Board supports non-binding 2nd Amendment statement
By KATE THAYER – kthayer@kcchronicle.com
GENEVA – County Board members approved a measure Tuesday supporting the 2nd Amendment, but not after some debate and Chairman Karen McConnaughay’s first tie-breaking vote.
Last week, the board was presented with a resolution supporting the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. A gun lobbying group, Illinois Pro 2A, requested the board consider supporting the Constitutional right.
In a 19-4 vote, the board approved their own version of the group’s resolution with one board member voting present.
Gerry Jones, D-Aurora, voted against the measure, saying the resolution was a ploy by the lobbying group.
A “no” vote, Jones explained, is “not voting against the constitution.”
“The point is, are we to become a tool of the special interest group?” Jones said, adding that as board members, they already pledge to uphold the constitution.
Bonnie Kunkel, D-Aurora, who also voted against the measure, said the resolution is not “appropriate.”
“The county board is not an appropriate forum to be discussing this,” she said.
John Hoscheit, R-St. Charles, said the board considers measures presented by special interest groups, such as workers’ unions, many times, and that this shouldn’t be any different.
Bill Wyatt, D-Aurora, pointed out that the county’s resolution was much tamer than Illinois Pro 2A’s suggested resolution. The county’s language merely restated the 2nd Amendment and that it will support it.
Wyatt suggested a further amendment of that resolution, which failed, but the vote sparked McConnaughay’s first tie-breaking vote.
She voted against the amendment to the resolution citing her policy that she would vote no in all tie-breaking votes because a tie signals that the board is conflicted.
