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Commissioners support Second Amendment

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners declared support for the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms Wednesday, but the potential for the county — or even the state — to become a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” as an area businessman requested appears unlikely.

Following a request from Norman Doyle, owner of the Eastern Ohio Shooting Academy, a few weeks ago, the commissioners read a resolution of support for the Second Amendment as defined in the Constitution and the obligation of elected officials to uphold the Constitution.

Doyle continued to express concern about U.S. House Resolution 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, which passed in the House and has been introduced in the Senate; it is currently in committee. Reps. Joyce Beatty, Marcy Kaptur and Time Ryan, all D-Ohio, are co-sponsors of the measure.

Doyle said H.R. 8 would require the registration of all firearms. He also raised the issue of House Resolution 127, introduced into the U.S. House in January, saying that extensive registration would create a public database that criminals could use to target gun owners for theft, and that regulations could penalize someone for simply loaning another a gun for hunting. Doyle said proposed federal taxes of $800 per gun per year would be onerous for law-abiding gun owners.

Doyle reiterated that he is not opposed to current gun laws, and said anyone committing a crime with a firearm should face a heavy penalty.

Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan advised the commissioners on the matter, adding that such concerns are addressed in Ohio Revised Code Section 9.68. That law restates the Second Amendment and specifies civil action against entities accused of infringing on that right.

“I think the board has done everything they can, given their limitations,” Flanagan said. “The board has no more authority than what it has been given under Ohio law.

“The Ohio Revised Code does take into consideration situations for which the members here have expressed concerns,” he said. “At some point in the past, our legislators have taken this situation into consideration.”

Doyle has said other counties in Ohio had declared themselves sanctuaries, which would mean the non-enforcement of new unconstitutional laws. Commissioner Josh Meyer expressed doubt about the legal standing of such counties. Dutton said they have consulted the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and commissioners do not have the authority to create law.

In a later interview, Doyle said he found the wording of the statute unclear and continued to express concern about overreach and potential executive orders from the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, including executive orders.

The commissioners were asked to reach out to legislators including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio.

“We need to get the state involved. It needs to become a state Second Amendment Sanctuary,” Doyle said. “I’m an American citizen, and they’re trying to make us all criminals. … I became an instructor to teach people how to use firearms safely and how not to get involved in hurting people. We train people how to avoid a gunfight.”

The commissioners also heard an update from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association. Executive Director Jeannette Wierzbicki, Communications Manager Kennedy Webb-Blakely and George Dolney, revolving loan fund administrator, spoke about planned and funded projects around the county. These include an Ohio Public Works Commission grant of $334,480 for street improvements at the village of Belmont and an advanced welding grant for Belmont College through the Appalachian Regional Commission for $281,600. OPWC is also considering a project for Union Township to redesign Barkcamp Road for $300,000. Wierzbicki said the project could be approved by July 1.

Regarding the pressing problem of internet access, OMEGA is also working with the Reid Consulting Group on a broadband feasibility study for a 10-county region. The study could continue for a year and a half, but a formal update will be coming in June.

OMEGA is also assisting Ohio University in a project to map drinking water assets and identify communities that lack drinking water.

Dolney also mentioned the Ohio Rail Development Commission approved a loan of $500,000 to MPR Supply Chain Solutions in Bellaire to include rail service.

Dolney said the revolving loan fund is able to provide assistance to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any business interested in the revolving loan should contact Donley at 800-726-6342, ext. 203.

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