The Shadow
LOW MOOR — The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution in anticipation of strict gun control measures being planned by the Democrat majority-held Virginia General Assembly.
The supervisors passed the resolution at Clifton Middle School, where hundreds of gun-rights supporters turned out en masse in a show of solidarity.
The meeting initially convened at the governmental complex in Low Moor, but had to be moved to the middle school to accommodate the overflow crowd.
Gov. Ralph Northam has made gun control a priority of the upcoming legislative session and Democratic lawmakers have already proposed bills to restrict firearms purchases.
They also want to implement so-called “red flag” legislation giving police officers the right to disarm individuals deemed as a threat to themselves or others.
“What is being proposed is a disgrace to our American flag, our American values and our American heroes,” said Corey Clark of Clifton Forge.
Clark, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said gun-control advocates want to take away his right to defend himself, his family and other people.
One of the main organizers of the Second Amendment sanctuary movement, Jonathon Aldridge, said legislation being touted by Democrats in Richmond violates the U.S. Constitution and the Virginia Construction.
“States cannot supercede the constitution,” said Aldridge, a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League Inc.
With Tuesday’s 6-0 vote by the board of supervisors, Alleghany County has joined more than 30 other Virginia localities in declaring itself a Second Amendment sanctuary.
Botetourt, Amherst, Appomattox, Carroll, Giles, Halifax, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties have declared themselves sanctuaries. Bath County, Craig County, the city of Covington and the town of Iron Gate are considering similar measures.
Roanoke City Council decided not to consider a sanctuary resolution at its meeting Monday.
“We wouldn’t be here tonight if we would have had a turnout in the November election. The Democrat majority has taken over and they are coming after guns,” said Alleghany County Supervisor Vice Chairman Cletus Nicely, who is an avid hunter.
The resolution passed by the supervisors is modeled after the Botetourt County version.
The resolution says Alleghany County “fully affirms its support of the … rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.”
But a poll released by Roanoke College Tuesday says 84 percent of Virginians favor universal background checks for firearms purchases. The poll also shows that 76 percent favor “red flag” laws, while 57 percent support banning assault weapons.
However, 47 percent of the respondants said it is important to protect the right of Americans to own guns than to control gun ownership.
“To borrow a phrase from Elvis, it may be a ‘Blue Christmas’ in Virginia,” Dr. Harry Wilson, director of the Roanoke College poll,” said in a news release.
“The policy preferences expressed in this poll reinforce the Democratic victories in the General Assembly races in early November. A majority of Virginians seem to be on board with much of the Democratic agenda for the state, although support for some policies is stronger than for others,” Wilson said.
Democrats have not held both the state House and Senate and the governor’s mansion in 26 years. November’s election results give them power to pass their agenda and allow Northam to sign his party’s bills into law.
In conducting the poll, the Roanoke College Institute for Policy and Opinion Research interviewed 609 Virginia residents between Nov. 10 and Nov. 20.
The poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.
Clifton Forge East District Supervisor Joan Vannorsdall was not present for Tuesday night’s meeting in Alleghany County.
The meeting convened at the county governmental complex at 7 p.m. The meeting was then adjourned to 7:30 p.m. after it was moved to Clifton Middle School.
Supervisor Chairman Steve Bennett praised the large crowd for its decorum during the meeting.
“To have that many people here tonight for such an emotional issue, I think they conducted themselves very well. The Alleghany Highlands was very well represented tonight,” Bennett said.
The crowd came to its feet and applauded as supervisors voted to declare the county a Second Amendment sanctuary.
In other business Tuesday, supervisors:
— Awarded a contract for engineering services for Phase II and Phase V of the Jackson River Scenic Trail. The contract was awarded to Hurt & Proffitt of Blacksburg at a cost of $122,109.
— Approved a resolution supporting a request for the Alleghany County’s Sheriff’s Office’s emergency response team to become a non-transport first responder agency.
— Appointed Anne Dean and Robin Sweeney to the Alleghany Highlands Community Services Board.
— Recognized retirees: Vickie Kerns, Social Services, six years, 10 months; Susan Lewis, commissioner of the revenue’s office, 12 years, nine months; Deborah Rogers, commonwealth’s attorney’s office, 13 years.
Wanda Simpson, treasurer’s office, 14 years, two months; Stanley Bush Jr., sheriff’s office, 18 years, three months; Robin Hall, sheriff’s office, 24 years, two months; Jimmy Powell Jr., public works, 30 years, four months; Alicia Carter, sheriff’s office, 35 years, one month.
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Jonathon Aldridge of the Virginia Citizens Defense League speaks during a Second Amendment sanctuary discussion before the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night. Before a large crowd, supervisors reaffirmed guns rights by adopting a resolution declaring Alleghany County a Second Amendment sanctuary, joining more than 30 other Virginia localities which have considered the measure. (Darrell Gleason Photo)
