On Tuesday, August 17, the Washington County Board of Supervisors declared Washington County “a second amendment sanctuary county” by approving Resolution 21-33 in a 4-1 vote.  Supervisor Bob Yoder of Kalona voted no; in the discussion prior to the vote, he told the board that Kalona was “dead set against it.” His district also includes Riverside.

Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr. who had proposed the action in June said that of his constituents who he contacted, only one did not favor the move. Supervisors Marcus Fedler and Richard Young noted that the state is in the process of considering a 2nd Amendment protection to the state constitution. 

Last week, board members agreed the resolution was to ensure the rights of Washington County citizens to bear arms, especially since, as noted in the formal resolution, “the Federal legislature and the Iowa State legislature cannot be solely trusted to protect citizens Second Amendment rights.”

In short, the enacted resolution opposes any congressional, state or executive order that “infringes upon the constitutionally protected natural right of the people of Washington County to keep and bear arms” as well any attempt to enforce “infringement” upon that right by the county sheriff’s department or any other Washington County employee.

At last week’s meeting, when the issue was tabled to August 17, there were country residents at the meeting who questioned the need for the resolution, warning that it could make the county seen a “gun sanctuary” that could produce “unintended consequences.” There were no objections from the public on Tuesday, either in person or via Zoom.