The Scioto County Commissioners – Bryan Davis and Scottie Powell – finally fielded my question about the declaration of the Second Amendment Sanctuary in 2022.
I transcribed the following from the Facebook video of their meeting on July 7, 2022. You may view their reply from the video at the following Facebook address (simply click here):
https://www.facebook.com/sciotocountycommissioners/videos/702887844141102. You will find the question asked and answered by beginning to view at 37:50. The video and transcription speak for themselves.
My question for the Commissioners: “Will the commissioners address rescinding the Second Amendment Sanctuary designation in light of gun violence?”
Commissioner Bryan Davis: I'm not rescinding it … (pause). I support all twenty-seven amendments.”
Commissioner Scottie Powell: OK. I don't know there's any appetite to do that. Quite honestly, back then it was a resolution to show the support the commissioners had for the Second Amendment. And, I think we're all very much in the same vein. The reality is it didn't change the laws. The resolution didn't change the laws in Scioto County. It is just giving the position of the commissioners at that time, and I would say even still today. We believe in the Second Amendment. We believe in all the amendments. So, thank you for that question.
Davis: Yeah. You know what? I'm just going to dive into it here. Bottom line is the red flag laws and things like that … we have seen proven over just the last week. You could have all those things in place and they will not prevent gun violence. People who want to commit acts of a criminal nature will find guns. They're out there; they're readily available. They can find them any time.
And what we need to be dealing with is the issue of mental health in our communities and in our country. Once again we have a person who was mentally ill. That was out there. They had had him on their radar … the FBI themselves had him on their radar. The local police had him on their radar. And, I am so sick of hearing the phrases … of hearing the 'well, he was on our radar.' Well, when do you do something about someone who was on your radar? It's clear that there was mental health issues. This young man needed help, needed help, and it's so sad. And, a lot of time these are cries for help, and they have no other recourse.
So, look we can talk about the Second Amendment. We can talk about gun stocks. And we can talk about AR-15s and everything else. The bottom line is as a nation, we need to have a very strong conversation about mental health, about getting people the needed assistance, and to be honest with you … and I've said this many times in here before … our jails are full of people that don't need to be in jail. They need mental health help. We shut down all of our mental health hospitals in Ohio. We have beds for 70 people out of 4 million in Southeast Ohio, which is abysmal and sad. Should have never have happened. But they made that decision a long time ago in Columbus. I do believe this administration is trying to reverse that and they are looking at ways to do that. But there are things that can be addressed.
And, you know what? Frank … I understand Frank has a very strong opinion about this. I know that he put a petition out there for Scioto Countians to stand against the Second Amendment and get us to not be a Second Amendment Sanctuary county, which we are with other counties, especially here in Southeast Ohio.
90 people signed his petition out of 74,000, so I mean I think the people of Scioto County spoke and I think the people of Scioto County support the Second Amendment as well as all 27 amendments to our Constitution.
And what we need to do is make sure that if there is an armed assailant out there and he has a gun, you know what, it's all right to have one that's bigger than what he's got. And, you know what? It goes back to the founding of our country. The Founding Fathers showed great wisdom in the fact that the right to bears arms shall not be infringed. And that means no way, no how.
And, I do understand there's a mental health aspect to it. It needs to be dealt with in a very responsible manner. But red flag laws where you have people making determinations that this person is mentally ill, and this person's a threat, and this person's 'that.' And there's no real good determination or good way to do that, I think is a dangerous, slippery slope for this country to move down because at that point, you know anybody could look at any of you (attendees at the meeting) and say 'I don't like you. I think you're mentally ill. And you can no longer possess a firearm.' That is a dangerous precedent to set in this country.
And like I said, and I'm sure Frank is going to have all kinds of blogs and everything else … he always does. That the bottom line is … I have said multiple times, and we have seen it this week, red flag laws do nothing … nothing to prevent someone from going out and get a gun and going out and shoot some place up. Period! It does nothing.
God forbid it happen around here, but it could. As a matter of fact, one of the worst situations we had was with a knife … in our county. A few years ago there was a teacher involved and there was a school involved so don't, you know … gun, rock, knife, whatever it is. The core of the issue is mental health, and if you really want to zero in on the big issue, it's sin. It's sin in the hearts of man. That's period. That's it. That's where it all goes.
And we deal with that, (Powell laughs) and we'll be better off as a society. But you can't legislate hate away, and you can't legislate guns away. And you can't legislate sin away. That's gotta happen in the heart of man, so … that's all I'll say. I've said too much. He's got plenty of fodder for his blog now. But, by goodness, I'll stand for the citizens of Scioto County and these United States and we shall not … the rights of a citizen to bear arms will not be infringed as long as I'm commissioner of this county. (knocks on the table).
(Scottie Powell is laughing.)
Unnamed commenter: They took God out of schools and took the Ten Commandments off the wall. They took prayer out of schools. What do you expect? What you (do?) is what you get.
Davis: Thank you, Sir. What you reap, you will sow.
Another unnamed commenter: They take the guns and we got a squawk, I know how to swing a baseball bat. Are they going to stop baseball? I guess we won't have any more baseball games in about ten years cause we'll be killing everybody with bats.
Powell: And with that … (Davis and Powell both are laughing as the meeting is closing.)
Davis: (To unnamed commenters) Thank you for your comments. (Still laughing)
Conclusion
I don't expect my inquiry to be treated with courtesy and due respect because the commissioners evidently do not see a connection between the epidemic of gun violence in our nation – particularly in Ohio – and the increased availability and access to firearms. They oppose all efforts to gun reform even as our Scioto sheriff and the FOP spoke out against some of these issues as they related to arming teachers in public schools.
The commissioners unfairly lumped all my efforts to call attention to gun violence under the category of passing “red flag laws” – gun control laws that permit police to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who they believe may present a danger to others or themselves. I believe in research-based options, not in one method of reform.
Their symbolic and political declaration of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” may not have changed laws in itself; however, the bold declaration stands in opposition to much-needed changes. Using religion and nationalistic jingoism to stoke emotional support influences public sentiment: that is the true “slippery slope” Davis uses to convince others that the gun has no part in the equation of violence.
Davis, himself, said upon enacting the resolution: “Some people have asked us, 'Why waste the time?' Well, we do resolutions for retirees. Why do we take the time to do that? It’s important. We take time to honor law enforcement and firefighters and people like that. Why do we do that? Because it’s important.”
The Daily Times reported: “The resolution itself declared the opposition of Scioto County to any restrictions on the Second Amendment and stated the Board of Commissioners in Scioto County wish to resolve to protect the right to bear arms in Scioto County, Ohio even if state and federal laws are passed restricting ownership or possession.”
(Ivy Potter. “Scioto County becomes 2A sanctuary county.” Portsmouth Daily Times. January 16,, 2020.)
Mr. Davis speaks of the “fodder” in my blog as if my opinion is unimportant. To him, not enough people signed my petition to warrant fruitful discussion or evaluation of how an attempt by GOP commissioners to resist gun measures affects all constituents. I would suggest people review the real reason the Scioto commissioners passed the sanctuary designation in 2020.
This designation was clearly political posturing rooted in the strong influence of the gun lobby that has deep connections to corporate partners in the firearms industry. It was, at the time, a shameful rebuke of Gov. DeWine's efforts to allow police to remove firearms from individuals undergoing court-ordered treatment for mental illness or substance abuse. It continues to be in effect to this day.
If Davis views my blog as “fodder” – inferior or readily available material – he unfairly minimizes the importance of my words and my continued efforts to ease gun violence. As a man of God, he should know better. And, I would caution Powell that to judge the actions of others – those of the 2020 officials – without investigating their motives is presumptuous. He was not a commissioner at the time. He is now.
The commissioners took it upon themselves to play upon the unfounded fears of a government takeover to rally their base. And even now, notice how Davis uses fears of red flags and falsely arresting someone suspected of being mentally ill to stir emotions of the populace. This is clearly Argumentum ad Populum -- an argument, often emotionally laden, that claims a conclusion is true because most, all, or even an elite group people irrelevantly think, believe, or feel that it is.
The commissioners still view gun control measures to be unconstitutional, even those addressing the terrible scourge of gun violence. They deny their designation of “Second Amendment Sanctuary” has anything to do with fearful resistance.
Davis admits, “The number one job in the Commissioner’s job description is to keep the county fiscally sound. By law, the Commissioners act as the chief budgeting office of the county.” Ask yourself why the officials decided to enact a gun designation that had nothing to do with fiscal matters. And now, over two years later, why do they adamantly reject all inquiry into their judgment to do so.
(Ivy Potter. “Davis seeks re-election.” Portsmouth Daily Times. January 25, 2018.)
We all claim rights under the Second Amendment, not just those who are gun owners or those who believe the amendment must not be infringed. As a lifelong Scioto County resident, I want commissioners who defend my First Amendment privilege to object to stubborn political resistance, representatives who understand that my viewpoint is valuable, and leaders who do not laugh about proposed changes to save lives. Above all, I want commissioners who serve everyone and provide representation to all views.
I will continue to write. I will also continue to fight for the views I deem right. I don't need the support of a political party or the power of the majority to continue my efforts to find solutions. I hope this transcription of the meeting will serve you well as you negotiate the issues that affect us all.
I submit this blog entry for your review. You can watch the Facebook video as you read the words of our commissioners. Believe me, I know how difficult it is to swim against the current here in Scioto County. I also know many are said to be afraid to express themselves with an opposing view. That is for each person to decide. Anything less is manipulation without representation.
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