Like the six other Texas counties to declare such a resolution, the commissioners in Smith County stated that they would uphold the United States and Texas constitutions, and that they would not authorize the funding for any enforcement of laws “that have been found to unconstitutionally infringe on the rights of Citizens,” especially the right to bear arms.
The resolution was supported by Grassroots America — We The People, which urged the council to vote in favor of the measure and “take a bold stand for liberty today by publicly stating your opposition to any unconstitutional firearms restrictions against law-abiding citizens.”
According to Payton Weidman of KYTX CBS19, five residents who spoke at the meeting were in favor of it while ten were against it.
Four members of the court — Judge Nathaniel Moran and Commissioners Jeff Warr, Terry Phillips, and Cary Nix — voted in favor of the resolution and Commissioner JoAnn Hampton voted against it.
The movement to become “Second Amendment sanctuary counties” grew quickly in states like New Mexico and Colorado where state legislatures enacted stricter gun regulations, and it has been gaining momentum in Texas recently.
In Texas, Edwards County passed the first resolution last year, with Hudspeth, Presidio, Mitchell, Hood, and Parker counties following suit this year.
Kaufman County may become the next county to join the growing list of Second Amendment “sanctuaries.”
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Daniel Friend
Daniel Friend is the Marketing and Media Manager for The Texan. After graduating with a double-major in Political Science and Humanities, he wrote for The Texan as a reporter through June 2022. In his spare time, you're likely to find him working on The Testimony of Calvin Lewis, an Abolition of Man-inspired novel and theatrical podcast.