The Constitution of the United States of America makes it perfectly clear that Americans have the right to bear arms – however, in case there was any question about that, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners just weighed in on the matter and affirmed the county’s support of the Second Amendment that grants people that right.

At the Guilford County Board of Commissioners’ Thursday, April 16 meeting, six of the nine commissioners declared their support of the amendment, but three commissioners questioned the rationale behind the gun-owner friendly motion.

Republican Commissioner Alan Branson brought the motion to the board and read it at the meeting, and he argued that, in this day and age when the Second Amendment often comes under attack, the county board would be wise to publically acknowledge its support.

The resolution, which recounts a little of the history of the amendment and the court proceedings upholding it, speaks of the board’s wish to “express a deep commitment” to protecting all of the rights in the Constitution. It stated that the Board of Commissioners “declares that Guilford County government will use all powers and authority to defend and protect the rights of all of our citizens,” and it “implores the North Carolina Legislature and the United States Congress to use all of their powers and authority to protect our citizens’ freedom under the Constitution and specifically the Second Amendment.”

All five of the board’s Republican Commissioners approved the resolution, as did Democratic Commissioner Kay Cashion; however, the other three Democrats – Commissioners Carolyn Coleman, Carlvena Foster and Skip Alston – did not. Those three didn’t object to the Second Amendment, but they questioned why the commissioners would even take the vote.

Coleman asked, “I’d like to ask why is this necessary – do we not afford enough Second Amendment rights through the Constitution as it is?”

Branson replied, “We certainly do, ma’am, but there have been certain instances throughout different states – not specifically North Carolina, but states that adjoin us – that have had opportunities to challenge this recently, and I think it’s just a good idea to reaffirm that we support our Second Amendment rights here in Guilford County.”

Foster also questioned the move, stating, “I’m not getting the full understanding of why we are doing this either.”

Alston had raised his concerns about the motion at an earlier meeting held to set the agenda for the April 16 meeting. Like the other two Democrats who voted no, Alston questioned why the Board of Commissioners should spend time reaffirming something that was ratified over two centuries ago.