Montgomery is the fourteenth Texas county to adopt pro-Second Amendment resolutions.
In July, Presidio County commissioners became the first to declare their county a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” this year and last week Kaufman, Palo Pinto, Stephens, Nolan, and Upshur counties all adopted similar statements.
Written by Commissioner Charlie Riley (R-Precinct 2), the Montgomery County resolution refers to the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and several Supreme Court decisions upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
In the final paragraph, the resolution states that the county will not authorize or appropriate government funds or resources of any kind to enforce laws or regulations “that infringe on the right by the people to keep and bear arms.”
In a press release, Riley said his resolution was to protect the law-abiding citizens of his county, who should be able to maintain arms without fear of judicial retaliation.
“The County won’t use any of its resources to enforce unconstitutional gun laws,” Riley stated.
The growing number of Texas counties adopting pro-Second Amendment statements comes in response to increased discussion about gun control measures such as so-called red flag laws and expanding background checks.
Earlier this year, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called for consideration of expanded background checks for firearm sales on so-called “stranger-to-stranger” private sales.
Just to the south of Montgomery County, Harris County narrowly approved a resolution supporting Patrick and calling for expanded universal background checks for all gun sales.
Numerous women wearing red “Moms Demand Action” shirts attended the standing-room-only meeting, but during the public comment segment, citizens were on hand to speak both for and against the resolution.
Speaking from his wheelchair, Mark Anthony Garza told commissioners that while some people might be able to fight back, he could not.
“I look at a gun as an equalizer,” Garza said.
One man dismissed the proposal as mere posturing that would have little effect.
Commissioner James Metts (R-Precinct 4) thanked Riley for placing the resolution on the agenda and he pushed back on claims that it was “nothing more than posturing.”
“You can rest assured that the Michael Bloombergs of the world and the Beto O’Rourke’s and others are not posturing when they tell you they’re coming after your firearms,” said Metts. “They have a mission and an agenda to disarm America.”
Montgomery is the eleventh most populous county in the state, and the largest to approve Second Amendment sanctuary status so far.
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Holly Hansen
Holly Hansen is a reporter for The Texan living in Harris County. Her former column, “All In Perspective” ran in The Georgetown Advocate, Jarrell Star Ledger, and The Hill Country News, and she has contributed to a variety of Texas digital media outlets. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with a degree in History, and in addition to writing about politics and policy, also writes about faith and culture.
