Stafford County Board Adopts '2nd Amendment Sanctuary' Resolution

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Stafford County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to declare itself a so-called Second Amendment sanctuary, joining almost 100 other jurisdictions in the state that have passed similar resolutions. The resolution declares that Stafford County residents have the right to "keep and bear arms as guaranteed by Amendment II of the Constitution."

The board's decision at its Dec. 17 meeting comes a week after leaders of neighboring Prince William County passed a resolution declaring itself a "Constitutional County." Prince William County's board decided to adopt the Constitutional County designation over a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution because they believe the proposed Second Amendment sanctuary measure was too rigid in its stated intent not to aid federal or state agencies in enforcing measures deemed restrictive of Second Amendment rights.

Hundreds of Stafford residents showed up in support of the Second Amendment sanctuary resolution and dozens spoke.

"I hope it sends a message to the governor and leadership in the General Assembly that just because they won this election doesn't mean they have carte blanche to come in and do whatever they want. They've got to listen to the people," Stafford Board Chairman Gary Snellings said, as reported by WJLA.

The resolution adopted by the board states: "Approval of proposed Resolution R19-367 would proclaim and declare Stafford County, Virginia a Second Amendment Sanctuary, in which the rights of the citizens of Stafford County to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by Amendment II of the Constitution of the United States and Article I, Section 13 of the Constitution of Virginia are upheld."

After the dozens of people spoke during the public comment period in favor of the resolution, Snellings told the crowd that "for the first time in my life, I'm concerned about the future of this country," he said, referring specifically to police officers being denied service at a Starbucks and the word "pig" written on the coffee cup.

"And if anyone in this room, if I see you driving into that place, I'm going to run you down,” he said to wild applause and laughter from the audience.

In his comments, Snellings also urged the news media to phone former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and ask her to define deplorable — "because we're not deplorable. We are citizens of this country and we are excercing our right."

"I would remind everyone that Adolf Hitler was elected," Snellings said in apparent reference to state Democrats — who have said they want to pass certain gun reform measures — gaining control of both houses of the Virginia state legislature. "[Hitler] did not come to power by force. And we know exactly what happened in that country and this world because of that one individual."

Immediately prior to the vote, Snellings then praised the audience for showing what "true Americans really are."

The board then voted 7-0 in favor of the Second Amendment sanctuary resolution.