Pasco County Commissioners opted against declaring their support for the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights during their March 19 meeting.

Or, more pointedly, they voted down the resolution presented by Commissioner Jack Mariano as it was written.

Calling it a “political ploy” and saying there was no need for a resolution declaring Pasco County’s support for the Constitution, Commissioner Pat Mulieri opted against supporting Mariano’s measure. She was joined by fellow commissioners Ted Schrader and Kathryn Starkey in her opposition.

“I’m angry,” Mulieri told Mariano during a heated discussion on the measure.

The idea for Mariano’s proposal came about during talks about Pasco County possibly closing a loophole in local legislation that enables people to buy firearms from gun shows without a background check. Mariano said the 2^nd Amendment – the one that provides Americans the right to bear arms – is under attack and that he wanted to affirm his support for the Constitution.

While Mulieri and other commissioners did affirm their support of the Constitution during the meeting, they stopped short of approving Mariano’s resolution as written. (A copy of the failed resolution was not available for public view and was instead put into commissioner’s hands prior to the meeting.)

“I’m really surprised at you, Jack,” Mulieri said.

Starkey, who just returned from being out of town, said she strongly supports the Constitution, but was not willing to vote on a resolution she hadn’t had the time to read thoroughly.

When asked by Mulieri about the purpose of the resolution, Mariano said it was meant to signify his support of the Constitution as written.

His fellow commissioners, however, expressed concerns the resolution might muddy the waters if and when the gun show loophole conversation comes up again.

“What a political ploy,” Mulieri said. “I’m not trying to take away anybody’s rights. I support the Constitution of the United States of America. I support the Bill of Rights.”

In regard to the commission’s exploration of closing the gun show loophole, she had this to say: “I do think we should be careful in this day and age. If it’s good (a background check) when you go to a store, it should be just as good when you go to a gun show.”

Commission action on the gun show loophole is currently on hold. No date for future discussion has been set.

What do you think about all this Land O’ Lakes? Is the 2^nd Amendment under attack? Should the commission close the gun show loop hole? Share your thoughts in the comments section.