Were afraid theyll take our guns, N.J.’s newest 2nd Amendment town says – NJ.com
Another New Jersey municipality has adopted a pro-Second Amendment resolution, following a lengthy debate touching on gun laws, domestic violence, self-defense, misinformation and even a reference to weapons restrictions in Nazi Germany.
The Stillwater Township Committee adopted a resolution declaring Stillwater a Second Amendment / Lawful Gun Owner Township" on Tuesday night, but not everyone in the room was cheering.
Some in the audience of more than 60 spoke in opposition to the resolution, which does not supersede any state or federal laws, before it was approved in a 3-1 vote.
It resembled resolutions passed in at least seven other New Jersey municipalities since December.
Stillwater Mayor Lisa Chammings cast the lone dissenting vote, stating that while she supports the Second Amendment she was not comfortable with the part of the resolution claiming that red flag laws - statutes that allow for removing weapons from someone judged a threat to themselves or others - had been "misapplied and misused and run afoul of the U.S. Constitution.
I know the amount of domestic violence this township went through, Chammings, whose late father was Stillwaters last police chief, told the audience from the dais.
She also alluded to the suicide of a police officer.
The governing body in Stillwater, located in Sussex County, undertook the resolution at the behest of Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, who voted against New Jerseys 4-month-old red flag law. The four committee members who voted Tuesday are Republicans.
Space spoke several times during Tuesdays meeting. He outlined a hypothetical confrontation involving Stillwater committee member Vera Rumsey in asserting that New Jerseys red flag law could facilitate a false allegation against him.
With red flag laws, we can sit down and have coffee - Vera and I, or Committeewoman Rumsey, and we could be talking about different things and she could feel - maybe, He was talking about Donald Trump and I dont like him, and I felt kind of threatened by what he had to say, and then she could, in return, report me, and then pretty soon theyre coming to my door, taking my firearms away, Space said.
Space, though, was describing a different process than exists under New Jerseys red flag law, formally known as the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act of 2018.
It allows for a judge in response to a request from family or household members, or law enforcement to order the removal of guns and ammunition from someone who poses a significant danger of bodily injury to self or others, as described in the statute.
The legislation received crossover support from many Republicans, passing the Senate by 32-5 and Assembly by 59-12. At least 17 other states have similar laws, including Florida, where Space at one point acknowledged owning property.
Some in the audience who spoke in support of the resolution, though, appeared to pick up on the idea that the red flag law, and others, are simply a pretense for seizing weapons. There was applause when one speaker drew a parallel to gun restrictions under the Nazis in Germany.
Kathleen Marshall, who spoke in opposition to the resolution, expressed dismay at the outcome.
Im heartbroken, Marshall, a Stillwater resident since 1992, told NJ Advance Media.
I love my town. I think theres a lot of misinformation and ignorance about what the actual laws are. They go right to, theyre taking our guns away, and thats not what this is about, Marshall said.
Kathleen Marshall, a Stillwater resident who addressed the township committee in opposition to the resolution, remains at the meeting following the vote, Jan. 21, 2020Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
After Donna Price, a Stillwater resident, spoke in opposition to the resolution and disagreed with Spaces characterization of red flag laws, a man in the audience asked her if she felt threatened by him.
I do, Price said.
In response, the man responded, perhaps facetiously, that Space might get in trouble as a result.
You just got red-flagged, the man said.
Tuesdays meeting, while at times tense, remained civil. Every seat in the room, which has a maximum capacity of 55, was taken, and there appeared to be up to two dozen others standing along the side and back walls and just outside the door.
Kaitlyn Hammerle, a Stillwater resident, spoke in support of the resolution.
All it is saying is that Stillwater respects and supports the lawfully abiding gun ownership of all the residents. It avoids using the word sanctuary, which could be misconstrued as allowing illegal firearms," Hammerle said in a reference to a version of the resolution adopted in West Milford and, last week, by the Cape May County freeholder board.
Mike Vrabel of Sparta spoke in opposition. He said the current laws do not violate the rights of law-abiding gun owners and refuted assertions from Second Amendment advocates that increasing access to guns would save lives.
Vrabel, a U.S. Air Force veteran, alluded to a friendly-fire incident in 1989 in Panama, that he witnessed, that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Army Ranger.
As far as the good guy with a gun theory, I understand the emotional appeal of that, said Vrabel, a member of the Sussex County chapter of Brady formerly the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Ask yourself, if an incident happens, and you are armed, and you have your concealed carry permit which I know is almost impossible in New Jersey are you up to the task, because even an Army Ranger can falter, Vrabel said.
As he concluded, someone from the audience shouted, How many people were saved in Texas - a reference to a gunman at a Texas church who was fatally shot by another church member Dec. 29, but not before the gunman killed two people inside the building.
Votes in additional places seem likely. Space has asked municipalities in Sussex and Warren counties, along with both freeholder boards, to consider pro-Second Amendment resolutions.
Two Sussex County freeholders, board director Sylvia Petillo and Herb Yardley, attended Tuesdays meeting but did not address the Stillwater committee.
Assemblyman Parker Space, R-24th District, in hat, with Sussex County Freeholder Herbert Yardley at the township committee meeting in Stillwater, Jan. 21, 2020Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
In contrast with the mayor, George Scott, the townships deputy mayor, offered unambiguous support for the totality of the resolution.
Im concerned that theyre going to come in and take my guns, Scott said.
Chammings, while stating her support for the Second Amendment, said she could not back the resolution without hearings specific problems regarding red flag laws.
I dont know how its being misused or misapplied, she told NJ Advance Media following the vote, in quoting back the part of the resolution that gave her pause.
Stillwater is home to about 3,900.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Here is the original post:
Were afraid theyll take our guns, N.J.'s newest 2nd Amendment town says - NJ.com
- Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday bill misses the mark | CATHERINE DORROUGH - Montgomery Advertiser - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- LETTER: The Second Amendment is not a partisan issue - Fauquier Times - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- A Commitment to Protecting the Second Amendment - New River Valley News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- WY: The Truth about the Wyoming Second Amendment Protection Act! - Gun Owners of America - March 22nd, 2026 [March 22nd, 2026]
- A look at the Traces very interesting new board members - Second Amendment Foundation - March 22nd, 2026 [March 22nd, 2026]
- Celebrating 250 years: the Second Amendment and Ohios frontier legacy - Buckeye Firearms Association - March 22nd, 2026 [March 22nd, 2026]
- SAF WIN: POST OFFICE CARRY BAN INJUNCTION COVERS CURRENT AND FUTURE MEMBERS - Second Amendment Foundation - March 22nd, 2026 [March 22nd, 2026]
- Second Amendment advocate William Kirk in Quincy with a warning to gun owners - Muddy River News - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Gordon vetoes Second Amendment Protection Act changes amid concerns from officers - Gillette News Record - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Senate 9 Votes Short Of Reversing Gordons Second Amendment Protection Act Veto - Cowboy State Daily - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Pro-life, pro-Second Amendment businessman Doug Harwell hopes to bring Christian, conservative values to SD34 - 1819 News - March 9th, 2026 [March 9th, 2026]
- US v Hemani: Supreme Court Continues to Shoot Self In Foot In Second Amendment Cases - Balls and Strikes - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- Why These Defensive Uses of Firearms Should Disarm Second Amendment Skeptics - The Heritage Foundation - March 7th, 2026 [March 7th, 2026]
- All Wyoming sheriffs oppose Second Amendment Protection Act bill, saying it would have a chilling effect - Casper Star-Tribune - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- All Wyoming sheriffs oppose Second Amendment Protection Act bill, alleging it would have a chilling effect - Gillette News Record - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Second amendment no longer trampled - Gladwin County Record & Beaverton Clarion - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Virginia sheriffs push back on proposed gun restrictions, citing Second Amendment rights - WSET - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- States Move to Defend Federal GunMailing Ban as Debate Over Second Amendment Intensifies - Delaware LIVE News - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- SAF FILES PETITION FOR REHEARING IN NEW JERSEY 3D PRINTING LAWSUIT - Second Amendment Foundation - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- The Supreme Court takes on guns and drugs in its latest Second Amendment hearing - MS NOW - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- Scinai Signs Second Amendment To Pincell Option Agreement And Submits Revised 12 Million Non-Dilutive Feng Application To Advance Pc111 Through Human... - March 4th, 2026 [March 4th, 2026]
- The Second Amendment, protests and the media - The Brookhaven Courier - February 22nd, 2026 [February 22nd, 2026]
- VA Reverses Longstanding Policy, Restoring Due Process and Second Amendment Rights for Veterans - ashlandcountypictures.com - February 22nd, 2026 [February 22nd, 2026]
- Adamiak remains behind bars, guiltless but ignored by the Trump Administration - Second Amendment Foundation - February 22nd, 2026 [February 22nd, 2026]
- Augusta County reaffirms its stance on the Second Amendment - The News Leader | Staunton, VA - February 22nd, 2026 [February 22nd, 2026]
- News - Governor Rhoden to Sign Bill to Protect Second Amendment Rights - South Dakota State News (.gov) - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- Gov. Rhoden Signs Bill to Protect Second Amendment Rights - South Dakota State News (.gov) - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- Council reaffirms Second Amendment sanctuary status after 'a lot of confusion' - Lynchburg News and Advance - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- Talking About the Second Amendment in Schools Initiative - Guns.com - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- What Happens When the Second Amendment Collides With Public Safety? - DCReport.org - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- Trump abolishes the Second Amendment - Salon.com - February 14th, 2026 [February 14th, 2026]
- What Does the Second Amendment Really Mean Today? - NBC Palm Springs - February 7th, 2026 [February 7th, 2026]
- Killing of Alex Pretti shows why we need the Second Amendment - The Desert Sun - February 7th, 2026 [February 7th, 2026]
- Trump DOJ decides the Second Amendment only counts when they have the guns - Boing Boing - February 7th, 2026 [February 7th, 2026]
- Gun rights groups and legal experts question Trump administrations stance on the Second Amendment after shooting - CNN - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Co-hosts of 'The View' defend Second Amendment's purpose to protect citizens from their government - Fox News - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- How the Second Amendment intersects with the latest fatal I.C.E. shooting - CNN - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- REPLY BRIEF FILED WITH SUPREME COURT IN CONNECTICUT FIREARMS BAN LAWSUIT - Second Amendment Foundation - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Georgia organizations weigh in on Second Amendment concerns in response to Minnesota ICE shootings - Yahoo - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans, pointing to Alex Prettis gun, do an about-face on the Second Amendment - MS NOW - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Insane Claim: Conservatives Call Out DHS Second Amendment Hypocrisy Amid Claims Man Shot and Killed Was - Yahoo - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Newsmax guest on Alex Pretti: "The Second Amendment does not come without some responsibility. So shame on that individual for creating the very... - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- The White Houses latest battle is the Second Amendment - The Independent - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Gun Rights Debate Turns Topsy Turvy as Partisans Switch Sides Over Second Amendment Rights Following Killing by ICE in Minneapolis - The New York Sun - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- The Recap: Trump team suddenly against Second Amendment, plus a path forward for Democrats - Daily Kos - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- ICE Demonstrates Why We Need the Second Amendment - Reason Magazine - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Winner-Take-All Elections Mark A New Chapter In The Second Amendment | An Official Journal Of The NRA - Americas 1st Freedom - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- WaPo: DOJ Looking to Weaken Gun Laws to Appeal to Second Amendment Supporters - Democracy Now! - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Opinion | Hawaii Tries to Evade the Second Amendment - The Wall Street Journal - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Proposed Second Amendment Reaffirmation bill for potential federal restrictions on firearms - wvnstv.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- EDITORIAL | Assault on Gun Rights : Court should overturn Hawaii's infringement on Second Amendment - texarkanagazette.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- SCOTUS dispatch: An invitation to shop is not an invitation to bring your glockJustices probe second amendment limits on private property open to the... - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Second Amendment activists sound alarm over gun control bills in Virginia Legislature - Washington Times - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- The Second Amendment is Under Siege in Virginia | An Official Journal Of The NRA - Americas 1st Freedom - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Pritzker dismisses ex-DC police officer's call for Americans to use Second Amendment rights against ICE - Yahoo - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Press Release: Welch and Durbin Criticize Trump's New 'Second Amendment Section' at DOJ - Quiver Quantitative - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- US appeals court strikes down California's open-carry ban in major Second Amendment ruling - Fox News - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- SCOTUS To Hear Texas Second Amendment Case - 710 KURV - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Second Amendment Protects Right to Open Carry, Ninth Circuit Panel Holds (2-1) - Reason Magazine - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Ghost Guns In 2026: Evolving Tech, Legal Battles, And Second Amendment Implications - Dallas Express - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Red flags, Second Amendment rights and more: firearms are one of the most common topics for bills in Missouri so far - WGEM - January 2nd, 2026 [January 2nd, 2026]
- Red flags, Second Amendment rights and more: firearms are one of the most common topics for bills in Missouri so far - KFVS12 - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Hawaiis Officials Explain Why They Think They Can Overrule the Second Amendment | An Official Journal Of The NRA - Americas 1st Freedom - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Erika Kirk Shares Why She Still Supports Second Amendment After Charlie Was Shot in the Neck - International Business Times UK - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Red flags, Second Amendment, more: firearms one of most common topics for Missouri bills - KCTV - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- Regarding guns and the Second Amendment [letter] - LancasterOnline - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- US government sues US Virgin Islands and accuses officials of violating the Second Amendment - The Independent - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- DOJ sues U.S. Virgin Islands over lack of gun rights, but theres a catch - Second Amendment Foundation - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- US government sues US Virgin Islands and accuses officials of violating the Second Amendment - AP News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Is 2026 The Year of the Second Amendment? - California Rifle & Pistol Association - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- NRA Foundation Affirms the Importance of Second Amendment Philanthropy | An Official Journal Of The NRA - American Hunter - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- US government sues US Virgin Islands and accuses officials of violating the Second Amendment - Clinton Herald - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Press Release: Sen. Ted Cruz Files Amicus Brief Supporting Second Amendment and Interstate Firearm Permit Recognition - Quiver Quantitative - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Hudsonville teen moves to dismiss federal machine gun charge, citing Second Amendment protections - WZZM13.com - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Real Second Amendment curriculum could be headed to high schools soon - Buckeye Firearms Association - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- State of Florida agrees in court settlement with Gun Owners of America, Open Carry is unequivocally protected by the Second Amendment - Gun Owners of... - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Real Second Amendment curriculum could be headed to high schools soon - Second Amendment Foundation - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Miami Elects Mayor with Gun Control Record Raising Public Safety and Second Amendment Concerns - Gun Owners of America - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Feds Grant Nearly $1M to Wyoming Law School to Teach the Second Amendment in High Schools - USA Carry - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- DOJ promises 'a lot more action' on gun rights with new Second Amendment enforcement section - Fox News - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]