Gone are the days when all Americans agreed to follow the rule of law – now, it seems areas can pick and choose the regulations they want to obey, and which ones they will disregard. Left-wing regions sparked outrage when they declared sanctuary cities and refused to follow the law on illegal immigration; it is perhaps not surprising that conservatives are now declaring their own sanctuaries – to defy gun control.

At first glance, the term “sanctuary city” might seem like something that would make progressives salivate. But a new round of counties are labeling themselves sanctuaries not in order to shield undocumented immigrants; instead, they are protecting gun owners from federal anti-firearm policies. Those on the left are all in favor of establishing sanctuary cities to suit their agenda, so why can’t other Americans create safe places to protect their own values?

Second Amendment Sanctuaries

Colorado counties Custer and Freemont have decided to become “Second Amendment Sanctuaries,” Breitbart reports. They are joining nine other Colorado counties that have already vowed to protect gun-owning residents, including Teller County. Norm Steen, chairman of the county, stated that the decision “defends the right of Teller County law enforcement to abide by the authority given to them by the U.S. Constitution.”

Colorado isn’t the only state seeking to defend its second amendment rights.

In New Mexico, 29 of the state’s 33 sheriffs signed a statement pledging they would not enforce any new gun laws passed by the federal government. In Illinois, 26 of the state’s 102 counties have adopted “gun sanctuary” measures that allow local law enforcement to disregard new federal laws restricting firearm ownership.

Are 2A Sanctuaries Necessary?

This is a response to the progressive left’s increasingly frequent attempts to implement regulations at a federal level that would restrict citizens’ access to firearms. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which, if approved by the Senate, would increase federal control over firearms. With a few exceptions, the law would make it mandatory for all gun transfers to be subject to a background check; it is just another step toward universal checks. Liberty Nation’s James Fite wrote: “From just a glance at the title, one might assume this bit of legislation would render all private gun transfers unlawful. It almost does.”

H.R. 1112, another recently-passed bill, would lengthen the wait time for background checks from three days to ten.

Given the fact that Democrats – and some Republicans – are working to pass laws to impede an individual’s ability to purchase a gun, it is no surprise that several counties are already getting ready to flout federal commands. Over the past few years, the gun control lobby has been pushing forward full steam, using mass shootings and other gun-related tragedies to promote their anti-2nd Amendment agenda.

The two bills recently passed by the House are not likely to make it through the Senate, or past the president’s veto pen. Nonetheless, the fact that Democrats are brazenly attempting to enact anti-gun measures indicates they are ready to take the fight to the next level – and the emergence of 2nd Amendment sanctuaries demonstrates that gun rights proponents are prepared to push back.