Illinois “sanctuary counties” have sprouted like spring mushrooms this year. These counties have adopted resolutions defining themselves as sanctuaries for gun owners in defiance of proposed gun control measures under consideration in the Illinois General Assembly. Just last night, Cumberland County became the latest county to pass a sanctuary resolution.
Yes, gun owners have co-opted the left’s sanctuary strategy and applied it to guns. Of course, this roils those who so eagerly embrace immigration sanctuary laws, that welcome illegal aliens.
Effingham County led the way with their resolution passed on April 15th. Soon afterwards, more followed. Now, the trend has grown to where the mainstream media can no longer ignore it. The Associated Press posted this story . . .
Several rural Illinois counties have taken a stand for gun rights by co-opting a word that conservatives associate with a liberal policy to skirt the law: sanctuary.
At least five counties recently passed resolutions declaring themselves sanctuary counties for gun owners — a reference to so-called sanctuary cities such as Chicago that don’t cooperate with aspects of federal immigration enforcement.
Actually it was at least seven when this story broke: Jefferson, Effingham, Iroquois, Jasper, Perry, Fayette and Saline Counties. With the addition of Cumberland County yesterday, the number now stands at eight.
The resolutions are meant to put the Democratic-controlled Legislature on notice that if it passes a host of gun bills, including new age restrictions for certain weapons, a bump stock ban and size limit for gun magazines, the counties might bar their employees from enforcing the new laws.
Yes, these resolutions stand as proverbial shots across the bow for (mostly) Chicagoland Democrats wishing to drag all of Illinois onto the gun control plantation. Because generations of gun control are just a small price to pay for Rahm’s crime-free, 168 homicides to date, paradise, right?
“It’s a buzzword, a word that really gets attention. With all these sanctuary cities, we just decided to turn it around to protect our Second Amendment rights,” said David Campbell, vice chairman of the Effingham County Board. He said at least 20 Illinois counties and local officials in Oregon and Washington have asked for copies of Effingham County’s resolution.
Grassroots gun rights group Guns Save Life has quietly provided information and support for those wishing to bring these resolutions to their own counties. The Illinois State Rifle Association may well have done the same. And with our help, additional Illinois counties will pass this resolution before the end of May, guaranteed.
…“We’re just stealing the language that sanctuary cities use,” explained the Effingham County’s top prosecutor, Bryan Kibler, who came up with the idea.Not lost on them is that lawmakers from Chicago were instrumental in turning Illinois into what they derisively call a “sanctuary state” by passing recent legislation that prohibits local law enforcement from arresting or detaining people based solely on their immigration status. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed it into law.
Kibler has spoken at Guns Save Life meetings in the past. He’s also very much a gun culture guy. If Cook County had Bryan Kibler as its State’s Attorney, things would be a whole lot different there. And safer for everyone, as Chicago’s days as a crime-with-no-punishment paradise would end.
Of course, the AP had to interview one of Illinois’ most dedicated gun control advocates.
Such talk worries Kathleen Willis, a Democratic state representative from suburban Chicago who sponsored some of the gun legislation.
“I don’t think you can say, ‘I don’t agree with the law so I won’t enforce it,’” she said. “I think it sends the wrong message.”
The hypocrisy runs deep with this one. Willis sponsored and voted for Illinois’ Sanctuary State bill, SB-31, that calls for the state to ignore federal immigration laws. That measure has now become law in Honest Abe’s home state.
Last night, the Cumberland County board voted unanimously to become the latest gun sanctuary county in the Prairie State. Which county will be next to pass one of these resolutions reaffirming their support of the Second Amendment? Stay tuned…