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Chief Editor's Note:
Virginia's Second Amendment Sanctuary movement is a fluid, fast-moving situation. We'll keep editing this story throughout the days and weeks to come. Please check back again for additional or updated information.
In a series of rapidly changing developments, Virginia is undergoing wholesale rebellion by rural and even suburban counties, rejecting the oppressive gun control agenda recently revealed by the new incoming Democrat-controlled legislature. Gun owners all across Old Dominion have been up in arms since anti-gun forces took the House and Senate in the recent election and are now preparing to resist having their arms taken from them in any way possible.
Enter Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties.
The county-level defensive tactic that began originally in Oregon close to a decade ago, then popularized in Illinois, has spread to over a dozen states. It comes as no surprise that with few other options and little to lose, many communities in the state are vowing not to take part in any gun confiscation schemes or enforcement of unconstitutional laws designed to make private citizens less able to defend themselves.
The speed at which they reacted is a testament to how furious they are that their state government now wishes to infringe on their rights. An even dozen counties have passed gun owner sanctuary resolutions already, with new ones coming on a near-daily basis. Here's the list and what we know so far:
Municipalities That Passed a Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolution:
(green or dark green)
- Carroll County - passed resolution on 5/13/2019
- Campbell County - passed resolution on 11/7/2019
- Charlotte County - passed resolution on 11/13/2019
- Patrick County - passed resolution on 11/18/2019
- Appomattox County - passed resolution on 11/18/2019
- Pittsylvania County - passed resolution on 11/19/2019
- Lee County - passed resolution on 11/19/2019
- Dickenson County - passed resolution on 11/19/2019
- Dinwiddie County - passed resolution on 11/20/2019
- Giles County - passed resolution on 11/21/2019
- Nottoway County - passed resolution on 11/21/2019
- Sussex County - passed resolution on 11/21/2019
- King William County - passed resolution on 11/25/2019
- Powhatan County - passed resolution on 11/25/2019
- Southampton County - passed resolution on 11/25/2019
- Wythe County - passed resolution on 11/26/2019
- Madison County - passed resolution on 11/26/2019
- Washington County - passed resolution on 11/26/2019
- Henry County - passed resolution on 11/26/2019
- Botetourt County - passed resolution on 11/26/2019
- New Kent County - passed resolution on 11/27/2019
- Town of Rural Retreat - passed resolution on 11/27/2019
- Bland County - passed resolution on 11/27/2019
- Town of Exmore - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Louisa County - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Halifax County - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Buchanan County - passed resolution and ordinance on December 2nd
- Rappahannock County - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Greensville County - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Russell County - passed resolution on December 2nd
- Culpeper County - passed resolution on December 3rd; Sheriff may deputize citizens to resist
- Roanoke County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Gloucester County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Middlesex County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Page County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Tazewell County - passed 2 resolutions on December 3rd
- City of Norton - passed resolution on December 3rd
- King George County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Allegheny County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Amherst County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Orange County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Scott County - passed resolution on December 4th
- Augusta County - passed resolution on December 4th; will join lawsuit against state.
- Craig County - passed resolution on December 5th
- Bedford County - passed resolution on December 9th
- Buckingham County - passed resolution on December 9th
- Town of Crewe - passed resolution on December 9th
- City of Franklin - passed resolution on December 9th
- Town of Grottoes - passed resolution on December 9th
- King and Queen County - passed resolution on December 9th
- Mecklenburg County - passed resolution on December 9th
- City of Poquoson - passed resolution on December 9th
- Rockbridge County - passed resolution on December 9th
- Town of Rocky Mount - passed resolution on December 9th
- Shenandoah County - passed resolution on December 9th
- Bath County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Town of Big Stone Gap - passed resolution on December 10th
- Town of Bluefield - passed resolution on December 10th
- Caroline County - passed resolution on December 10th; Sheriff says he will form a militia if necessary.
- City of Chesapeake - passed resolution on December 10th; they used the term "constitutional" instead of sanctuary, but resolution is otherwise the same.
- Cumberland County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Floyd County - passed resolution on December 10th; The county is taking steps to form a militia.
- Greene County - passed resolution on December 10th
- City of Martinsville - passed resolution on December 10th
- Nelson County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Prince George County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Prince William County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Smyth County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Spotsylvania County - passed resolution on December 10th; Sheriff vows to not enforce Red Flag laws.
- Town of Strasburg - passed resolution on December 10th
- Warren County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Colonial Heights - passed resolution on December 10th
- City of Covington - passed resolution on December 10th
- Town of Bedford - passed resolution on December 10th
- Town of Cedar Bluff - passed resolution on December 10th
- Town of Stanley - passed resolution on December 10th (unsure of exact date; they had a meeting then, so it seems likely)
- Fluvanna County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Rockingham County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Frederick County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Westmoreland County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Hanover County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Brunswick County - passed resolution on December 11th
- Grayson County - passed resolution on December 12th; Sheriff also may deputize citizens to resist
- Isle of Wight - passed resolution on December 12th
- Lancaster County - passed resolution on December 12th
- Lunenburg County - passed resolution on December 12th
- Town of Mineral - passed resolution on December 12th
- Northumberland County - passed resolution on December 12th
- Richmond County - passed resolution on December 12th
- Wise County - passed resolution on December 12th
- Town of Blackstone - passed resolution on December 16th
- Pulaski County - passed resolution on December 16th; Sheriff vows to not enforce any unconstitutional laws.
- Franklin County - passed resolution on December 17th
- Town of Pulaski - passed resolution on December 17th
- Matthews County - passed resolution on December 17th
- Prince Edward County - passed resolution on December 17th
- Town of Vinton - passed resolution on December 17th
- Stafford County - passed resolution on December 17th
- Town of Altavista - discovery of previously passed resolution on Dec. 19th
- Town of Chilhowie - discovery of previously passed resolution on Dec. 19th
- Town of New Market - discovery of previously passed resolution on Dec. 19th
- Town of Saltville - discovery of previously passed resolution on Dec. 19th
- City of Buena Vista - passed resolution on December 21st
- Charles City County - passed resolution on December 23rd
- City of Virginia Beach - passed resolution on January 6th (resolution did not say Sanctuary, but used strong language nonetheless)
- Essex County - passed resolution on January 7th
- Highland County - passed resolution on January 8th
- Chesterfield County - passed resolution on January 8th
Municipalities That Passed a Second Amendment Resolution, But Refused to Use The Word Sanctuary:
(light green)
- Goochland County - passed resolution on December 3rd
- Surry County - passed resolution on December 5th
- City of Galax - passed resolution on December 9th
- City of Bristol - passed resolution on December 9th
- James City County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Northampton County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Henrico County - passed resolution on December 10th
- Montgomery County - passed resolution on December 16th; Sheriff vows to not enforce Red Flag laws.
- York County - passed resolution on December 17th
- Amelia County - passed resolution on December 18th; Sheriff vows to not enforce any unconstitutional laws
- City of Suffolk - passed resolution on December 18th
- Accomack County - passed resolution on December 18th
- Fauquier County - passed resolution on December 23rd; Sheriff vows to not enforce any unconstitutional laws; Commonwealth's Attorney vows not to prosecute
- Clarke County - passed resolution on January 6th
Municipalities Having a Hearing or Confirmed To Be Voting Soon:
(yellow)
- City of Waynesboro - hearing or voting on January 13th
- City of Lynchburg - failed by one vote on December 10th; voting on January 14th at the City Auditorium at the E.C. Glass High School
Other Counties Or Cities That Have Efforts To Get A Hearing Or Vote Soon:
(orange)
- Radford City - awaiting word on another meeting after December 9th; looks dead, although another meeting is tonight, January 9th
- City of Portsmouth - did not vote on December 10th; meeting again on January 14th
- City of Arlington - movement underway, no action from town council so far
- City of Newport News - did not vote on December 10th; another attempt allegedly to be made on January 14th; unknown status
- City of Danville - did not vote again on December 17th or January 7th; another meeting is January 21st; make phone calls!
- Fairfax County - had meeting on December 14th; another try happened on January 4th; make phone calls or this one is dead
- City of Alexandria - movement started
- City of Harrisonburg - movement started
- City of Hopewell - City Council may put it on the agenda for January; sign the petition to move this along.
- City of Fredericksburg - rejected resolution on December 10th; another attempt is likely
- City of Winchester - failed to pass resolution on December 10th; awaiting word on another meeting
- City of Hampton - failed to pass resolution on December 12th and January 8th; awaiting word on another meeting
- City of Salem - Mayor read statement of no action at meeting on Dec. 9th; awaiting word on more attempts
- City of Norfolk - The city council took no action at meeting on Dec. 10th; awaiting word on more attempts
Other Counties Or Cities That Are Strongly Suspected to Never Vote In Favor:
(gray)
- Albemarle County - awaiting word on another meeting after December 4th; looks dead
- Loudoun County - no vote at meeting on December 11th; looks dead
- City of Staunton - Released statement of no action on Dec. 6th; no mention of 2A Sanctuary at meeting on December 12th; awaiting word on more attempts; looks dead
- City of Roanoke - 2nd try was at meeting on December 16th; another meeting failed; looks dead
Special thanks to the Virginia Citizens' Defense League for some of this information.
Also, special thanks go to the ever-helpful Jeff Wittenborn as well as Virginia patriot Vincent Smith.