Second Amendment sanctuary

States and counties that have passed Second Amendment sanctuary (or other pro-Second Amendment) laws or resolutions as of February 17, 2023. Localities within counties that have adopted such resolutions are not displayed in this map.
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A Second Amendment sanctuary, also known as a gun sanctuary, is a state, county, or locality in the United States that has adopted laws or resolutions to prohibit or impede the enforcement of certain gun control measures which are perceived to violate the Second Amendment, such as universal gun background checks, high capacity magazine bans, assault weapon bans, red flag laws, etc.[1][2] Although other jurisdictions had previously adopted legislation now characterized as creating Second Amendment sanctuaries, the Carroll County, Maryland Board of Commissioners is thought to be the first body to explicitly use the term "sanctuary" in its resolution on May 22, 2013[3] and Effingham County, Illinois County Board is thought to have to have popularized the term on April 16, 2018.[4][5][1][6]

Examples of the resolutions include the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance in Oregon[7] and the Second Amendment Protection Act in Kansas.[8] The term "sanctuary" draws its inspiration from the immigration sanctuary cities movement of jurisdictions that have resolved to not assist federal enforcement of immigration laws against illegal aliens.[5][9][10][11]

  1. ^ a b Shepardson, Noah (November 19, 2019). "America's Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement Is Alive and Well". Reason. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  2. ^ PENZENSTADLER, NICK (May 20, 2019). "NRA helps sheriffs fight gun laws in Second Amendment 'sanctuaries'". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "Commissioners Declare Carroll County a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary'". Westminster, MD Patch. May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Rosenberg-Douglas, Katherine (April 17, 2019). "Second Amendment 'sanctuary county' movement expands as organizers take aim at new gun laws". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Brooks, Christopher (August 25, 2019). "Historically speaking: What's behind movement of Second Amendment sanctuaries?". The Morning Call. Retrieved December 27, 2019. The first instance of a Second Amendment sanctuary is Effingham County, Illinois ...
  6. ^ "Effingham County in Illinois declares itself a sanctuary for gun owners". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. April 17, 2018. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  7. ^ Amendment, Rob Taylor State Coordinator Committee to Preserve the Second (September 26, 2018). "Viewpoint: Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance". St. Helens Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Maharrey, Mike (April 17, 2013). "Kansas Governor Signs Second Amendment Protection Act". Tenth Amendment Center. Archived from the original on August 11, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  9. ^ Andrea Diaz and Marlena Baldacci. "In rural Illinois, officials are creating 'sanctuary' counties to protect gun owners from new laws". CNN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  10. ^ "Illinois county votes to become 'sanctuary county' for gun owners". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Defiant U.S. sheriffs push gun sanctuaries, imitating liberals on..." Reuters. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.