Shelley city council debates declaring Shelley a sanctuary city for the 2nd Amendment

SHELLEY – At the city council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 9, both the Mayor and Chief of Police requested the city council to consider making Shelley a second amendment sanctuary city.  If passed, Shelley would become the eighth city in Idaho to pass this resolution.

During the meeting, Mayor Stacy Pascoe and Police Chief Rod Mohler encouraged council members to review and pass a resolution declaring Shelley a second amendment sanctuary city. 

“The City of Shelley and City Council does hereby oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the rights of the People to keep and bear arms and consider such laws to be unconstitutional and beyond lawful legislative authorit,” according to the resolution.

The resolution speaks against any Federal or State legislative action that restricts the ban on weapons, magazines, ammunition, or accessories now employed by the people living in the city.  It goes further and restricts “firearm owner ID cards or taxes relating to the possession of firearms or ammunition.   

The resolution comes when democrats in the United States House of Representatives are in the process of considering a bill that would require gun registration, insurance, and restriction on firearms, such as AR-15, large magazines, and other gun accessories. 

If passed, Shelley would join St. Anthony, Lewisville, Gooding, Kuna, Eagle, Star, and Nampa, who signed similar resolutions. 

According to the Idaho Statesman said Nampa passed the resolution but removed the words “sanctuary city.â€

Community Pioneer reached out to several people, all of whom supported the resolution. 

“I think it is a good gesture.  I just worry if it will put our law enforcement officers at legal risk,†Paul Voelker, who moved to Shelley two years ago from California to avoid its onerous gun laws.

“I support it and will enthusiastically enforce it,†City of Shelley’s Chief of Police Rod Mohler said.  “Our law enforcement will not be liable for enforcing such action.â€

Typically, such resolutions are not enforceable, like a city ordinance or legislative law. 

The city council takes this matter up at their next meeting on February 23, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall’s Council Chamber, located at 101 South Emerson Avenue.