A nationwide movement has made its way to the Cape Fear region. This week, the topic of Second Amendment sanctuaries arose at both New Hanover and Brunswick County Board of Commissioner meetings. But the meetings varied, in tone and in outcome.
Brunswick is now a ‘Constitutional Protected Rights County.’ This means the county will not use government resources to enforce laws that are thought to infringe on the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.
The resolution, passed unanimously by commissioners, adds Brunswick to a growing list of localities across the country that have adopted similar measures.
Gun rights advocates have created petitions to add New Hanover and Pender counties to that same list -- but New Hanover residents are not likely to see any decision in the near future. At the Monday, February 17 Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Woody White expressed support of the Second Amendment, but said resolutions like this are not the county’s business.
“I've always been a very strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I possess lawfully a number of firearms. I have not supported bringing forth resolutions like the one that you propose today, because we have local government to do. It’s basic blocking and tackling for education, public safety, land use planning.”
Other board members expressed corresponding thoughts.
Pender County tabled a similar ‘gun sanctuary’ measure last year. As of now, it has yet to be brought up again.
