Wood County officials: We respect the entire Constitution

PARKERSBURG -- Wood County recognizes and supports the U.S. Constitution in its entirety, county officials voted on Monday.

The Wood County Commission unanimously passed a motion to make Wood County a "Constitutional Sanctuary County" for the whole Constitution.

''We are a Constitutional County and we will afford everyone every protection there in,'' Commission President Blair Couch said.

Wood County resident Matt Dodrill, who is also a Republican candidate for the upcoming race for the House of Delegates 10th District, appeared before the commission to see if he could gain support for a resolution declaring Wood County a "2nd Amendment Sanctuary County."

After actions in Virginia and in New York where lawmakers there were placing restrictions on gun purchases and gun ownership, counties in West Virginia began passing resolutions designating their counties as a "2nd Amendment Sanctuary County" to prohibit or impede the enforcement of gun control measures perceived as violative of the Second Amendment.

"I come to you today to present a resolution to make Wood County of WV a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County,'' Dodrill said.

Couch recognized that there were efforts in counties and municipalities to single out one amendment for special protection.

''That is difficult when we have the whole Constitution,'' he said.

These efforts have gotten Couch and the commission to look at the whole Constitution, including the First Amendment rights which everyone share.

''Amendments One, Two and Three are safeguards of liberty,'' Couch said. ''The First Amendment allows you certain individual freedoms.

''The Second Amendment the right to keep and bear arms. The Third Amendment…can't quarter troops in people's homes during peacetime.''

Amendments Four through Eight are "Safeguards of Justice,'' Couch said.

The County Commission acts as the court in probate matters where it has to make judgments regarding people figuring how aspects of an estate are divided among the heirs. Those people have the option, if they don't like the ruling, to appeal it to a higher court.

Couch said each elected official and people employed by the county are sworn in to uphold the Constitution of the State of West Virginia and the Constitution of the United States.

He said Dodrill was there because he saw other states taking actions that infringed on the rights of others protected under the Constitution. Dodrill agreed.

Couch outlined efforts in Virginia to enact gun control measures and some efforts in New York that were eventually withdrawn because some did not believe they would survive a Constitutional court challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure said the U.S. Constitution is the foundation on which all laws go upon.

''The oath we took covers the complete Constitution and all the amendments there too,'' he said. ''It gives equal force to each of those.''

The oath is taken every time they are elected., Couch said.

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said they do protect it and adhere to it, but there are times when the court has to interpret the law.

''We cannot make a patchwork quilt out there where every county have an interpretation of the word 'sanctuary' out there,'' he said of how that one word can have different meanings to different people.

Couch asked Dodrill why the Second Amendment would require the county commission to specify it over all others.

"'The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure,' Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to William S. Smith, on November 13, 1787,'' Dodrill said. ''Some feel it is not necessary and that this is just some form of making a big to do about nothing.

''As we look to the east at our sister state, Virginia, and to the north to New York, we see the issues their citizens face. I say it is necessary and should be acted upon immediately. All of us look to our elected leaders for guidance, we hope to take comfort in knowing that our leaders are fighting for us, for our protections and freedoms. Strengthen the branches of our liberty tree, honor the blood that was given by our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. Let freedom pump through its veins and bring forward a brilliant burst of revitalized life and liberty.''

County officials asked if the state legislature would be a better venue to address his concerns as any attempts to enact gun laws or to change state law that would impact Wood County would likely start there. Because Dodrill is running for the House of Delegates that could be a focus for him to pursue at candidate forums where he can ask other candidates to affirm they will not do anything to infringe on anyone's Constitutional rights, they said.

''I don't think we are going to see a change in West Virginia's Constitution and if we do, the lawmakers in Charleston will have to bear the brunt of it,'' Couch said. ''What you have afforded us is an opportunity to have a discussion about the whole Constitution and the protections it affords its citizens.''

Couch said the lawmakers in other states react to mass shooting events by passing laws, some of which will be challenged in court and ruled on.

Dodrill said he wanted the resolution to show a support of action and unity with the other counties that have already passed it.

''I am asking for this safeguard to be put in place; no one thought this would be necessary in Virginia 15 years ago,'' he wrote in his original comments. ''They became complacent, and have lost sight of the spirit of the United States.

''Today I am not asking for bloodshed, rather a sign of unity and strength. A signal shown to the people of Wood County that we stand side by side with the other counties that have already passed this resolution. We can be a beacon to all others that this is a place safe from tyranny."

Dodrill told commissioners he would have been there whether he was running for office or not.