Jackson County Gun Rights Advocates Support District Attorney Gerald Fox

Written By: Jerry Hanson  |  Posted: Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Monday night August 16th, at the Jackson County Board meeting in Black River Falls, gun rights supporters assembled in support of DA Fox's decision to not prosecute gun control ordinances he believes are a violation of the U.S. Constitution. His Decision was based on the recent Supreme Court ruling in McDonald v. City of Chicago. Fox stated the decision means several state laws violate the right to keep and bear arms, including those that prohibit carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm in a public building or bar and having an uncased or loaded firearm in a vehicle. He said he will no longer prosecute those violations. About thirty Citizens gathered at the Jackson County Court House to demonstrate their support for DA Fox, and to express their position that the County Board would be overstepping its authority in giving that power to the Corporation Counsel. These Second Amendment supporters were also concerned that the County Board is going to hold, or has held, meetings to find a way to circumvent the DA's decision by authorizing the non-elected Corporation Counsel, Mark Skolos to prosecute those county gun control ordinances which Fox said he will not prosecute. The rally was organized in response to Mark Skolos, who stated he did not agree with DA Fox's decision and that he believes the county's gun ordinances that prohibit carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a firearm in a public building are still enforceable. The rally was hastily organized by local Citizens who got word that this subject was discussed at the August 9th meeting of the Executive and Finance Committee. Organizers contacted Wisconsin Carry, a gun rights advocacy group, which also had representatives there. One of those in attendance was Art Donnelly who said he supports the Constitution and DA Fox's stance to uphold the Constitutional right of the Citizens to keep and bear arms. He said, "The right to keep and bear arms is for our safety." Others expressed their outrage that the County Board may be considering usurping the "dully elected District Attorney and appoint some sort of specially appointed prosecutor."

Jerry Hanson is an owner and contributor to the Eau Claire Journal. He is a small business owner and farms near Augusta.