search
Sections List
American Journal News

GOP lawmakers reject sanctuary cities for humans — but like them for guns

Republican Reps. Ben Cline, Denver Riggleman, and Rob Wittman don’t think Virginia localities should have to enforce any new gun safety laws that are passed.

By Josh Israel - December 16, 2019
Share
Reps. Riggleman and Cline

A trio of congressmen from Virginia have backed a push by gun-rights activists for local governments to simply ignore any new gun safety laws under the guise of so-called “Second Amendment sanctuary” declarations. But the same three have previously backed legislation to punish localities that declared themselves “sanctuary cities” for immigrants.

Even after a horrific mass shooting in Virginia Beach in May, the GOP majorities blocked any gun action. Last month, Virginians elected new Democratic majorities in both chambers of its legislature. Seventy-five percent of that state voters said gun control was a very important issue going into the election, and Democrats ran on commonsense gun safety laws. Now, with the support from Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, legislation to do things like require universal background checks and establish red flag protections are likely to become law once the legislature convenes next month.

But before November’s results were even certified, leading gun activists announced a scheme to get conservative-leaning localities to simply ignore any new gun laws. As of Friday, 85 of Virginia’s 133 cities and counties have approved some sort of resolution declaring themselves sanctuary areas for guns, modeled on similar efforts in other states.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, said last week that these declarations have no legal weight in a state with a strong “Dillon Rule” precedent that made the legislature, rather than the local governments, superior. But in recent days, three Republican members of Congress from Virginia — Ben Cline, Denver Riggleman, and Rob Wittman — all backed the gun-rights protesters and their efforts.

Cline sent a representative to the Staunton City Council last week to endorse the gun sanctuary movement. “By expressing their First Amendment rights to their local city councils and boards of supervisors, Virginians better ensure their Second Amendment rights will be protected in Richmond next month,” he said in a statement read aloud at the meeting. “I stand with the people of Virginia’s Sixth District and I stand with all of those who defend our beloved Constitution.”

Riggleman wrote Friday that as the “gun sanctuary movement is spreading like wildfire, driven by growing concerns that state and local governments will ban guns,” he is “now backing the effort” and stands “with all those who are exercising their First Amendment right to free speech on this important issue.” In a video message, he urged the Nelson County Board of Supervisors to adopt a gun sanctuary resolution.

Wittman posted on Monday that he also did not believe gun laws needed to be enforced. “I stand with Virginia’s Second Amendment sanctuaries,” he declared, decrying in advance the “blatant disrespect for our constitutional rights coming out of Richmond.”

But the sanctuary movement for guns has been modeled on a similarly named national movement related to immigration. As the federal government has increasingly adopted controversial tactics to enforce immigration laws, localities and even a few states have adopted policies instructing their police forces to focus only on doing their own job, rather than enforcing federal immigration laws.

There is a major difference between the two movements. The federal government, according to longstanding court precedent, may not “conscript state governments as its agents.” As such, while Congress can set immigration policies, it cannot require that a local police department round up undocumented immigrants on its behalf. On the other hand, local governments like Virginia’s counties and cities are established by the state governments and their police forces are therefore required to enforce state and local laws.

Cline, Riggleman, and Wittman have all previously attacked the sanctuary movement for immigration and have sought to pass various legislation to stop it.

In 2017, Wittman voted for the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, a bill to cut off federal funding to localities that do not cooperate with federal immigration officials. A year later, he boasted of voting for the Securing America’s Future Act, which he said would “crack down on sanctuary cities.”

On Sept. 20, Riggleman signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill to “provide a civil remedy for individuals harmed by sanctuary jurisdiction policies,” allowing citizens to sue local jurisdictions if they are harmed by an “alien that benefited from a sanctuary policy.”

And prior to his election to Congress, the then-state legislator Cline didn’t just vote for a bill to expressly prohibit Virginia localities from adopting any sanctuary policies, he wrote the bill. (Northam vetoed it, calling it an “unnecessary and divisive” approach.) This June, Cline gave a speech against the United States becoming a “sanctuary nation” for immigrants, claiming that he “stands for rule of law.”

None of the three immediately responded to questions about why they would support sanctuary protections for guns but not immigrants.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Read More
New NC GOP chair flirts with bogus stolen election conspiracies

New NC GOP chair flirts with bogus stolen election conspiracies

By Jesse Valentine - April 19, 2024
Texas activists pushed abortion restrictions in NM cities and counties, records show

Texas activists pushed abortion restrictions in NM cities and counties, records show

By Austin Fisher, Source NM - March 04, 2024
Cannabis workers across Missouri begin push to unionize dispensaries 

Cannabis workers across Missouri begin push to unionize dispensaries 

By Rebecca Rivas - December 04, 2023
Curtis Hertel Jr. places public service over politics in Michigan congressional run

Curtis Hertel Jr. places public service over politics in Michigan congressional run

By Alyssa Burr - October 20, 2023
Republican Virginia Senate candidate Danny Diggs has ties to hate groups and extremists

Republican Virginia Senate candidate Danny Diggs has ties to hate groups and extremists

By Josh Israel - October 20, 2023
Demands grow for Wisconsin Supreme Court to redraw the state’s legislative maps

Demands grow for Wisconsin Supreme Court to redraw the state’s legislative maps

By Rebekah Sager - October 19, 2023
AJ News
Latest
Republican Jay Ashcroft backs anti-abortion clinics that push lies and disinformation

Republican Jay Ashcroft backs anti-abortion clinics that push lies and disinformation

By Jesse Valentine - May 14, 2024
Republican Sam Brown’s assault on teacher unions could backfire

Republican Sam Brown’s assault on teacher unions could backfire

By Jesse Valentine - May 09, 2024
Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

Florida abortion ban puts GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s anti-choice views in spotlight

By Jesse Valentine - May 07, 2024
Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

Trump leaves door open to banning medication abortion nationwide

By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - April 30, 2024
Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

Republican Caroleene Dobson wants Alabama abortion ban to go nationwide

By Jesse Valentine - April 30, 2024
Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

Ohio Gov. DeWine said he didn’t know of millions in FirstEnergy support. Is it plausible?

By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal - April 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

GOP Rep. Zach Nunn suggests laws against hate crime aren’t needed

By Jesse Valentine - April 15, 2024
GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

GOP Senate candidate Hung Cao blames racial equity for Baltimore bridge tragedy

By Jesse Valentine - March 29, 2024
GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

GOP Rep. Jennifer Kiggans donates thousands to far-right extremists

By Jesse Valentine - March 08, 2024
Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: “Absolute pro-life no exceptions.”

By Jesse Valentine - March 07, 2024
Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

Anti-China Republicans pocket thousands from Chinese owned conglomerate

By Jesse Valentine - March 04, 2024
Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

Republican Eric Hovde makes inconsistent statements about family history

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2024
Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

Republican David McCormick invests millions in website that platforms Holocaust denial

By Jesse Valentine - February 09, 2024
Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

Lawmakers will again take up bills expanding, tightening gun laws

By Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 31, 2024
UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump

By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024
Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

Republicans Sam Brown and Jeff Gunter sling mud in Nevada senate primary

By Jesse Valentine - January 17, 2024
A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

A Young Texas Woman Almost Died Due To The Texas Abortion Bans – Now She’s Battling To Save Other Women

By Bonnie Fuller - January 10, 2024
Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

Health care legislation preview: Maryland advocates want to focus on access, patients in 2024 session

By Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters - January 08, 2024
How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

How GOP senate hopefuls try to excuse the  January 6 insurrection

By Jesse Valentine - January 05, 2024
NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

NH lawmakers will be taking up major voting bills this year. Here are some to watch for.

By Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin - January 04, 2024
Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

Republican US Senate candidates want to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent 

By Jesse Valentine - December 22, 2023
Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

Rand Paul went all in on the Kentucky governor’s race. It didn’t work.

By - December 15, 2023
Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

Texas governor and attorney general do little to curb state’s chemical plant crisis

By Jesse Valentine - December 08, 2023
Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

Likely GOP Senate candidate Eric Hovde proposed tax hike for poorer workers and retirees

By Jesse Valentine - December 07, 2023
Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

Whitmer signs specific criminal penalties for assaulting health care workers into law

By Anna Liz Nichols, Michigan Advance - December 06, 2023
105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

105 Republicans voted to expel Santos for things Trump has also done

By Jesse Valentine - December 05, 2023
For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

For Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, another Trump term is another chance to kill Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - December 04, 2023
Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

Florida Sen. Rick Scott backs Donald Trump in revived push to repeal Obamacare

By Jesse Valentine - November 30, 2023
Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

Tate Reeves took donations from power company that hiked customer rates

By Jesse Valentine - November 06, 2023
Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

Daniel Cameron ran on depoliticizing the Kentucky AG’s office. He made it more political.

By Jesse Valentine - November 03, 2023
Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

Republican operatives sound every alarm on current trajectory of 2023 governor’s race

By Adam Ganucheau, Mississippi Today - October 24, 2023
Ohio’s congressional Dems demand vote on contraception protection

Ohio’s congressional Dems demand vote on contraception protection

By Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal - May 15, 2024
Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF

Veto overrides push Kansas anti-abortion bills into law, while Louisiana seeks to protect IVF

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Idaho Capital Sun - May 10, 2024
Ted Cruz’s wildfire relief reversal sparks accusations of hypocrisy

Ted Cruz’s wildfire relief reversal sparks accusations of hypocrisy

By Jesse Valentine - May 10, 2024
Missouri Planned Parenthood clinics remain ‘open to all’ despite new Medicaid restrictions

Missouri Planned Parenthood clinics remain ‘open to all’ despite new Medicaid restrictions

By Anna Spoerre, Missouri Independent - May 09, 2024
SC governor to sign bill banning hormone therapy for transgender youth into law

SC governor to sign bill banning hormone therapy for transgender youth into law

By Skylar Laird, South Carolina Daily Gazette - May 09, 2024