Three more Minnesota counties declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries during their Tuesday night board meetings.
Wadena, Clearwater, and Marshall counties each adopted resolutions to become “Second Amendment Dedicated” jurisdictions—informally referred to as sanctuaries.
As Second Amendment “sanctuaries,” the counties will refuse to use their law enforcement agencies to enforce what they perceive as unconstitutional gun control measures and won’t aid state or federal agencies in their enforcement.
“Wadena County Board of Commissioners is concerned about the passage of any new legislation containing language which could be interpreted as infringing the rights of the citizens of Wadena County to keep and bear arms,” states a copy of the resolution approved by Wadena County.
“The Wadena County Board of Commissioners wishes to express its intent to stand as a County dedicated to Second Amendment rights and to oppose, within the limits of the Constitution of the United States and the State of Minnesota, any efforts in the future to unconstitutionally restrict such rights, and to use such legal means at its disposal to protect the rights of the citizens of Wadena County to keep and bear arms, including through legal action, the power to appropriate public funds, and the right to petition for redress of grievances,” the resolution continues.
The resolution is identical to one approved last week by Roseau County, which became the state’s first Second Amendment sanctuary.
“Grassroots efforts to ensure that gun rights in Minnesota are protected remain essential,” Rep. Jeremy Munson (R-Lake Crystal) said after its passage. “We do not want to see a top-down mandate from the state, rather we want to see individuals having conversations with their county commissioners, police chiefs, and County Sheriffs. We want counties to know that people do not want to see enforced gun control measures that violate the Second Amendment.”
Republican lawmakers have sent letters to at least three other Minnesota counties urging them to become Second Amendment sanctuary jurisdictions. The New House Republican Caucus has posted model language to its website that counties can use in crafting Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions.
Gov. Tim Walz said in a January interview that sanctuary county resolutions are “pretty much a moot point” because gun control laws will be enforced regardless.
“I think it’s just another step in that battle against common sense, just reasonable safety precautions that we put in place,” he said.
At least 400 counties across the country have adopted Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions and Republican lawmakers in Michigan have moved to become a Second Amendment sanctuary state.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Clearwater, Minnesota City Hall” by Clearwater, Minnesota.
