DECATUR - The Macon County Board on Thursday narrowly approved a resolution expressing opposition to unspecified legislation under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly that gun rights advocates argue infringes on the Second Amendment.

The resolution passed in a 10-9 vote after a lengthy debate in which some board members questioned whether the right to bear arms is an issue in which the county should be involved.

Decatur resident Dustin Meier told the board he wanted the county board to approve the resolution because of concerns he and other gun owners have about gun control legislation in Springfield.

Meier told the board similar resolutions had already been passed in 66 other Illinois counties by a group of citizens who post on the Web site, Illinoiscarry.org.

But not all board members considered imperative the passage of the nonbinding resolution stating opposition to "the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms."

Board member Bill Oliver, D-Decatur, contended the county board should not get involved in the issue because the county has no authority over gun laws.

"In my eyes, anything that affects the (U.S.) Constitution affects your county board," Meier argued.

Still, some board members were unconvinced.

Board Chairman Bob Sampson, D-Decatur, said he was wary of the precedent set by the county's involvement on the issue as it could pave the way for future board debates on such issues as impeaching President Bush or abortion.

Sampson compared the situation to when the board in 2006 rejected a resolution sought by a board member to make English the official language of Macon County after it was discovered English was already the official language of Illinois.

But Bryan Smith, D-Decatur, whose operations, personnel and legislative committee unanimously supported the resolution, said the board has not always abstained from taking a stand on controversial issues.

He noted a resolution approved by the board in 1993 asked WAND-TV to choose a later time to air the crime drama, "NYPD Blue," which was under protest at the time because of its sexual and violent content.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a resolution supporting a revised path for a high-speed natural gas pipeline that will run through Macon County.

Board members John Snyder, D-Decatur, and Dave Wolfe, D-Oakley, were absent.

Mary Tallon can be reached at mtallon@herald-review.com or 421-7984.