Branch County moving forward with 'Constitutional County' resolution
With little debate after over an hour of public input, Branch County Commissioners Thursday morning passed a resolution for Tuesday's formal action on declaring the county a “Constitutional County.”
“We’re affirming we believe and uphold the Constitution,” Chairman Tim Stoll said.
Commissioners agreed since its 1835 creation, “We have always been a constitutional county.”
The passed resolution stripped out proposed language to withhold funds or resources or allow officials not to enforce laws that “restricts the rights of any law-abiding citizen affirmed by the United States Constitution.”
Stoll then muddied what the commission meant when he added, “If laws get passed in the state, that’s up to a law enforcement to decide if they’re going to enforce that.”
Many of those who urged commissioners to pass a resolution want to stop the enforcement of gun restrictions, especially red flag laws. Those allow judges to ban someone from possessing a weapon when dangerous to themselves or others.
Others opposed the imposition of masks and other restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What did residents have to say?
Ray Sebastien told commissioners of any proposed resolution. “You think it’s harmless. As long as we’re just saying we’re accepting the Constitution. But really what you’re doing is calling into question the laws saying if we don’t like them, then we don’t enforce them.”
Hillary Raymond warned commissioners, “There is no legal definition of a Constitutional County. The term is often used by individuals or groups who wish to promote a particular political agenda. That has no basis in law. This has the potential to create a dangerous situation where the rule of law is undermined, and public safety is put at risk.”
Randy Hollister told the meeting, “Nowhere in the Constitution does it say you can mask children.”
Marie Donner countered, “The government did it before” during prior flu epidemics. “I don’t know how many of you know people that died from COVID. I have relatives who did. It's your rights versus their rights.”
Donner added, “The same thing with gun violence. I know people that were killed because they should not have had access to a weapon. Either they died by suicide or by killing others, including children.”
Jessica Green urged a firm resolution. “Our country will stand and the need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin,” she quoted Samuel Adams. “Why is the constitutional county resolution necessary? Because we are forgetting that the Constitution exists.”
Prior story 'Constitutional County' resolution on commissioners' Aug. 3 agenda
Vicky Hargrave stated, “All counties are constitutional counties, and every county elected official like yourselves have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution.”
“This resolution has nothing to do with the Constitution. Instead, the request is based on political beliefs and looking for a quicker avenue to evade laws with which they do not agree,” Hargrave told commissioners.
James Wilson urged everyone to support decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court and Michigan. “They have recently made decisions and several states have chosen to defy those orders. So, I think it’s important that we make a statement that we do uphold the Constitution," he said.
Donner lamented Branch County once had political parties who talked to each other. “But now there appears to be one party and no dialogue.”
Almost two dozen spoke during public comment in the packed meeting room.
Outside there were several verbal confrontations.
Subscribe Follow county issues. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter
Commissioners put the “Constitutional County” resolution on the agenda after months of public urging them to pass a statement vowing to return until the question was considered.
What the resolution means and its impact on the county remains unclear.
---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Branch County moving forward with 'Constitutional County' resolution
