County commissioners pass resolution saying they support the Constitution

Palm Coast Observer
News

Flagler County commissioners — who've taken an oath to support the constitution — passed a resolution saying they support the constitution during a County Commission meeting April 19.

The text of Flagler County's resolution about the Constitution is as follows:

WHEREAS, the United States of America laid the foundations of its government on a written constitution; and

WHEREAS, that Constitution provided a structure of government designed to prevent the rise of tyranny through a carefully designed system of separation of powers, preventing any one branch of that government from obtaining a dangerous advantage over the States and the People; and

WHEREAS, that Constitution embodies a Bill of Rights protecting citizens’ most cherished liberties, to include Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, the Right to Peacefully Assemble, the Right to Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances, the Right to Bear Arms, the Right to be Secure in Their Property and Possessions, the Right Against Self Incrimination, the Right to Due Process and Fair Trials Before an Impartial Jury, and other essential rights and protections necessary to a free people; and

WHEREAS, that Constitution reserves all powers, not specifically granted to the Federal Government, to the States and The People; and

WHEREAS, since the founding of this country much Blood and Treasure have been expended defending that constitution and the freedoms it supports; and

WHEREAS, the members of this Board and other elected officials of Flagler County have taken a solemn oath to defend that Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

NOW THEREFORE, we do firmly resolve to protect and defend The Constitution of The United States of America against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and to resist any intrusions on the sacred rights protected by that Constitution.

The proposal originated with Commissioner Joe Mullins, who'd initially suggested making the county a "Second Amendment sanctuary county" or passing a resolution saying that the county supports the Second Amendment. But his fellow commissioner, Greg Hansen, had questioned the wisdom of supporting only one of the amendments, so Mullins broadened his proposal.

"I was looking at it as a Second Amendment, totally focused in on that, and then by a brilliant idea by Commissioner Hansen, he said, 'Why don’t we look at all of them' ... they’re all under attack right now," Mullins said. "So I think it’s very important that this county stands strong, shows that we stand behind it, and as some places have done sanctuary cities for immigration, we can do sanctuary for our constitutional amendment, our rights."

Neighboring Putnam County declared itself a Second Amendment sanctuary county in January 2020.

Explaining what rights he was alleging were under attack, Mullins said, "The First Amendment, we’ve seen a president stripped of it while he was a president; we’ve seen the Second Amendment is facing challenges right now and issues right now from very far radical individuals."

Several residents spoke in favor of the resolution during the meeting's public comment period, echoing Mullins' comments about gun rights and stating erroneously that social media speech restrictions by Facebook and other private companies were First Amendment violations. (The First Amendment concerns government restrictions on speech and does not apply to speech restrictions by private businesses).

Commissioner David Sullivan said he thought the resolution was important because he believed children weren't learning enough about U.S. history and government in school.

"By putting forth this resolution, maybe it will give people a chance to review that with their children, which will be good for our overall education level that we have, and for the future," Sullivan said.

Hansen said he thought it important to note that elected officials and government workers already take an oath to support and defend the Constitution.

"Everybody that works for the government takes that oath," Hansen said. "We’re just emphasizing that we are very serious about this."

Others suggested that the resolution was a political stunt.

"This is rightwing nonsense, and you’re all falling for it," said Palm Coast resident Mike Cocchiola. Cocchiola said honorable Americans shouldn't have to reaffirm their commitment to the Constitution as if it were somehow in doubt. He pointed out that two commissioners — Hansen and Sullivan — were veterans.

"Every day you put on that uniform, you reaffirmed the oath that you took," he said.

He asked where the "illogical extreme" of such measures would end.

"Are we going to take it to the ultimate extreme that someday everybody has to carry a copy of the Constitution like they did in Communist China during the Red Surge?" he asked, referencing the "Little Red Book" of Mao Zedong sayings that Chinese citizens felt compelled to carry during the Cultural Revolution.

"You don’t need to reaffirm you Americanness," Cocchiola said. "If some people don’t know that you are honorable Americans, I do."

Resident Jane Gentile-Youd said commissioners should be focusing on their responsibilities to residents.

"Your job is to take care of the needs of the residents of your district and the entire county,” she said. "... I think this is actually frightening. What are you going to do next, demand that everybody register as a Republican? Are you going to behead Democrats and throw them out?"

Gentile-Youd, who is running for the County Commission seat held by Mullins, was referring to comments by Mullins in which he'd spoken on Facebook about wanting to ship liberals out of Flagler County on trains and said on WNZF radio that he'd "like to see their heads cut off."

Commissioners voted 5-0 in favor of the resolution, which closes with words that echo those uttered by every elected official when they're sworn into office:

"We do firmly resolve to protect and defend The Constitution of The United States of America against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and to resist any intrusions on the sacred rights protected by that Constitution," it states.