrs Lanza could not have purchased the rifle or the large magazines. Therefore Adam Lanza would not have had access. The shooting may still have happened but possibly with less deaths. Ten years ago NRA supported background checks. Straw purchases and gun trafficing allow criminals to get guns. The second amendment should be upheld but not demigoged.
Actually, the guns and magazines Mrs Lanza had, could have been easily purchased without breaking any laws during the ban. Pre ban magazines were 100% legal, I know as I got lots of them during the ban, and post ban rifles which were almost exactly identical to the pre ban ones were just as readily available. If we were to really “hold up the second amendment” there would be zero gun laws as the founders intended. I guess you did not realize that “back in the day” private persons owned cannons and war ships.
Its probably better you didn’t speak.
Your Reasoning is Proof why our founding Fathers saW the future why they gave us a Republic not a Democracy ! todday England or America take yoru pick !
The Nations First Gun Laws were made buy Mad men such as these after the Civl War especially in the South against Them and Obama is gulity for the knowlege on this one, Against Black Americans who were freed and also Fougt in the Civl war How Come ??! Wake Up More and More Real American Black Folks are Not Listening to the lies the News media polls Lie as well ! if the PV Times would not call Spaming sharing Links to facts well the argument would put the Editor out to pasture ! why News paper blogs Suck !
Our very own senator Harry tossed aside the assault weapons language that Fienstein has been pimping. He knows that the public and congress will never pass such crap. Expect her to try again in the future.
Just a reminder to the BOCC. Not every resident of Nye County supports this action. To assume that you speak for all of us is pompous and arrogant. Not everyone feels that we should return to the days of “Have Gun, Will Travel” (although I think I remember a Masterson around here). And remember that my vote is equal to the vote of the person who feels the need to carry a weapon.
Then Pack up and Leave why should we put up with you ! NV Gun laws were here before you and dont lie and say you are a Native NV is not your Democracy Period !
In Elko you would be called out and your Embarassment would force you to move.
We are not Calif!
So Leave and take your vote ! Know one want’s to kill any one for fun but Satistics have Proved, Gun Control FAILED did it Work for Chi-town .Ill for the last 20 + years, Hell NO !
Okay, this is nothing but grandstanding. The Federal Government is going to do what the Federal Government is going to do. Nye County’s little ordinance isn’t going to change anything. Do you thinks Barbara Boxer is not going to see the light and say “Oh, look what Nye County Nevada did. Now I understand this issue and will change my opinion”. I don’t think so.
I agree the resolution has no weight of law and won’t change the minds of the hard line anti-gunners, it does let our state legislators, congressmen and senators know we are stating our position on guns and we take a dim view of what is going on in Washington. It’s important we be on the record. Most of our elected officials already know Nevada is a strong 2nd Amendment state, but it doesn’t hurt to reinforce our position, particularly with the next election just about 20 months away.
Because Cowards like you are reprehensible to not act and will Cowar in your Bedroom under the covers. You talk like a Calif Creep anti this anti that Once was a fair place to hunt but Know it all is gone and soon shooting sports will disappear f the Calif Hwy Patrol! Calif Libs have Know clue on biology and Wild Life Conservation and Clueless on how to manage it and why they have Cougar problems and Coyote problems and a Lying Left wing Cover up News media govt Controlled Spin Misters who keep the lid on things and lie to make up lies for sensationalism news feeds for $ ! Know we shut down a lib Animal wrighst Lover apt to the NVDOW on Cougar and Bear hunts with dogs and she lost !
Soon as Obama gets in tune with real Amercia he will walk away on gun control and the Lies on Affordble health care will fall ! the votes were a fraud period Military votes stolen and Acorn under a new name double dipping again Obama is a fraud ! If he does not Impeachment is looking at him .
One Gun ban law was Un Constitutional and remember any legs form the States that Infringe will be over turned again and again Like the Gun Ban the NRA had tossed out In San Fransisco and was enough as the nation wide gun ban did not work ever ! Proof is Chicago ,Ill did it work Hell NO !
Crooks said, “Certain types of weapons probably do not belong in the hands of the general public. Shooting 20 six-year-old children with five to 10 bullets in each of their bodies in a minute or two demands some reasonable response.”
I can see that Mr. Crooks appears to have a lot of issues but to make such a ludicrous statement shows his ignorance. The above just did not happen.
Why the 2nd amendment is not addressed from the standpoint that it can NEVER be changed by anyone or any government it becomes a moot point. It appears that the Federal Government is readying to bring the country down to 3rd world status via fascism and needs to get the guns out of the hands of its citizen
THE 2ND AMENDMENT IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT TYRANNY. Like we are seeing today. The President asking for authority to kill American citizens on US soil.
To Mr. Crooks……all the local issues YOU think are important will not matter because……when freedom is gone not much else will matter.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms, is as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government.” Thomas Jefferson
“The fact that Senator Dianne Feinstein’s gun control bill exempts government officials from the planned semi-auto assault weapons ban illustrates the astounding hypocrisy of gun control advocates who, while working feverishly to disarm the American people, own firearms and surround themselves with armed men.
“As the Washington Times reported last week, ‘Mrs. Feinstein’s measure would exempt more than 2,200 types of hunting and sporting rifles; guns manually operated by bolt, pump, lever or slide action; and WEAPONS USED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.’ (Emphasis in original)
“Back in 1995, while carrying a concealed weapon for her own protection, Feinstein simultaneously called for Mr. and Mrs. America to ‘turn em all in.’
Quoted by VAl Kilmer in Tombstone as Doc Holiday A Calssic Western in Movie said My Hyprocrasy Knows no Bounds ! and we see it as a tyranous act today if Doc Holiday were alive today, I belive he would use it against the prod progessive Liberal Who took over the Dem party and challenge them over the Wright who gets to run the Country ! and I belive it would be to let all men
to be Armed !
America was born out of revolution……. and she will be saved by revolution.
Time is growing short for those in power.
The Federalist Papers, No. 28: Alexander Hamilton expressed that
when a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and
becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their
original right of self-defense — to fight the government.[Halbrook, p.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ