Gun-rights group seeking support from area counties

YORKVILLE -- A measure supporting residents' right to own guns is under consideration in some area counties.

A group of gun-rights advocates is bringing the non-binding resolution before county boards across the state. The measure would affirm citizens' Second Amendment protections in order to send a message to state lawmakers.

"It merely asks the legislators that if they're going to propose a new law, they uphold their sworn oath by not passing any laws that would infringe on the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution," Oswego Township Trustee Tom Yackley said Tuesday.

Oswego Township already has approved the resolution, and the LaSalle County Board is expected to discuss it Thursday. The measure is being looked at by the Kane and DeKalb county boards.

And at Yackley's urging, the Kendall County Board also is considering it.

The force behind the measure is Illinois Pro 2A Resolution, a campaign by a group of volunteers opposed to proposed Illinois laws that would place restrictions on gun ownership. According to the Illinois Pro 2A Resolution Web site, 78 Illinois counties so far have approved the measure affirming the Second Amendment.

Kane County Board member Bill Wyatt said he and other board members were approached about the resolution this past winter, but at this point "it really hasn't gone anywhere."

"That's not to say it wouldn't come up in the future at some point," Wyatt said. "It may; we've just been focusing on other legislation."

DeKalb County Board Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias said she, too, has received information about the resolution and plans to turn it over to a board committee for consideration. But she has some reservations about supporting it herself.

"Not that I'm against the Second Amendment," she said. "But I'm an anti-gun advocate so I would have a little bit of difficulty with this."

Kendall County Board members pointed out that the measure would not change existing law.

"The resolution just says the legislators ought to follow the Constitution," said Kendall County Board Chairman John Church, adding that he expected the board to lend its support.

"It's pretty hard to vote against God, motherhood and apple pie," Church said.