An Oregon state court of appeals had ruled that local governments in the state do not have the authority to declare themselves ‘Second Amendment sanctuaries’ in the event of a gun ban.
With the constant proposal of a nationwide ‘assault weapons’ ban, and increasingly strict gun control in predominantly blue states, many local towns and counties are attempting to label themselves as ‘Second Amendment sanctuaries’ by banning their local police from enforcing gun laws.
The Oregon state court’s ruling centers around Columbia county, an area more conservative than the rest of the state. According to The Guardian, the county “argued state and federal gun laws did not apply in the county and banned local officials from enforcing the regulations.” The state court ruled that the county’s actions violated state laws and created legal uncertainty for firearm owners when they travel from county to county.
The ruling is a blow to many law-abiding citizens in Oregon who are trying to push back against the state’s harsh gun regulations. But the concept of creating ‘sanctuaries’ in response to gun bans is a growing trend across the country. In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law that makes Texas a Second Amendment Sanctuary State that protects Texans from any new federal gun control regulations.
The legality of this practice is heavily debated, and future lawsuits will likely occur as liberal politicians continue to push for a nationwide gun ban. But law-abiding gun owners continuing to find legal ways around unconstitutional gun restrictions is still a step in the right direction.
