Russellville officials took a step Monday night in making sure that industries involved in the manufacture of firearms and ammunition know they are welcomed here.

The city council approved a resolution Monday expressing the city’s support of the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Mayor David Grissom said he hopes industries involved in the manufacturing of firearms, ammunition and firearm components take note of the city’s action.

“There are places out there where these companies are located that residents are protesting them being there,” Grissom said.

“Well, on behalf of the city of Russellville, and really, I think I can speak for this entire area, but you are welcomed here.”

The resolution states that “it is in the best interest of the citizens of the city of Russellville, Alabama, that the constitutional protections afforded to the people and the citizens expressed in the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Alabama, 1901, including those constitutional provisions afforded by the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution and by Section 26 of Article I of the Constitution of Alabama, 1901, be diligently and faithfully supported and defended.”

“It just says, we support the right to bear arms, and if you want to build them here, we welcome you,” Grissom said.

The city of Tuscumbia was the first in the area to pass such a resolution. Grissom said that Russellville native and current Tuscumbia Mayor Bill Shoemaker reached out to him about the resolution and he was thrilled the city to could do something similar.

“I hope this is something that everyone in the county can vote to support and show that we are one unified community working together to attract jobs,” Grissom said.

The document also says that the Russellville Industrial Development Board and the Franklin County Development Authority “in their efforts to recruit new and expanding companies to the city of Russellville and to Franklin County, Alabama, include and encourage the firearms manufacturing and component firearms manufacturing industries to locate or expand in the city of Russellville, Alabama, or in Franklin County, Alabama, area of northwest Alabama.”

It also requests that development officials inform businesses about the city’s resolution.

“We are open to doing whatever we can to help attract good paying jobs to this area,” Grissom said. “I think support of this resolution is a positive step in letting those businesses that may be looking to relocate know that they are welcomed here.”