Commissioners to declare Westmoreland a 'Second Amendment County' in favor of gun rights

Westmoreland County commissioners will approve a resolution to support gun rights this week.

Republican commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew, along with Democrat Gina Cerilli Thrasher, said they will declare Westmoreland a “Second Amendment County,” a move they concede has no teeth but shows support for gun owners.

“There are bills seeking to take away our Second Amendment rights in the Legislature, and we want to work with our local law enforcement agencies, our sheriff, to protect our Second Amendment rights,” Kertes said “We want to protect our ability to own rifles and high-capacity magazines.”

Commissioners did not disclose the text of the resolution they will consider at their meeting Thursday but said it is based on a similar resolution approved this month in Washington County. That resolution, according to Washington County commissioners, would enable nonenforcement of gun control laws prohibiting ownership of certain weapons if officials believe the law to be unconstitutional.

Kertes said Westmoreland’s proposed resolution will carry no specific policy directives.

“Our powers are limited, but we want the public to know we are standing with them,” Kertes said.

Thrasher called the resolution “silly” but said she will vote for its passage.

“I am pro-Second Amendment, but I don’t really understand the purpose of this resolution. We don’t have any jurisdiction over the United States Constitution and the Second Amendment,” Thrasher said.

In addition to Washington, commissioners in Greene and Fayette counties approved similar resolutions, and Westmoreland’s leaders said Thursday’s vote is part of an effort to unify the region in support of gun rights.

Josh Fleitman, the Western Pennsylvania manager for the gun-control advocacy group Ceasefire PA, said resolutions such as the one under consideration in Westmoreland are unenforceable.

“It does nothing to make the county safer and, in fact, makes counties less safe and creates confusion about how and when gun laws will be enforced,” Fleitman said. “It’s kind a solution in search of a problem.”

Chew said he will support the Second Amendment resolution, which he described as no different than other proclamations on key issues.

“We are limited in jurisdiction, but governments all over pass resolutions in favor of key issues,” Chew said. “The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania sends out resolutions they suggest we adopt annually. This isn’t one sent by CCAP, but it’s the same: our support for the full Second Amendment rights granted in both the commonwealth and federal constitutions.”