Scott County takes action to protect gun rights

SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) — Scott is now the 29th county in the state to take action to protect gun rights.

The fiscal court unanimously passed a resolution Friday morning, affirming the rights afforded by the 2nd amendment.

To be clear this resolution doesn’t make the county a 2nd amendment sanctuary – it affirms the county’s commitment to rights protected by the 2nd amendment.

Things got emotional, even tense at times in the fiscal court meeting when the public weighed in.

Many Scott Countians who spoke wanted more than the county gave them.

“They simply affirmed the 2nd amendment which everybody who’s an american should affirm,” says resident Scott Mitchell.

They wanted the county to become a sanctuary.

“That we will defend our citizens as a county and as a government if the federal or state government comes down and infringes on the 2nd amendment,” says Mitchell – which is what he wanted.

“What you’re asking us to do has no basis in law, as no emphasis on law and if we declare ourselves a sanctuary county we can’t enforce it. The sheriff can’t enforce it,” says Magistrate Bill Burke.

“We all took the same oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and that’s where we’re at. We will do that,” says Sheriff Toni Hamilton.

This comes after the legislative session began with several gun control bills on the table.

“We support the 2nd amendment and we want our folks in Frankfort and Washington to know we support that and it’s important to us,” says Judge-Executive Joe Pat Covington.

Covington does not think the state will pass any legislation infringing on the right to bear arms.