Townhall Media/Beth Baumann

When we talk about anti-gun states, it’s important for us to remember that the whole of the state isn’t anti-gun. More often than not, these states are dominated by massive urban centers that have a disproportionate impact on the state’s politics. California is dominated by Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Illinois is dominated by Chicago, and so on.

Outside of those large urban centers, however, there are a lot of pro-gun people. They’re not folks who want gun control any more than you do, but they’re stuck in states where they have little voice.

But in New York, one town has offered up what voice they have to make their opposition to gun control clear.

The Grand Island Town Board on Tuesday took a stand against any new gun control measures that they say would further infringe on the rights of gun owners.

The Town Board approved a resolution that opposes the registration of long guns, social media and search engine history background checks for prospective gun buyers and the required purchase of liability insurance for gun owners. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Democratic legislators have said they support new gun control measures, but no bills have come to the floor yet.

The Grand Island resolution, which is largely ceremonial, calls for increasing penalties for gun-related crimes and addressing the intersection of mental health issues and gun violence.

The board is made up of three Republicans, one Democrat, and an independent. The measure still passed 5-0.

That ought to tell you something.

Grand Island isn’t the only community in New York making a stand, either. Wyoming County offered up a similar resolution. This is a good and important move, even those it’s largely symbolic.

While these resolutions have no legal force, what they do is remind pro-gun communities that they’re not alone. I’d like to see more of these, enough so that lawmakers in the state capital will remember that what’s good for New York City may not work in the rest of the state.

If New York Governor Andrew Cuomo continues his anti-gun jihad, though, don’t be surprised if some of these communities move from merely symbolic gestures to more meaningful action, such as becoming gun sanctuary communities. After all, if NYC can ignore immigration laws, why can’t Grand Island ignore gun laws?

After all, the right to keep and bear arms is a constitutionally protected right. The ability to enter and live in this country? Not so much.

If they can blow off federal law, I see no reasons communities can’t blow off state laws. Especially since gun laws aren’t even supposed to be a thing according to the Constitution.

Of course, that’s all speculation of what might happen. What is happening, though, are communities telling their state that they oppose gun control and aren’t interested in still more of it.

While it may not have much of an impact, it’s still worth it for them to remind the state that they exist. Good for them, I say.