HONESDALE, PA — Two Wayne County residents attended the Wayne County Commissioners’ March 25 meeting requesting—on behalf of some 900 others who had signed a petition—that the commissioners declare the county a “sanctuary” for Second Amendment rights, “regardless of state and federal infringements that are happening as we speak.”

“We’re really just asking to affirm a right that, honestly, is a right by natural law,” resident Brett Corbett said. “Our founding fathers affirmed it, but honestly, it’s a right that no one can take away.”

Resident James Sellers said that, so far, 17 other counties in the commonwealth have adopted this type of resolution and many more have them on their agendas. Chairman Brian Smith said, however, that Wayne will not be joining them.

“We’ve done a great deal of thinking on this and we’ve done a great deal of investigation about this... I would be leading you astray if I didn’t fully disclose to you that our position here is administrative, not legislative. I firmly believe all the things that you’re talking about, but for us to try to legislate from a position that’s not a legislative position is just giving you lip service,” Smith said, who made clear that he was sympathetic to their cause. “I am very, very in favor of the Second Amendment... every time I talk to my children and grandchildren I tell them how important it is to retain the right to bear arms. I probably go further than most people,” he added that he also believes “checks and balances” are necessary to prevent people from purchasing firearms without being screened in some way.

Smith continued that the commissioners have already taken an oath to uphold the Second Amendment, as well as all the other amendments of the state and federal constitutions.

“The Constitution of both the United States and the state of Pennsylvania are both 240 plus-or-minus years old, and they have stood the test of time because they have been drafted and well-thought-out,” commissioner Joe Adams said. “There are seven articles and 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution and 11 articles and 46 amendments to the PA Constitution that we solemnly swear and affirm that we support, obey and defend as part of our oath; we take every one of those extremely seriously.”

Sellers asked what the next step is if they’re not satisfied with that answer. Smith said that they should bring their petition to their state legislators and ask them to do more for Second Amendment protections statewide. He added looking at the “much stricter rules” in New York and New Jersey, he can understand why they’re concerned about Pennsylvania.

“I don’t want to see Pennsylvania slip to having more restrictive rules either, but I certainly don’t want to pretend that we’re doing something that doesn’t hold any water,” Smith said.

Wayne County Solicitor Wendell Kay affirmed that everything the commissioners said regarding their own authority was “100 percent accurate.”

“Many people have the misconception that, for example, the county commissioners can call up a township supervisor and direct that township how to operate, or that the governor’s office can call up the commissioners and tell the county commissioners how to operate; that’s not the way things work,” Kay said. “We each have our levels of responsibility and our areas of responsibility... Many times, commissioners can act as a conduit of information to other levels of government, but they have no authority to direct state, federal government or the local townships.”

Adams and Kay also both described how long and difficult it is to make changes to either the federal or state constitutions. But Corbett believes those lengthy legislative safeguards are being bypassed. He did not cite any specific Second Amendment infringements that had him concerned.

“The problem is, you look at the original intent of the Second Amendment and where we are now—we’re nowhere even close to that,” Corbett said. “So the procedures are not being followed, but things are getting changed. This is why we’re asking for an affirmation of the Second Amendment.”

Smith said that while the commissioners will not be adopting the requested resolution, he would personally accompany the two residents to talk with the county’s state representatives, Sen. Lisa Baker and Reps. Jonathan Fritz and Mike Peifer.

“If I see evidence that things are getting worse and we need to start a battle, I will get involved in that and be leading the charge with you. I have 30-round clips, I have an AR, I believe that a well-formulated militia someday again may be very significant to this country’s security,” Smith said. “It concerns me a great deal when I start seeing the battlegrounds swell against our right to bear arms... I think [the federal government] should remember that Hitler’s reign of terror started by taking away people’s guns.”