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Second Amendment: Support resolution approved

By Staff | Mar 29, 2013

The Lee County Commission unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Second Amendment and the right of the people to keep and bear arms this week.

Lee County joins Collier County, the city of Marco Island, and all 67 sheriffs in Florida in its position statement and will forward the resolution to Gov. Rick Scott and the Southwest Florida legislative delegation.

BOCC chairman Cecil Pendergrass, who brought forth the measure Tuesday, said it was simply a case of the commissioners supporting the Constitution.

“Supporters have approached the board about it and me about it and I support it because the oath I took here in November was to protect and defend the Constitution,” said Pendergrass. “The Second Amendment is a part of people’s rights and we sent a message to the federal government that we want to continue to follow the constitution.”

Supporters of the resolution have packed the Lee County Commission chambers for several weeks to express their desire to have a resolution passed.

President Obama has called for more gun legislation in the wake of the recent school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Pendergrass said these restrictions would only make the streets more dangerous.

“Mental illness kills people, not guns. My first murder I worked as a police officer was with a putter, the second was with a pool cue, the third with a baseball bat,” Pendergrass said. “Murders can happen with any weapon.”

Second amendment supporters have also had an ally in Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, who has been outspoken in his defense of the Second Amendment, having written an open letter to President Barack Obama last month on the topic.

He said support of the amendment is to protect the people of Lee County and that the decision was the only right choice.

“We should support the Second Amendment and all the amendments, and I support the action they took,” Scott said. “I can’t add much more than what the Florida Sheriffs Association’s resolution along with Collier County and Marco Island have also said.”

Scott seconded Pendergrass’ opinion that the bad guys will always find a way to get a gun.

“The bottom line is that criminals and the criminally insane will always have guns and be inclined for violence and these laws do nothing but restrict legal citizens,” Scott said.