In the wake of yet another massacre of innocent children and personnel at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, we must seek immediate change to stop the rising epidemic of gun violence. We must not claim to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary.

In 2020, the Scioto County Commissioners designated Scioto County, Ohio, as a "Second Amendment Sanctuary." This ill-advised designation came during an opioid crisis when the county was ranked 84th in 88 Ohio counties on overall health factors. It's even worse today. Scioto County currently ranks 85th in health factors and last in health outcomes.

This designation was clearly political posturing rooted in the strong influence of the gun lobby that has deep connections to corporate partners in the firearms industry. It is a shameful rebuke of Gov. DeWine's efforts to allow police to remove firearms from individuals undergoing court-ordered treatment for mental illness or substance abuse. Imagine the impact such legislation may have here, where both abuse and mental illness contribute to area problems.

These elected officials took it upon themselves to play upon the unfounded fears of a government takeover to rally their base. They view any gun  control measures to be unconstitutional, even those addressing the scourge of gun violence.

Second Amendment Sanctuaries are defined as states, counties, or localities that adopt laws to prohibit or impede the enforcement of gun control measures believed to infringe on the rights of the Second Amendment such as universal gun background checks, high capacity magazine bans, assault weapons bans, and red flag laws.

You may say the designation is purely ceremonial, but that is not true. It symbolizes the stubborn resistance to any and all efforts to stop gun violence and to enact research-based legislation to end the problem. Moms Demand Action Ohio Chapter says, "With our state in the grips of a gun violence epidemic that kills over 1,500 Ohioans a year, we instead ask our lawmakers to listen to the voices of the majority of people in Ohio who support common sense safety measures."

Please sign this petition not only to rescind the designation of Scioto County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary but also to make a strong statement that measures must be taken immediately to stop gun violence. Thank you.