2nd Amendment Sanctuary Resolution Considered In Prince William

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Prince William County officials are expected to consider a resolution introduced by its outgoing Republican chairman to declare the county a "Second Amendment Sanctuary" at its Tuesday board meeting. Current Prince William County board chairman Corey Stewart announced plans for the resolution during a Monday morning interview on WMAL, a conservative talk radio station in Washington, D.C.

More than 20 other Virginia localities, most of them in rural areas of the state, have passed similar resolutions ahead of the 2020 General Assembly session. The new Democratic majorities in the House of Delegates and state Senate take control in Richmond when the 2020 General Assembly session begins on Jan. 8.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, has proposed several gun control bills in previous years that were defeated by the Republican-held General Assembly. The bills would place tighter regulations on the purchase and handling of guns, but Virginians would still retain the right to bear arms under the bills. Many of the bills are expected to be passed under the Democratic-controlled legislature.

Starting in January, Democrats will also take control of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors from Republicans. Ann Wheeler, the incoming Democratic chair of the Prince William County board, said the new Democratic majority on the board will overturn any sanctuary legislation passed by the outgoing board.

"I want to be clear — any effort by the outgoing Board to hamper the enforcement of new gun safety legislation passed in Virginia will be immediately repealed when the new Board take office in January," Wheeler said Dec. 2 in a statement.

An October Washington Post-Schar School poll showed 58 percent of Virginia adults surveyed supported stricter gun laws in the state. Gun groups are opposed to the passage of any new laws that place restrictions on guns in Virginia.