Counties Declaring Themselves 2nd Amendment Sanctuary Counties

Liberal leftists who have declared their cities to be “Sanctuary Cities” for illegal aliens cannot be happy about the way one county in New Mexico has chosen to use the term. Quay County, New Mexico has declared itself a 2nd Amendment sanctuary county.

Amidst a bevy of pending state laws that lessen gun rights, the 10,000 citizens of Quay County have said enough is enough. Santa Fe’s KRQE reports Quay county has taken matters in its own hands and designated itself a community that supports their Constitutionally protected right to bear arms.

Approved by a unanimous vote, the county’s commission wanted to send a clear signal to the state capitol. The citizens of Quay County do not approve of the state’s governor and legislature attack on gun rights.

House Republicans have issued a statement to support the county’s resolution.

Several other NM counties appear to be ready to follow Quay County and the New Mexico Sheriff’s Association in revolt against blatant anti-guns laws coming out of the state capitol. The Sheriff’s Association called the new laws “ill-conceived, unenforceable and …punish law-abiding citizens.”

Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was not deterred by the apparent insurrection and renewed his support of House Bill 83. Grisham said, “I am proud to support Representatives Daymon Ely and Joy Garratt and the New Mexico State House in passing House Bill 83. We have a responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of New Mexicans, and this important, common sense gun violence prevention measure would undoubtedly save lives.”

Democrats in New Mexico have proposed a range of bills that focus on background checks for private gun sales. One person in the state house said, “I oppose this bill. The reason for opposition is that it doesn’t accomplish its goal. The goal is to reduce crime and evidence has proven this bill will not accomplish that.”

White House Democrats favor gun control laws like these, House Republicans warn they are more about violating people’s rights than deterring crime. Rep. Candy Ezzell said that “everyone [of the new laws] treads on our second amendment right which is provided in the United States Constitution.”

Like so many gun laws HB 8 is more bluster than substance. The bill doesn’t offer direction has to how a private citizen would obtain a federal instant background check nor does it specify the penalty should a seller or buyer break the law.

There are several bills up for consideration in New Mexico that call for background checks at gun shows and private sales, stricter rules on transferring weapons, and confiscating guns from people who are guilty of domestic violence.

A New Mexico Sheriff’s Association representative said the bill “violates due process and puts law enforcement in a more dangerous situation and does nothing to protect citizens.”

Though it has been little reported, Quay County is not the first to make such a move. Illinois saw 26 of its counties buck the anti Amendment trend and the Belleville News-Democrat reports 12 more counties to have votes pending.

Monroe County, Illinois has taken far more than a symbolic stand as officials there promise they won’t “enforce state and federal laws that they believe infringe on Second Amendment rights.”

In Washington State, several counties are refusing to enforce state-sanctioned gun control measures, such as restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, requiring buyers to pass a safety course, be at least 21 years old, and undergo expanded background checks and gun storage requirements.

Sheriffs in the 12 mostly rural counties of Washington State say they are not enforcing the measures passed in November until the courts decide on a lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation.

With progressives flaunting the law and allowing undocumented aliens, including known violent criminals, to inhabit their cities, it should come as no surprise that law-abiding gun owners know they must protect themselves.

Quay and other counties are waking up to the real goal of the current wave of gun laws. As one New Mexico sheriff noted, when Democrats pass a bill they say reduces crime, it won’t.

Criminals couldn’t care less about background checks or other anti-gun laws – they’re goal is to break laws. Private citizens who believe in the rule of law pay the price with such ill-conceived legislation.

Those who support the 2nd Amendment should also support the citizens of Quay County, NM who take a stand for what our forefathers sought to guarantee.