HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Period - BOCCPublic Comment Period
February 4, 2019
10:30 a.m.
In Attendance:
Tom Taylor, Chair
Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the Board
Tom Jones, Sheriff
Public:
See sign in sheet
10:30 a.m. Joseph Carter attended today to discuss Initiative I-1639: changes to gun ownership
and purchase requirements. Mr. Carter believes it violates the constitution. He read into the
record a letter he submitted.
10:35 a.m. Tom Jones, Sheriff, stated he is in agreement with Mr. Carter. He stated publicly this
morning that until the constitutional validity is settled in federal court, he has informed his staff
that they will not be enforcing any parts of this measure. If that occurs, he will be working
closely with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office to determine the next course of action.
Commissioner Taylor stated he supports the Sheriff in his decision (he is not speaking for the
other Commissioners).
10:36 a.m. Cheryl Schweizer, Reporter for the Columbia Basin Herald, asked why the Sheriff put
out a "public" statement. Sheriff Jones stated this was passed by the public and expecting Law
enforcement to enforce this. Law suits were filed and questioning the constitutional validity of
this measure. They are coming out publicly to not enforce it. Grant County is a huge 2°d
Amendment County and takes the right to bear arms seriously. To infringe on this in any way is
why he is coming out against the initiative.