Jake Browning
reporter@thefranklinpress.com
The Macon County Board of Commissioners heard calls to establish the county as a Second Amendment sanctuary at its January meeting.
Civic groups all over the country are seeking preemptive action after the introduction of a series of bills in Virginia’s state government that propose several controversial gun control measures.
The resolution would announce the county’s authority to defy some state and federal gun laws.
Dozens of Macon County citizens joined the latest commissioners’ meeting to proactively voice their opposition to more restrictive gun legislation.
One of the speakers, Donnie Holden, said that a decision to make Macon County a Second Amendment sanctuary would show a commitment to defending the Constitution regardless of decisions made by outside forces.
“A Second Amendment sanctuary refers to a county’s commitment not to impede on individuals’ rights by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that many people have died to protect,” Holden said. “This guarantees an individual’s right to protect themselves, their family, their humanity, their security and their country.”
In the 24 hours leading up to the meeting, Holden and his fellow activists collected 245 signatures on a petition to deliver to the commissioners. Among the signers was Chris Browning, who also spoke to warn the commissioners that “watered down” resolutions that added stipulations to gun rights had already failed in other counties and would not be accepted in Macon County.
“My concern is that as y’all work on this, make sure it’s put together right,” Browning said. “Make sure it’s something with some meat on it if it ever comes down to [a conflict between the state and the county].”
Macon County wouldn’t be alone in the Second Amendment sanctuary trend. At the time of the meeting, hundreds of other local governments had adopted similar resolutions, including all areas of Alaska, Idaho, Nebraska and Wyoming, and the majority of Virginia, where the controversy began. In North Carolina, Cherokee, Cleveland, Davidson, Lincoln, McDowell, Pitt, Rowan, Rutherford, Stokes, Surry and Wilkes counties have resolutions in place.
While the attendees at the meeting felt it was necessary to voice their concerns as soon as possible, they had not yet drawn up a formal resolution. The commissioners were receptive to their concerns but declined to sign off on anything that they hadn’t read.
“Before I vote on it, I’ve got to read it and have a little time to digest it,” commissioner Paul Higdon said. “As soon as you can get us a copy of that initial sanctuary resolution, the sooner we can get it studied. We may be ready to vote on it next month.”
Assuming the commissioners receive a copy of a formal resolution in advance of their next meeting, the possibility of declaring Macon County a Second Amendment sanctuary will come up again at their Tuesday, Feb. 11 meeting.