The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Such language has created considerable debate regarding the Amendment’s intended scope. … 307 U.S. 174.
Virginia’s most famous son, Thomas Jefferson, once said: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” It appears that Virginians are taking that famous quote to heart.
Eric Young, an attorney and the county administrator, pointed out: “Our position is that Article I, Section 13, of the Constitution of Virginia reserves the right to ‘order’ militia to the localities. Therefore, counties, not the state, determine what types of arms may be carried in their territory and by whom. So, we are ‘ordering’ the militia by making sure everyone can own a weapon.”
Second Amendment sanctuaries have exploded. It appeared the national scene in the US in early 2019 after newly elected Democratic Governor JB Pritzker pledged to pass gun safety measures in Illinois.
Within months, 64 of the state’s 102 counties passed such sanctuary resolutions. After New Mexico expanded background checks in 2019, 30 of 33 counties declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries. In Colorado, Oregon, Washington state, and now Virginia, these actions have either already been implemented or are under consideration.
A local newspaper, The Farmville Herald reported on the vote by the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors recently.
On December 10, at the meeting of the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors, the board voted unanimously, 3-0, to pass a resolution declaring Cumberland County to be a Second Amendment sanctuary.
The full resolution is as follows:
WHEREAS, the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” and,
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), affirmed an individual’s right to possess firearms, unconnected with service in a militia, for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010), affirmed that the right of an individual to “keep and bear arms,” as protected under the Second Amendment, is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment against the states, and
[…]
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Cumberland County Virginia:
That the Cumberland Board of Supervisors hereby declares Cumberland County, Virginia, as a “Second Amendment sanctuary,” and
That the Cumberland Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its intent to uphold the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Cumberland County, Virginia, and
That the Cumberland Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its intent that public funds of the county not be used to restrict the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Cumberland County, or to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights, and
That the Cumberland Board of Supervisors hereby declares its intent to oppose any infringement on the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms using such legal means as may be expedient, including, without limitation, court action.
Board Chairman and District Five Supervisor Parker Wheeler asked that those present who agreed with the resolution, stand up and raise their hand in order to show support for the motion. The majority of audience members of more than 200, stood up.
Kevin Ingle, District Three Supervisor, expressed his surprise at the number of people who had risen to their feet and asked how a state in which so many individuals show full support foe the Second Amendment could be represented and governed by a small group that decide to “look the other way and vote the other way”.
Matthew Fariss, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates, noted in an editorial last week: “It’s important to realize that Virginia is a Dillon Rule state. That means that local governments can’t override state laws.”
Some Virginia localities have said that they will not enforce state law that they deem it unconstitutional. Civil War terminology like nullification and interposition, used extensively by Southern secessionists, have popped up in the wording, according to Slate.
Rockingham County is the latest locality in Virginia to declare itself a Second Amendment sanctuary. The meeting was packed with thousands supporting the decision and in a unanimous vote, the county passed a resolution,
Overall, there were over 3 000 people in attendance. Significant traffic delays were registered in the area around the high school where the meeting took place, with some people reporting that it took them at least 45 minutes just to get into the school parking area.
There are clearly thousands of patriotic citizens in Virginia who are well-armed and well-trained, and will resist in an organised attempt by Washington to violate their Second Amendment rights.
