Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties

[BIAD]

They're just asking for trouble.

VIRGINIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTS NATIONAL GUARD BE CALLED TO FORCE
ENFORCEMENT OF NEW GUN LEGISLATION.

'Virginia representative Donald McEachin suggested Wednesday that Governor Ralph Northam may
have to call out the National Guard to enforce the stricter gun laws Northam wants to pass.

Northam brought up the new laws after more than 70 places in Virginia plan on declaring themselves
Second Amendment Sanctuaries. In Second Amendment Sanctuaries, cities have the option of not
using public funds to enforce laws that could restrict the gun rights of residents.

"If we have constitutional laws on the books and law enforcement officers are not enforcing those laws
on the books then there are going to be some consequences, but I'll cross that bridge if and when we
get to it," Northam said, according to WSET.

Newsweek reached out to Governor Northam's office for comment but did not receive a response in
time for publication. McEachin commented on Northam's statement saying military force may have to
be utilized to make sure gun laws are enforced.

"I'm not the governor," McEachin said, "but the governor may have to nationalize the National Guard to
enforce the law. That's his call, because I don't know how serious these counties are and how server
the violations of law will be. But that's obviously an option he has."

McEachin also suggested removing state funding from areas that do not comply with Northam's gun laws.
"They certainly risk funding, because if the sheriff's department is not going to enforce the law, they're
going to lose money," McEachin said. "The counties' attorneys offices are not going to have the money
to prosecute because their prosecutions are going to go down."

Today, the Virginia National Guard responded to both McEachin's comment and questions from Virginia's
citizens.

"We have received multiple questions regarding proposed legislation for the 2020 General Assembly
session and the authority of the Governor of Virginia to employ the Virginia National Guard in a law
enforcement role," the Virginia National Guard tweeted on behalf of Adjutant General of Virginia Major
General Timothy P. Williams.

Second Amendment Sanctuaries gained popularity in Virginia after the legislature attained a Democratic
majority in the last election. Believing their "right to bear arms" as protected under the Second Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution would be threatened, some conservatives have turned to the idea of Second
Amendment Sanctuaries in order to keep their rights.

"We understand and respect the passion people feel for the U.S. Constitution and 2nd Amendment rights,"
the tweet continued. "We will not speculate about the possible use of the Virginia National Guard.
We have not received any requests from the Governor, or anyone on his staff, about serving in a law
enforcement role related to any proposed legislation."...'

NewsWeek:

Virginia National Guard responds after Democratic lawmaker suggests it may be needed to enforce gun
control measures.

'The Virginia National Guard on Friday responded to a Democratic lawmaker after he suggested that it may
be needed to enforce new gun legislation.

The remarks from Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) suggesting that Gov. Ralph Northam (D) “may have to
nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law” comes as dozens of counties across Virginia have declared
themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries” after Democrats took over the state legislature last election.

"We have received multiple questions regarding proposed legislation for the 2020 General Assembly session
and the authority of the Governor of Virginia to employ the Virginia National Guard in a law enforcement role,”
the Virginia National Guard wrote in a statement posted on Twitter Friday.

“We understand and respect the passion people feel for the U.S. Constitution and 2nd Amendment rights.
We will not speculate about the possible use of the Virginia National Guard,” it added.

We understand and respect the passion people feel for the U.S. Constitution
and 2nd Amendment rights.  We will not speculate about the possible use of
the Virginia National Guard.
— Va. National Guard (@VaNationalGuard) December 13, 2019

Northam had previously hinted that should the Democratic-controlled state legislature pass stricter gun legislation
and law enforcement not follow it, there would be consequences. "If we have constitutional laws on the books and
law enforcement officers are not enforcing those laws on the books, then there are going to be some consequences,"
Northam said Thursday, according to WSET.

"But I’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it," he added.

McEachin took it a step further when discussing the rise of such counties in Virginia and Democrats' push to pass gun
legislation — primarily universal background checks — when the legislative session begins next year.

"And ultimately, I'm not the governor, but the governor may have to nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law," he
said. "That's his call, because I don't know how serious these counties are and how severe the violations of law will be.
But that's obviously an option he has."

The resolutions passed by more than 50 counties in Virginia are not legally binding and instead serve as declarations
of support for citizens to exercise the right to carry weapons. Northam added that there will be no retaliation for the counties
that pass such resolutions, noting that none of his proposed gun measures include taking away people’s guns, according
to the news outlet...'

The Hill:

Oh yes, that assurance always works.