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People in attendance of a St. Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting hold signs in support of the Second Amendment Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in the St. Clair County Admin Building. A crowd had gathered at the meeting to voice their opinions on a Second Amendment resolution passed by the county.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

A ban of weapons, including firearms, on St. Clair County property thats been on the books for nearly two decades is slated to be repealed by officials later this month.

St. Clair County Board Chairman Jeff Bohm said the countys dangerous weapons ordinance came up in talks while county commissioners were doing their due diligence on a Second Amendment resolution before it was passed in early February.

The ban, in place since late 2001, addresses the possession of a slew of weapons on land owned, leased or contracted by the county. On paper, the penalty for violating the law included forfeiture of the weapon, a fine up to $1,000, or up to six months in jail.

However, Gary Fletcher, the countys corporate counsel, said the way it was written, the ordinance conflicts with open carry and concealed carry laws in Michigan.

It was an old ordinance, number one, and it was never enforced not in the parks, not anywhere, Fletcher said. He called the ordinance overly broad, adding that outside of certain parts of the county where for obvious reasons people couldnt carry a gun like the courthouse or county jail, its unenforceable.

Repealing the ordinance is on the agenda during the county board meeting Thursday. Typically, commissioners discuss agenda items in committee before sending them on to the regular board meeting later in the month.

Bohm credited Casey Armitage, a representative for Michigan Open Carry who works with St. Clair County Republicans, with bringing the conflict with the county weapons ban to the attention of officials.Armitage did not return multiplemessages requesting comment and could not be reached over the phone as of Tuesday.

The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday on the second floor of thecounty administration, 200 Grand River Ave., in downtown Port Huron.

Places people may not be able to possess a concealed firearm already under state law include churches or places of worship, school properties, licensed bars or taverns, sports arenas, and hospitals, among others.

The county property is not included in the types of buildings where you cant carry a weapon, Fletcher said. So, that ordinance is unenforceable and needs to go.

James Empey, of Marine City, carries his AK-47 as he joins others in gathering in the parking lot of the St. Clair County Admin Building before a Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

The county board had a change of heart Feb. 6, approving a resolution supporting Second Amendment rights that'd been originally pulled from an agenda in January. The resolution, proposed by state Rep. Gary Eisen, R-St. Clair Township, is part of a statewide sanctuary movement in response to gun control measures pursued in other states.

On Feb. 20, protesters crowded the county board meeting room, largely in upset that the county resolution didnt do enough to protect local gun rights. The group thatd spearheaded a related rally had also come with a list of demands that included repealing the county weapons ban.

Bohm said he understands that movement may take credit for its repeal. But he saidthat they met with Armitage several days before that meeting, asking Fletcher to come back with a recommendation.

When asked why officials didnt address that at the Feb. 20 meeting, he said, It wasnt on the agenda. I didnt have a review back from Gary (Fletcher) yet.

The original 2001 weapons ordinance, which was amended several years later, predates both Bohm, whos been on the board for 15 years, and Fletcher.

There could be other ordinances for different stuff on the books that (became obsolete) over the years, Bohm said. When things are brought to our attention, we fix them.

Jackie Smith is the local government reporter for the Times Herald. Have questions or a story idea? Contact her at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.

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Commissioners to repeal 19-year-old 'dangerous weapons' ban on St. Clair County property - The Times Herald