To the Journal editor:

Dear citizens of Alger County, this letter is in response to two resolutions adopted by your County Board of Commissioners at their April 10 meeting. The two resolutions, #2023-07 and #2023-08 were put forth under the guise of protecting your right to bear arms, often portrayed as “freedom.” There has been much debate, discussion and division about this topic, prompted by the dramatic rise in mass shootings across our country.

Neither of these resolutions has anything helpful to add to this debate in addressing the issue of reducing those mass shootings or protecting our vulnerable children whose deaths by firearms is now the largest cause of childhood mortality in the U.S. Instead, #2023-07 reiterates support for the 2nd Amendment of both the federal and state constitutions, which our Board of Commissioners did when they signed their oaths of office.

Redundant and unnecessary, but not particularly objectionable until you ask the question, “Whose interpretation of the 2nd Amendment?”

Resolution #2023-08 however, threatens our local law enforcement establishments with defunding if those establishments are perceived as violating the board’s interpretation of the constitution.

This is a dangerous precedent.

≤ It puts the citizens of Alger County at risk of losing their protective, law enforcement services, which does not keep us all safer.

≤ It puts the county at risk of legal action for failure of protection, for both those that feel their constitutional rights were violated, or those whose who feel threatened by open carry.

≤ There is no process for implementation. Who could bring forward a charge? Who decides its legitimacy? A unanimous or majority opinion to implement it? How soon could implementation take place or be appealed? A descent into chaos seems likely and confusion certain.

≤ Failure to carry out the laws of the state of Michigan would put Alger County in legal limbo.

The fallout from any of the above reasons would be borne by the citizens and taxpayers of Alger County, resulting not in a “sanctuary county,” which implies safety and security, but in an ‘anything goes, wild west’ county.

Alger County needs to insist on the repeal of #2023-08 and go to work to solve our real problems of 11% unemployment, affordable housing, repair of side roads, strategic planning, work that will strengthen the community that has been Alger County, not reinforce the power and control of the few.

Resolution #2023-08 can be found at https://cms2.revize.com/revize/algercounty/document_center/Board%20Minutes/2023/Packets/23-03-13.pdf pages 70-71