An official at the Michigan Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners flashed a gun during a live public meeting on Wednesday after a local resident asked the group to condemn the Proud Boys, according to several reports.
During the virtual meeting, East Bay Township residents Keli MacIntosh asked the board of commissioners to make a kind of public statement in which the far-right group denounced the Proud Boys, who spoke before the council last year. be because he proposes gun law.
‘I mean, you can say we did not have [a] problem with Proud Boys in our area, but there are obviously problems with Proud Boys across the country that are causing problems, ‘said MacIntosh when Ron Clous, chairman of the commission, stepped off the screen, as seen in a video by The Washington Post.
MacIntosh went on to explain that although she is not a gun owner, she “can definitely appreciate people wanting to protect their gun rights.”
As she speaks, Clous is shown walking back into the frame with a gun.
MacIntosh goes on to say that groups like the Proud Boys have been given permission “to do more with their guns than to go hunting.”
MacIntosh told the Post that Clous’ actions scared her.
“He is supposed to look after the best interests of the community,” she said. “What is the message he is trying to convey? If we speak out against us, we will only threaten them with a gun?”
Clous defended his performance against the Traverse City Record Eagle.
“I just went to show the gun and showed that I fully support the Second Amendment, but then I decided not to do it,” he said.
He went on to explain his interaction with the far-right group during the March meeting.
“The only thing I know about them is when they came to talk to us. They were probably the most respected people who stood up and talked,” he said. “They were decent guys and they treated us with respect.”
Commission chairman Rob Hentschel, who can be seen laughing as Clous holds the gun, told the Record-Eagle he sees no harm in Clous’ actions.
“I saw it across his chest and thought it was ironic of him to do so,” Hentschel said. “The person was talking about guns and he had one over his chest. I did not see him doing anything illegal or dangerous with it. He did not threaten or swing. He just held it.”
Councilwoman Betsy Coffia shared her disapproval of the incident in a statement to The Hill, saying it gives responsible gun owners a bad name.
“It is unacceptable for an elected official to respond to a voter exercising her first right of amendment by swinging a weapon in a public assembly,” she said.
She criticizes Hentschel’s response, saying: “It is unacceptable that the chair not only giggled approvingly, but also defended the action.”
Coffia said the most disturbing part of the incident was the fact that “both men are defending the Proud Boys, despite the FBI being an extremist group with ties to white nationalism”.
Hentschel, Clous and the rest of the board did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
The incident comes after the deadly riot on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, where right-wing activist groups were involved.