Community
April 15
2021
Columbia County Second
Amendment Sanctuary
Ordinance Moves to Validation
The Columbia County Second
Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance, re-
cently adopted by the Columbia County
Board of Commissioners to implement
the intent of the voters as demonstrated
by the passage of the “Second Amend-
ment Preservation Ordinance” in 2018
and the “Second Amendment Sanctu-
ary Ordinance” in 2020, will now move
on to Validation proceedings in Colum-
bia County Circuit Court.
In passing the Ordinance, many
provisions of both Measures 5-270 and
5-278 remain the same. The Ordinance
amended the Second Amendment Sanc-
tuary Ordinance to incorporate provi-
sions of the Second Amendment Pres-
ervation Ordinance where it differed
from the Second Amendment Sanctu-
ary Ordinance. The new Ordinance’s
adoption kept it consistent with County
practice and corrected scrivener errors
in the Acts while preserving the intent
of the voters. The Second Amendment
Preservation Ordinance was then re-
pealed.
The passage of the two initia-
tives and subsequent adopted Ordinance
raises several important legal questions
about what firearm regulations can be
enforced in Columbia County, accord-
ing to County Counsel Sarah Hanson.
To gain clarity from the Court about the
matter, the County filed a “Petition for
Validation of Local Government Ac-
tion,” which authorizes the circuit court
to conduct a judicial examination of the
Ordinance and provide a judgment of
the court as to its regularity and legality.
“This will allow the Court to
tell us whether the County can actually
decline to enforce certain state laws,
and it will tell us how to abide by the
will of the voters to the extent that we
can,” Hanson said. “It will also safe-
guard the County in the event we’re
ever sued by an organization, for ex-
ample - a gun safety group, due to the
measures.”
Notice and summons to the
County and all electors or interested
persons will be posted once a week for
the next three weeks. Any interested
person will have ten days from the date
of the final publication to appear and
contest the regularity, legality, validity,
and effect of the Ordinance.
“As Columbia County Sher-
iff, it is my responsibility to ensure the
rights of all of our citizens are protect-
ed, including the 2 nd Amendment right
to bear arms,” Sheriff Brian Pixley
said. “I look forward to the validation
process so we can move forward with
the will of the voters.”
3
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Kristi Wilson: Your
Portland Community College
Board Candidate - Zone 7
Kristi is a proud Portland Community
College graduate and long-time resident
of western Washington County. A leader
and collaborator who understands our
community and our education system.
She has supported student success,
strengthened a changing economy, and created pathways to
livable wage careers.
• Created and supported career-related programs to serve
over 3,000 youth and adults
• Over two decades of work and community service in
western Washington County
• Has the experience of building strategic partnerships that
will be critical as we move into economic recovery
• Dedicated to increase opportunities for historically
underserved community members
• Advocated for community college funding and career
technical education programs
“As a PCC graduate, I know firsthand the value of community college
and its critical role in improving the lives of so many. I'm excited to
build on my work and partnerships here in western Washington
County and Columbia County to help create more accessible,
life-changing opportunities for people in our community.”
Ballots due by
8 pm on May 18
Vote Kristi Wilson for
PCC Board of Directors
Zone 7
For a full list of
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more, visit: electkristiwilson.com
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