The Knox County Board approved a resolution this week that would designate Knox County as a “Sanctuary County” for firearms owners.
Board members in a 9-5 split vote on Wednesday night approved the resolution that opposes Public Act 102-1116 – also known as HB5471 or the Protect Illinois Communities Act.
The resolution states that the county board requests the Illinois General Assembly to stop any actions that would restrict the right of the people to keep and bear arms or actions that would require the surrender of previously authorized firearms and firearm paraphernalia. It also requests the Governor of Illinois to veto any legislation that restricts second amendment rights in the U.S. Constitution.
Prior to the vote, board members took some time to discuss the resolution. Freshman board member Samuel Cohen from District Three harkened back to the assault weapons ban that had been enforced across the United States. “The current legislation that was passed by Illinois’ state government doesn’t mean you’re going to be thrown in jail,” Cohen stated. “It simply asking for registration and then the inability to sell it to someone else.
What is out of line is becoming a second amendment Sanctuary County. Something that does away with background checks and other basic measures that even normal gun owners support. This is something polled across the country and even in Illinois.”
District Five board member Patty Boone highlighted that when she took the oath of office last year, she was sworn in to uphold the Constitution of the United States. “It is the highest law of our land. It is higher than the Illinois Constitution. I took this very [seriously]. This was an oath.”
Long-time county board member Cheryl Nache from District One stated to board members that the resolution wasn’t needed but what was needed was mental health support.
Another issue that seemed contentious for board members to the resolution dealt with a passage that read, “County Board of Knox County will support the office of the Knox County Sheriff to uphold and enforce the sworn oath of office and duties as described under the Constitution of the State of Illinois and the United States Constitution.”
“It is not the Sheriff’s place to decide which laws will be enforced or not,” said first-term District One board member Amanda Smith. “It is the legislature’s job to decide what the laws are.”
Cohen added to that, “what it does is it justifies the Sheriff’s ability to simply reject any legislation passed by the Illinois House and Senate. The fact is, we are encouraging the sheriff to continue with actions, such as completely disregarding laws that he is set to put in place and enforce.”
The vote fell mostly along party lines. All Republicans voted in favor with Democrat Greg Bacon joining them. The remaining five Democrats voted no and board member Erin Pugh from District Two was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
