With a large majority of Virginia counties declaring as Second Amendment sanctuaries, other states are taking notice and expanding their own Second Amendment sanctuaries, including Texas and Nevada.
Currently 34 Texas counties call themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, among around 350 counties across the United States. Virginia has as many as 75 counties that are now Second Amendment sanctuaries, with more in play.
Virginia’s Tazewell County is the first county to mobilize a militia to protect residents’ Second Amendment rights. In Culpeper County, Viriginia, Sheriff Scott Jenkins pledged to deputize citizens in order to protect their right to bear arms.
“Every Sheriff and Commonwealth Attorney in Virginia will see the consequences if our General Assembly passes further unnecessary gun restrictions,” said Jenkins on Facebook. “I plan to properly screen and deputize thousands of our law-abiding citizens to protect their constitutional right to own firearms.”
“We should be watching Virginia, and everywhere else,” said Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston in Texas to the Herald-Press. “We should always be aware of what’s going on in our country.”
Johnston said his county hasn’t even considered declaring a sanctuary status over Second Amendment rights. “This is East Texas,” he said. “No one has any question as to how we feel about the Second Amendment.”
In Virginia county leaders have a Constitutional authority to organize a militia. Counties can draft law-abiding gun owners into a local militia, organizing citizens and qualifying individuals and their arms.
Texas Sheriff’s Association Executive Director Steve Westbrook argued that Second Amendment sanctuary counties are constitutionally valid and that sheriffs have discretion on how the sanctuary status is applied.
“It is every sheriff’s duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Second Amendment included,” said Westbrook.
See Also: Nevada Sheriff Will Enforce Gun Confiscation Law, Faces Recall
In Nevada, the issue of Second Amendment sanctuaries is more contentious. Even after declaring opposition to “red flag” laws, Nevada’s Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Allen said he would continue to enforce them.
“They’re taking up a fight against me on something the legislature has to do, and they think I have the authority not to follow the law,” Allen said according to Law Enforcement Today. “I do oppose this law. However, it’s my not my job to oppose a law; my job is to enforce the law.”
Thirteen out of 17 Nevada sheriffs have said they will not enforce red flag laws. Because he tacitly supports them, Nevada residents are looking to recall Sheriff Allen.
I agree with redneckcowboy. If a government agent tries to seize your firearm, which is your personal property, under some bogus red-flag law or because the state or feds made owning it illegal, it would be a violation of the 5th and 14 Amendments, and Article VI of the Constitution. The firearm owner would have the right and perhaps even a moral duty to resist the agent – not to called law enforcement anymore – by force and if necessary, by deadly force. The outcome for the victim could be very poor but if enough people resist in this way then the enforcers would hopefully back off the rule of law would be restored, if not on paper then by the action of The People. If not then the only recourse would be for the free states to secede and woe to those who would try to stop it.
When the tyrants come for you just spray them for some element 82. And to the scumbag government agent who gave me a hard time for saying this several years ago, SCREW YOU!
The good people of the Eastern side of the state should consider seriously breaking away from Virginia and joining another state like West Virginia did.
Sheriff Allen’s job is to uphold the oath of office he took when he was sworn in. The oath I took as a peace officer was to first and foremost uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States Of America, not some state rule passed by some tin pot politicians at the state level. If he attempts to enforce a state law the tries to circumvent the US Constitution he is violating the rights of the person he is confronting and is liable for federal arrest at best, and for being shot for making an unlawful arrest. A law enforcement officer can be resisted legally if what he is attempting is unlawful. Knowingly violating the Constitution is unlawful. Illegally taking a law abiding citizens guns without due process is a violation of the Second Amendment, no matter how much the communist left would like it not to be.
I hope they are not stupid enough to awaken the sleeping giant in this country…. but even threatening tondo so and to see the reaction… may lead to slaughter at the election polls for these tone-deaf democrats
Look at what is going on with Illegal immigration and the way the Democrats are handling it. The Dems, especially under Obama, chose to ignore laws daily.
I have never figured out why they have not been prosecuted. The first and foremost reason I believe was the first attorney general Trump appointed, Sessions. I still believe Trump was trying to appease the never Trumpers in the senate, and then was stabbed in the back by the assh***s. Hopefully Barr has the guts, and Trump will back him to bring them up on charges.
I meant the good people on the Western side of the state, LOL!
Way to come back with dignity. I was worried about you for a minute there !
Not only is it his duty to enforce the law, it is his SWORN duty to uphold the Constitution & the Bill of Rights. Red flag laws are unconstitutional. There is no due process.
Most of the counties in New Mexico have declared themselves 2A sanctuaries. Although our governor says the sheriffs must enforce the gun laws, she chooses to ignore immigration laws. Just another democrat facist phony.
I support the 2A Counties. The Governor of VA is a FAcist Dictator and need to be Impeached.
Law enforcement can choose to not enforce laws if the enforcement of said law will cause more harm than good or if the law is clearly unconstitutional. That sheriff’s pulling a Pontius Pilate. He needs to be removed from office, jailed, tried and executed for treason.
We need a civil war now.
We don’t need a civil war…watch what you wish for…I oppose the gun grabbers, too…but let them fire first