Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Spartanburg County Council opted to show its support of the Second Amendment with a letter to lawmakers rather than declaring the county a sanctuary jurisdiction as two gun rights activists recently asked.
A letter signed by all seven council members was sent Feb. 28 to each state lawmaker in the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation, and to U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. William Timmons.
“We ... respectfully request your careful consideration of any legislation that may potentially impact the rights afforded under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 20 of the South Carolina Constitution in order to ensure preservation of those rights,” the letter states.
Last month, Cibby Crell and Ryan Barnett asked council to pass a resolution declaring Spartanburg County a “Second Amendment Sanctuary Jurisdiction.”
Krell said recent laws proposed in Virginia’s Democratic-controlled legislature -- in response to a May 2019 shooting in which a gunman killed 12 people in a municipal building -- are an attack on the rights of gun owners.
He said Spartanburg and other municipalities throughout the Southeast have considered or are considering similar resolutions in response to Virginia’s actions, in hopes that no laws eroding gun rights be passed or enforced.
Krell and Barnett said the “sanctuary” language is a play off the “sanctuary city” language used in recent years by cities that resist federal immigration policies. If jurisdictions can resist immigration laws, why not gun control laws.
While the county council members said they support the Second Amendment, they said they do not believe declaring the county a “sanctuary jurisdiction” is the best way to oppose Virginia’s actions.
“I told Cibby I have a real distaste for anything sanctuary,” Councilman David Britt said.
“I’m not into grandstanding, especially when it comes to our governor and lawmakers,” Britt said. “We learn to partner with our governor and delegation. It’s much better to build a bridge than dig a ditch. A resolution like that is digging a ditch.”
Britt said lawmakers have assured him that gun control measures introduced in the Republican-controlled state Legislature this year have no chance of passing.
Krell said he doesn’t mind that council members decided not to adopt his sanctuary resolution.
“I have mixed emotions,” he said. “Part of me wants to be disappointed. But they did something. All seven members of council signed it. All in all, I’m pleased.”