Members at the annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention voted in favour of a controversial resolution on Tuesday.

93% of the delegates in attendance voted for the RM of Kindersley's resolution asking the association to promote increased rights for property owners involving rural crime to higher levels of government.

Approximately 2,000 attendees are at this year's SARM convention from March 13th to 16th at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon representing different areas in the province.

The resolution has restarted the conversation of rural crime and limited policing among community members. Last year, stories of farmers moving towards carrying firearms as self-defense while working on their property came to light after a 22-year-old named Colten Boushie was shot and killed in a farmyard near Biggar. 55-year-old Gerald Stanley was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Boushie.

SARM members in favour of the resolution are hoping this will help enhance protective rights for landowners when dealing with the possibility of rural crime on their property. Members are also looking to grab the attention of both the federal and provincials governments with the move.

Others have voiced their displeasure with the resolution stating it could increase violence and possibly more deaths in rural areas.

SARM will now look to discuss with the RCMP and provincial government on a new rural policing strategy in the coming weeks.

Yesterday, Saskatchewan RCMP responded with no comment to the resolution discussed at the convention and simply states "it is our job to enforce the laws as they exist". The response added how RCMP are urging communities to consider using other methods of protection and surveillance such as Rural Crime Watch or Citizens on Patrol groups.