Gun Sanctuary County designation protects victims

In their Regular Meeting Wednesday, Dec. 11, Grimes County commissioners approved a Resolution declaring Grimes County a Gun Sanctuary County. The Resolution was presented by Commissioner David Dobyanski and received a show of support from the author, Montgomery County Pct. 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley, and members of his precinct staff in attendance.

The Resolution recognizes its residents’ right to bear arms and states its intent “to protect victims rather than the criminal from any prosecution of defending an individuals’ rights and property,” and that “citizens should be able to maintain the right to keep and bear arms without fear of judicial retaliation.”

The Resolution points out that the Texas Constitution and Bill of Rights state that Texas is a free and independent state, subject to the United States Constitution and reiterates the Second Amendment that states “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” This right, however, is restricted when it comes to those convicted of a crime per Texas Penal Code, Title 10, Chapter 46.

According to the Resolution, the criminal misuse of firearms is “due to the fact that criminals do not obey laws, and this is not a reason to restrict constitutionally-guaranteed rights of law-abiding citizens.”

As a Gun Sanctuary County, the Resolution states that “the Grimes County, Texas Government will not authorize or appropriate government resources for the purpose of enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of any element of such acts, laws, orders, mandates, rules or regulations, that infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms as described and defined above.”