The Marinette County Board of Supervisors will take up an amended recommendation to become a second amendment sanctuary county of sorts this month. While the Public Services Committee failed to come to a decision on the matter at their most recent meeting, Thursday the county’s Administrative Committee did approve forwarding a resolution to formally oppose the enactment of any legislation that might infringe upon the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. Supervisor John Guarisco introduced the issue to both committees and says it’s about taking a stand for what he and other Marinette County residents believe in.
“I just think it’s the way that Marinette County tax payers feel as a whole and I think it’s a good idea that we do it…This is a policy and, like any resolution, it’s worth about the paper it’s printed on, but it’s lets us send a message to Madison.”
However, County Board Chairman Mark Anderson opposes the resolution, saying while he’s not a proponent of stripping all gun rights, he does see a need for certain measures- like Governor Tony Evers’ proposed Red Flag law- to keep these weapons out of potentially dangerous hands.
“Having a very close family member in a hostage situation kind of brings it home to me. And if there’s a way to prevent any type of situation that that person in my family had to go through, I’m all for it. I’m with you on guns- I don’t have a problem and I understand all the uproar sometimes, but the reality is, it’s mental health.”
The resolution was amended by the Administrative Committee to actually remove any language formally declaring Marinette County a sanctuary county, while still providing some of the same protections as one. If ultimately approved by the board next week, Marinette County would be just the second county in the state to do so after Florence County passed a similar measure last month.