2019-11-02 Second Amendment Sanctuary PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RESOLUTION#2019-11-02
DECLARATION OF PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY,VIRGINIA, AS A"SECOND
AMENDMENT SANCTUARY"
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, Article I, Section 13, of the Constitution of Virginia provides "that a well
regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and
safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and
that in all case the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil
power;" and
WHEREAS, certain legislation introduced in the 2019 session of the Virginia General
Assembly, and certain legislation introduced in the current session of the United States Congress
could have the effect of infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, as
guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the current Governor of Virginia has stated that he intends to endorse and
pass into law legislation that may be unconstitutional as it pertains to the rights enumerated in the
Constitutions of the United States and Virginia; and
WHEREAS,the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors is concerned about the passage
of any bill containing language which could be interpreted as infringing the rights of the citizens
of Pittsylvania County to keep and bear arms or could begin a slippery slope of restrictions on the
Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Pittsylvania County; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wishes to express its deep
commitment to the rights of all citizens of Pittsylvania County to keep and bear arms; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wishes to express opposition
to any law that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights under the Second Amendment of the
citizens of Pittsylvania County to bear arms; and
WHEREAS, the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors wishes to express its intent to
stand as a Sanctuary County for Second Amendment rights and to oppose,within the limits of the
Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, any efforts to
unconstitutionally restrict such rights, and to use such legal means at its disposal to protect the
right of the citizens to keep and bear arms, including through legal action, the power of
appropriation of public funds, and the right to petition for redress of grievances.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS:
That the Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its intent to uphold the Second Amendment
rights of the citizens of Pittsylvania County and its intent that public funds of the County not be
used to restrict Second Amendment rights or to aid in the unnecessary and unconstitutional
restriction of the rights under the Second Amendment of the citizens of Pittsylvania County to bear
arms, and
That the Board of Supervisors hereby declares its intent to oppose unconstitutional
restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms through such legal means as may be expedient,
including without limitation, court action; and
That the Board of Supervisors hereby declares Pittsylvania County,Virginia,as a"Second
Amendment Sanctuary."
Given under my hand this 19th day of November, 2019.
ei6 LiZre7r7-
Joe,P
avis, Chairman
`4- Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
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D. '- . S •erman, Clerk ..
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Vote
Joe B. Davis, Chair Yes
Charles H. Miller, Jr., Vice Chair Yes
Elton W. Blackstock Yes
Robert W. Warren Yes
Ronald S. Scearce Yes
Ben L. Farmer Yes
Tim R. Barber Yes
Ayes 7 Nays 0 Abstentions 0