Lehighton’s mayor wants to see the borough listed as a Second Amendment sanctuary.

Mayor Clark Ritter told borough council on Monday the resolution was started up by Brandon Bell.

Bell, a Jim Thorpe native, is the lead coordinator of the movement and has visited various boroughs and townships asking government officials to consider adopting an ordinance that typically rejects the enforcement of state or federal gun laws sensed to violate the Second Amendment.

Bell, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, started a petition on the Change.org website that had over 1,500 signatures as of this morning.

Ritter noted that both Palmerton and Bowmanstown have approved resolutions to have their respective boroughs listed as a Second Amendment sanctuary.

He cited proposed federal laws H.R. 127 and H.R. 130 as causes for concern.

“My opinion on this is it’s a way of trying to eliminate the Second Amendment,” Ritter said. “I’m afraid for my grandkids and their kids because the way things are going, it’s not good.”

Ritter added that he’s “very, very concerned.”

“I’m adamant about the way I feel about this,” he said. “The Second Amendment, (and) the First Amendment are two of the most precious things we have in our constitution.”

Ritter told council he was asking for their consideration to make a motion that the resolution be passed.

He asked that the resolution be listed on council’s April 5 meeting agenda for a vote.

Bell initially approached council with the petition last month.