Commissioners reaffirm support of Second Amendment Rights

Published on May 07, 2021

Weld County Commissioners announced their continued support of Second Amendment Rights by reaffirming Weld County’s Second Amendment Sanctuary status, first proclaimed in March of 2019.

“Weld County is a Second Amendment Sanctuary County because the Board of Weld County Commissioners honor the Constitution of the United States and the rights of individuals to defend themselves and their families,” said Commissioner Lori Saine.

The statement comes on the heels of the 2021 Colorado Legislature considering three more bills that aim to severely restrict the constitutional rights of Coloradans: SB 21-256, HB 21-1298 and HB 21-1299.

“What is being proposed under the gold dome in Denver is dangerous for all Colorado residents,” said Commissioner Chair Steve Moreno. “The most dangerous of which is SB 21-256, which proposes local governments (cities and counties) may enact their own ordinances regarding the sale, purchase, transfer for possession of firearms.”

Passage of such a bill will create a patch work on inconsistent rules and regulations across this state.

“State law says Article II, Section 13 of the Colorado Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms,” said Commissioner Mike Freeman. “Passage of this bill will allow local governments to willfully violate this right.”

The other bills of concern, HB 21-1298 and HB 21-1299, seek to expand firearm transfer background check requirements and create another level of government bureaucracy by growing state government to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

“More government is never the answer to any problem,” said Commissioner Scott James. “Weld County is a firm supporter of personal responsibility and personal rights. There is a problem in this country with gun violence and there is a desperate need in this country to have an honest conversation about mental health. These bills do nothing to address either of those issues.” 

The reaffirmation of Second Amendment by the commissioners means the Weld County Board of Commissioners supports the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and the provisions of the Colorado Constitution, which protect Weld County citizens’ inalienable and individual right to keep and bear arms.  The board will not adopt any ordinance which abridges or restricts that right and supports the Weld County Sheriff in the exercise of his sound discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law.

“As elected officials for this county, it is our responsibility as a board to make sure we protect the rights of our residents and by speaking out against bad legislation and speaking up for our residents’ rights, I believe we are doing just that,” said Commissioner Perry Buck.

Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams added, “The Second Amendment is pretty self-explanatory. They (legislators) need to stop this nonsense.”