Commissioners Declare Carroll County a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary'

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners voted unanimously earlier this week to pass a resolution stating that Carroll County is a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County".

The resolution (see attached document) is in response to the Maryland State Firearms Act of 2013 passed by legislators in Annapolis earlier this year. 

The bill bans more than 40 types of guns, requires that all future purchasers of regulated firearms be fingerprinted and licensed and prohibits the possession of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

Commmissioner Richard Rothschild, who headed the creation of Carroll County's resolution, opened the meeting saying that the board is working to defend freedom. 

"Tonight we are not here to defend guns, we are here to defend freedom," Rothschild said.

A county official said that approximately 230 people attended the public forum earlier this week. Commissioner Dave Roush did not attend the meeting, but he signed the resolution and provided a statement of support for the resolution. 

Harford and Cecil County have also passed resolutions in recent weeks. 

Carroll County's resolution states: "The Board reasonably believes the MFSA [Maryland Firearms Safety Act] to be 'pretended' (unconstitutional) legislation and be it further resolved that the Board, in affirmation of the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Carroll County, herein direct that Carroll County Government will not authorize or appropriate government funds, resources, employees, agencies, contractors, buildings, detention centers or offices for the purpose of enforcing any element of the MFSA that infringes on the right of people to keep and bear arms ... "

Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry Barns and Sheriff Ken Tregoning spoke at the forum in support of the resolution.

Rothschild said that the right to own guns is not given by the Second Amendment, but by God. 

"The purpose of government is to protect our unalienable rights," Rothschild said. "The right to keep and bear arms is assumed to be a natural right from God and the Second Amendment is merely a restriction on government, it says to government, 'stay away.'"

A recording of the forum is available for viewing on the Carroll County government website. 

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• Maryland's History of Gun Control
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