County Attorney Elaborates On Constitutional Rights Sanctuary Status
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Kosciusko County is the first Indiana county to have a constitutional rights sanctuary county status.
That’s according to County Attorney Ed Ormsby. County commissioners passed a resolution and an ordinance on Dec. 22, which gave the county the status.
Twenty-five other Hoosier counties have approved ordinances intended to protect Second Amendment rights. With Kosciusko’s new designation, it joins the group in shielding gun rights.
However, no other county has opted to pass legislation protecting other constitutional rights, said Ormsby.
The resolution cites specifically the First, Second, Fourth and 10th Amendments to the US Constitution as well as Sections 1-3, 6-9, 16, 18-20 and 24 of Article One of Indiana’s constitution. Those were cited specifically because, as the resolution states, commissioners also believe those are “the most in jeopardy at this particular time in our country’s history.”
The resolution does refer to the COVID-19 pandemic in that the designation of protecting people’s constitutional rights in Kosciusko is meant to stand even during it and other similar times. Ormsby praised the county overall for the handling of restrictions related to the pandemic, saying the county had taken a more “educational” approach than a “punitive” approach as other counties have.
Ormsby discussed how pandemic restrictions in some places have caused churches to be closed while bars have been allowed to be open. He said county leaders were concerned about enacting restrictions that limited people’s constitutional rights, which would cause harmful effects “longer lasting than ever the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As part of the resolution, commissioners ask that other county leaders change their rules to ensure that none of them are unconstitutional.
As for how the resolution and corresponding ordinance will be implemented, Ormsby called them “symbolic.”
“It is symbolic, but it doesn’t mean that it is worthless,” he said. He noted other elements like the American flag and the Statue of Liberty that are also symbolic.
However, he said that they, like the resolution and ordinance, “all stand for something and they all rally people to a cause.”
Ormsby also said that commissioners might pass other related resolutions or ordinances if needed in the future.
“Defending our constitutional rights is not just a one and done,” he said.
Commissioners’ opinions
At the commissioners’ meeting on Dec. 22, they also shared thoughts on the resolution and ordinance.
“I feel that as a country, that our Constitution by some is being disregarded,” said Kosciusko Commissioner President Brad Jackson. “I’ve even heard people say that it’s an antiquated, outdated document. I disagree with that. I feel that the Constitution, no offense to our Founding Fathers … that any person is smart enough to write such a document. It’s stood the test of time … and has kept our country running well for so many years and I believe firmly that it’s divinely inspired and I want to do everything that we can to defend it.”
“We studied this in government class in high school years ago,” said Commissioner Vice President Bob Conley. “We take the oath when we get elected to this office, and the oath is pretty much what we just read. Every time I take that oath, I get a lump in my throat because I know in my heart that the power of the Holy Spirit, of our God in Heaven, had His hand on this country from the very beginning. And I’ll defend that to the death.”
“I think in this time in our nation’s history, this is not just happening by happenstance, not a bunch of guys decided to reiterate what someone else already did,” continued Conley. “I think we’re being led divinely and I welcome that.”
“I’d just like to add, it’s somewhat sad that we even have to do a thing that’s like this because we’re not asking anybody to do anything different than what the Constitution already says,” said Cary Groninger.
“It’s not any change; it’s just stating that we’re going to uphold what laws are already out there, and you know it’s just a sad state of affairs that we even have to do this. This ought to be something that should be a no-brainer.”
At least two other Indiana counties have inquired about what Kosciusko has done to possibly pass similar legislation, said Ormsby. He also said constitutional rights activist KrisAnne Hall of Florida has inquired about having Sheriff Kyle Dukes on her show.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Travis Marsh read a proclamation from the sheriff at the Dec. 22 meeting stating that his office will stand by the resolution and ordinance.