WEBSTER COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) Groups in several Kentucky counties, including some in the Tri-State, are petitioning local leaders for supporting rights to possess guns.

Theyre asking Webster and other counties to vote for a proposed Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution, which they claim prevents more restrictions on owning a gun.

Its kind of a peaceful route to take, says John Whitfield, a member of Webster County Kentucky United, a group campaigning in Webster County on sanctuary status.

I dont think its just needed in Webster County, I think its needed here in the Tri-State area because its every American citizens rights to bear arms, he says.

An online petition, which has more than 400 signatures, calls for the county not to recognize any further gun restriction laws or possible seizing of weapons. Hancock County Fiscal Court approved a similar resolution late last month, and similar efforts started in Hopkins and other counties.

CIties around us are having to constantly live in fear because of this possibility of getting their guns taken away and not being able to protect themselves from shootings that have happened before, Whitfield says.

I had and still harbor concerns about it, counters Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain. He says one issue is state lawmakers passed a bill in 2012, which prohibits counties and cities from passing local laws regarding sales and storage of guns. He also worries about local governments being empowered to determine the legality of federal laws.

For local government or in my case the local sheriff to be empowered with the ability to determine constitutionality of any laws, I think sets a very dangerous precedence. I think that clearly sites in the purview of the judiciary, he says.

Whitfield says their group plans to meet with Webster County Fiscal Court at their meetings later this month.

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(This story was originally published on January 2, 2020)

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Group petitions for 2nd Amendment Sanctuary in Webster Co. - Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW)