U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)-— On July 5, 2022, the Kenosha County, Wisconsin, Board of Supervisors voted 14 to 7 to remove the ban on the bearing of arms in most county-owned buildings. Kevin Matheson of the Kenosha County Eye reported on the vote. The Kenosha County Eye has graciously granted permission for this correspondent to use the images and text from the article in this article.
A famed Democrat politician once said all politics are local. After the chaos of the riots in Kenosha in 2020 and the national attention brought about by the self-defense trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the Kenosha County Board has overwhelmingly voted in favor of armed self-defense as a human right. From Kenoshacountyeye.com:
In a bi-partisan vote just before midnight on Tuesday night, the Kenosha County Board voted 14 to 7 to allow concealed carry in most county-owned buildings. This includes taxpayers and employees. This measure was sponsored by Board Vice-Chair Erin Decker. Supervisor Yuhas proposed an amendment that passed -it directed employees who choose to carry at work to keep the firearm “on their person” and not in a desk drawer, purse, or an otherwise unattended location. Decker previously told KCE that she proposed the change because she feels that visitors to county buildings and county employees should not be denied the right to protect themselves. The “no guns allowed” signs went up in 2011 at the same time that the City of Kenosha government voted to allow guns in most City-owned buildings. Both City and County governments now have similar policies which Decker said will “eliminate confusion.”
The support for the Constitutional right to bear arms by the Kenosha County Board was affirmed with a second vote minutes after the vote to remove the ban on arms in most County Buildings.
This was a resolution to declare Kenosha County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. It proclaimed that the board would oppose any infringement of the constitution. This passed by a slightly larger majority, 16-6.
It will take some time for the employee’s handbook to be re-written and to take the no-guns signs down from the county buildings.
There were seven Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies at this meeting as the last meeting ended abruptly when Kenosha resident Joel Trudell was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Tonight’s meeting was peaceful and civil. Within six months, the County HR department will finalize the employees handbook and the “no guns allowed” signs will come down.
Kenosha is the third most populist county in Wisconsin and growing fast. In 2016, President Trump won the county by 238 votes. In 2020, President Trump won the county again, with 2,700 votes, according to foxnews6.com.
Samantha Kirkman, who spent 12 years as a Republican in the Wisconsin legislature, won the election for Kenosha County executive with 51% of the vote on April 5, 2022. Seven new County Board Supervisors were elected, giving conservatives control over the Kenosha County Board for the first time in history. Gabe Nudo was then elected as County Board Chairman and Erin Decker as County Board Vice-chair. Erin Decker sponsored the measure to remove the ban on bearing arms in Kenosha County buildings.
Kevin Matheson of the Kenosha County Eye writes these elections are part of a “red wave” of conservatives being elected in 2022.
Elections have consequences. The restoration of the right to bear arms for all people in Kenosha County buildings (including employees) shows how increasing majorities of the people demand their rights be preserved and respected.
Opinion:
Other authors have often noted how reality has a way of focusing attention. When much of downtown Kenosha was destroyed in a wave of senseless violence, it has a way of focusing people’s attention.
The newly elected Kenosha County Board is eliminating quite a few gun-free zones.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
