The resolution is non-binding and is basically just a title. All governments must adhere to the Constitution, and both state law and federal law trump local policies.

After sometimes heated comments from the public on Tuesday, commissioners tabled the matter until next month.

Meanwhile, the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the same resolution at its meeting on Thursday, and the Alcona County board has discussed the issue. A resolution also has been introduced in the state House that would declare Michigan a Second Amendment sanctuary. State Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, who represents Northeast Michigan, is a cosponsor of that resolution.

In Alpena on Tuesday, resident Bob Powell, who hosts a YouTube Channel called the Truth is Viral, gave a brief presentation to the board, which he also live-streamed to his followers on Facebook.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A full house attends the Alpena County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday as dozens of Second Amendment supporters show up to encourage the board to pass a resolution that would proclaim the the county a Second Amendment sanctuary county. Commissioners tabled a vote on the issue until its February meeting.

The presentation was about what Powell considers threats to the right to bear arms and the Constitution. He gave examples of what he claims are efforts made by the “far left” to enforce or create laws that he says are unconstitutional. He also said some Democratic presidential candidates intend to harm people.

Supporting the resolution strengthens the county’s standing if such laws ever came to be, he said.

Powell said Alpena County Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski, a Republican, as well as Kieliszewski’s challenger in the Republican primary, former undersheriff Terry King, have told him they both support the Constitution and will not enforce laws that go against what is spelled out in the Constitution. Both Kieliszewski and King attended the meeting and did not object to Powell’s characterization.

Powell also claimed that, before the meeting, Alpena County Prosecutor Ed Black, a Democrat, shared a news article with the commissioners in an attempt to sway the commissioners’ vote.

Black vehemently denied that accusation and said he was just relaying information on what other counties were doing with the resolution.

Black added that his support of the Constitution and all of its amendments is unwavering and he will always defend it.

Powell said those who don’t support the resolution could lose their seats in elections.

Commissioner Brenda Fournier, a Republican, jumped to Black’s defense and told Powell she didn’t appreciate his remark.

“I didn’t appreciate the comment toward the prosecutor and, to me, it almost sounded like a threat,” Fournier said. “To me, this is getting political.”

That remark upset Powell and many of his supporters in the audience, prompting several outbursts.

Powell then went at Fournier.

“Of course it is political,” he said. “It is absolutely political, and you’re a politician. In fact, you’re my politician, my commissioner, and, if you vote this down, you’re darn right I won’t vote for you.”

Many in the crowd cheered and whistled after Powell’s comeback.

Once cooler heads prevailed, Commissioner John Kozlowski said commissioners should look into the resolution deeper and consider it until the next meeting.

Powell was agreeable to that recommendation.

Black explained to the commissioners that the resolution would not change how the sheriff or prosecutor will handle gun issues spelled out in the Bill of Rights. He said the resolution also reaffirms that commissioners would continue to support the sheriff and prosecutor in not taking action against residents that would violate the residents’ Second Amendment rights.

“The resolution does not limit or ask us to do anything that our oaths of office do not already require,” Black said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.