MERRILL, WI (WSAU) -- A resolution regarding a constitutional amendment has passed despite resident concerns.
On Tuesday night the Merill City Council held their monthly common council meeting, where a resolution was discussed to declare Merrill a Second Amendment Sanctuary City. The resolution was brought directly to the common council by District 4 Alderman Steve Osness.
The resolution is mainly ceremonial and doesn't have any effect on how the city's police department will enforce laws regarding firearms. Osness says he brought the resolution forward to be proactive about defending residents' 2nd amendment rights from any potential laws that would affect those rights.
Those who spoke during the public comment period of the council meeting spoke out against the resolution. Merrill resident Gene Bebel felt the resolution misused the word sanctuary.
"But yet when our infatuation with guns has created an environment where mass murder-suicides or accidental deaths of thousands, including veterans and children, are commonplace and not even news anymore. We are considering the horrible misuse of the term sanctuary to protect someone or something from something not even necessarily legal or of concern.
"We have other important issues. The first line in the dictionary that our children use as a definition of sanctuary is a consecrated place where one can find genuine protection. We don't need protection for guns, we need protection from guns."
While the people who spoke during the public comment period were against the resolution, the council passed it on a 6 to 2 vote. Alder Rob Norton who voted against the resolution called it fear-mongering at its finest, and pointless, political pandering.
Osness says even with his support of the resolution, he does understand why residents and Alder Norton are against or critical of the resolution. "I wish we could all sit down and have a conversation about it. But it's difficult. Everyone sees it one way, black or white. So I understand.
"I did have people reach out to me in favor and not in favor and I respect their opinions. I get it, everyone has reasons for either wanting it or not wanting it. So I respect that."
But despite those concerns, Osness feels the resolution is a proactive step for the City of Merrill. He mentions that the resolution will help to guard residents of the city against actions against firearms like what is happening in Virginia.
The resolution itself now goes to Madison where it will show legislators that Merrill is against legislation that infringes upon 2nd Amendment rights. A Lincoln County Supervisor has also proposed a resolution that would make the entire county a Second Amendment Sanctuary. And back in November of 2019, Florence County declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary county.