2nd Amendment proposal finds favorable response in county

McCOOK, Neb. — No action could be taken on a proposal to make Red Willow County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County, but the idea received a positive reception at Monday’s meeting of the Red Willow County Commissioners.

After a presentation by Stacie Sandall in the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting, commissioners agreed to place the Red Willow County Nebraska Second Amendment Preservation Act on their agenda for 9:30 a.m. March 15.

Sandall presented details of the HR 127 proposal which would impose strict requirements and fees on gun owners and ban many types of firearms, magazines and ammunition.

Commissioners Randy Dean and Earl McNutt expressed support for the idea, and Sheriff Alan Kotschwar said he campaigned for sheriff with the promise he would not enforce any attempt to violate citizens' Second Amendment rights.

Nine counties have already passed similar resolutions, as have four other states, it was noted.

“We took our oath” to uphold the Constitution, Dean said.

Sandall, who attended with Kerri Unger, April Kendall, and her son Isaiah Kendall, presented an informal petition with a number of signatures after only one week of effort.

“I’m sure your support would be near 100% with more time,” McNutt said.

Sheriff Kotschwar said he had been following the issue, and one such proposal is LB188, which would keep state officials from enforcing potentially restrictive federal gun laws that don’t already exist at the state level. It would not cover county or city officials.

Another bill, not mentioned Monday, is LB 236, which would give counties the ability to declare themselves Constitutional Carry communities and allow for the lawful carrying of firearms by legal gun owners, regardless of whether or not they have a carry license.

April Kendall said her son, Isaiah, 15, is interested in law enforcement but doesn’t want to be put in the position of enforcing restrictions of citizens' Second Amendment rights. Frontier recently passed a sanctuary county resolution, and her brother plans to introduce one in Furnas County, she said.

In other business, a bid of $1,850 was accepted from Tracy Soderlund for a county surplus 1985 Chevrolet pickup truck, and accounts payable of $41,028.51 were approved for a health insurance premium and claims.

The county is receiving $306,663.23 from the Nebraska Emergency Management Cares Act for Law Enforcement Expenses during the COVID crisis. Because it was not budgeted, however, it will go into the general fund until paperwork requirements can be completed.