New Jersey County Declares Its Support For Second Amendment

The Second Amendment Sanctuary movement is alive and well, even in the state of New Jersey, where Cape May County freeholders unanimously approved a resolution this week declaring the county a “sanctuary” for gun owners. As NJ.com reports, the move comes just a couple of weeks ahead of a campaign rally for President Donald Trump.

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Unlike similar resolutions adopted late last year in West Milford and Sussex Borough, Cape May’s version does not single out for criticism a new state law allows for removing weapons from someone judged a threat to themselves or others.

However, while silent on New Jersey’s so-called red flag law, it condemns an Assembly bill that would require gun owners to obtain at least $50,00 in liability insurance.

Cape May is believed to be the first county in New Jersey to adopt a pro-gun resolution. The wording is similar to resolutions that have been approved by county and local jurisdictions in several other states this year.

NJ.com goes on to say that “nearly half of Virginia’s counties” have declared themselves Second Amendment Sanctuaries, but according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League the current tally is 91 of Virginia’s 95 counties, along with 45 cities and towns in the state.

For now Cape May is the only county in the state to adopt such a resolution, but as the website notes, two towns in the northern part of the state adopted similar language in late 2019. Other counties and townships may soon follow.

Freeholder boards in two other Republican-dominated counties, Salem and Sussex, are considering resolutions.

Salem County Freeholder Director Benjamin H. Laury said a vote is possible at the board’s next meeting.

“We took an oath to uphold the constitution, which includes the Second Amendment,” he said.

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While it’s fantastic to see these county freeholders support these resolutions, it would be even better if the county sheriffs and prosecutors get on board as well. Still, this is absolutely a move in the right direction, and I applaud the work of the grassroots in these counties to get the ball rolling.

Nicholas Joseph, a Gloucester County resident, said he co-founded the NJ 2A Sanctuary group Dec. 23 that is seeking support for the pro-gun resolutions throughout the state.

In addition to West Milford and Sussex Borough, Joseph said that resolutions have been adopted by Down Township and Maurice River in Cumberland County, Alloway in Salem County, and Franklin and Hamburg in Sussex County.

I haven’t even seen any news items about the townships that have adopted Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions, and I spend a lot of my time looking for these types of things. This is good stuff, and I hope that Joseph and volunteers are able to grow the movement in the weeks and months ahead.

 

 

 

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