Nelson resident Lamar Kellet said he finds the town’s latest Family Protection Ordinance offensive. The City of Nelson tonight approved the second reading of its Family Protection Ordinance, following a month of national attention for the law. After the first reading of the ordinance last month, local and national media outlets misrepresented the law, saying it requires all heads of households to own firearms. In the first section, the two-fold ordinance does require all heads of household to maintain firearms for protection of their families and homes. However, the second section allows for exemptions, including those

“who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine.”

But, Kellet cryptically asserted he does not fit into any of the exemption categories, although disagrees with the law.

In his comments tonight, Kellet also said he found it offensive that elected officials put in an ordinance to resist the Federal Government. As presented in the first and second readings, the ordinance has no such language. According to the discussion last month during the first reading, the ordinance in fact upholds and supports the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the very laws of the land the Federal Government is required to protect. Further, Kellet said Kennesaw, which enacted a similar law in 1982, had an increase in violent crime after the law was passed. The statement starkly contradicts data presented by Nelson Police Chief Heath Mitchell at last month’s meeting. Here, Mitchell stated that Kennesaw’s crime rate immediately decreased after passage of the law. Additionally, Kellet argued the public had no opportunity for input, saying he would have liked to have had a public hearing on the ordinance. But, between the first and second readings –a month’s time—citizens did have an opportunity to contact council members with their input. One of the co-sponsors of the ordinance Council Member Edith Portillo confirmed that Kellet did contact council with his concerns.

Kellet called the ordinance something

“dreamed up by Tea Party activists”

and that the city had no way of enforcing the law.

“I think it’s a bad ordinance. I think it’s unnecessary and I’d like to see that repealed as soon as possible,”

he said. When council brought the ordinance up for a vote, Kellet stood up and requested to speak. Council, though, denied his request and said he could speak during public comments after the vote.

Conversely, Nelson resident Bill McNiff supported the new ordinance, saying he was proud of council for acting in the best interest of the citizens of Nelson. McNiff added he hopes the ordinance spreads city, state and world-wide.

“This is a historic moment,”

he said,

“This is the first time a city in Cherokee (County) has ever supported the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and prohibited the Federal Government from coming and taking our firearms and allowing us to protect ourselves.”

According to section one, the purpose of the ordinance is to provide emergency management of the city and to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants. Notably the town of 1,317 residents has only one officer, Chief Mitchell.

Council approved the ordinance unanimously. The ordinance will go into effect in the next ten days.