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Smyth County supervisors reaffirm 2019 Second Amendment sanctuary resolution and direct county administrator to draft follow-up language
Summary
Following a request from Supervisor Billings, the Smyth County Board of Supervisors read into the record their December 2019 Second Amendment sanctuary resolution and unanimously reaffirmed it; the board also authorized the county administrator to draft a related resolution for rapid response to developments in Richmond.
Supervisor Billings asked the board to revisit and reaffirm a December 10, 2019 resolution declaring the county a Second Amendment sanctuary. The chair read the resolution text into the record, citing the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 13 of the Virginia Constitution, and the board voted unanimously to reaffirm the earlier resolution.
Why it matters: the reaffirmation is a formal statement of the board’s continued position on firearms policy and signals to state representatives the board’s stance on any proposed restrictions. The chair read key portions of the resolution aloud, including the board’s intent "to uphold the second amendment rights of citizens of Smith County" and to oppose what it described as "unconstitutional restrictions."
Board members discussed practical next steps: Supervisor Billings asked the county administrator to prepare draft language that could be quickly shared with legislators. Supervisor (speaker 12) moved to authorize the county administrator to draft the resolution using sample language circulated by a constituent (Bob Morris); the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
What’s next: the county administrator was authorized to draft and circulate proposed resolution language for quick action and filing; the board directed staff to coordinate with the chair and circulate drafts by email for a rapid response to state legislative developments.
