The Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance was a campaign drive in Oregon spearheaded by Rob Taylor that now encompasses 23 counties. He led a movement to get counties to adopt a Second Amendment sanctuary resolution in 2013-2015. It was the same Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance volunteers put on the ballot starting in 2018 using the initiative process.

The initial counties are Baker, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Linn, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. Crook County was actually the first to release a Second Amendment Proclamation on May 15, 2013. It all started to come together in 2015 with eight additional counties passing various Second Amendment protections:

• Sherman – February 4, 2015 – passed a resolution in opposition to background checks.
• Polk – February 11, 2015 – passed a resolution in support of Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms.
• Clackamas – February 19, 2015 – passed a resolution in support of Second Amendment Rights.
• Tillamook – March 4, 2015 – issued statement in support of the Second Amendment.
• Marion – March 18, 2015 – passed resolution in support of the Second Amendment.
• Lane – June 2, 2015 – pass resolution supporting Second Amendment Rights.
• City of Canby – June 3, 2015 – passed resolution defending the Second Amendment.
• Yamhill – July 2, 2015 – passed two pro-Second Amendment Resolutions.
• Douglas – August 26, 2015 – passed a resolution supporting the Second Amendment.
• Grant – February 25, 2015 – has a filled initiative aimed at prohibiting enforcement of laws that restrict gun possession that is still waiting a ruling by Grant County Circuit Court Judge William D Cramer Jr.

Since 2015, more counties and cities have taken action. Supporters believe they have a legal defense against the state and federal government in the Constitution. The supporters of gun control laws argue that cities and counties cannot override state laws. But Rob Taylor says the current Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance was crafted by legal minds to withstand a court challenge.

• Harney – April 10, 2019 – passed the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance.
• Town of Lexington in Morrow – February 3, 2020 – declares itself a Second Amendment sanctuary.
• City of Nyssa – February 11, 2020 – council affirms right to bear arms.
• Malheur – April 6, 2021 – supports Second Amendment Rights.

In two counties, Lincoln and Jackson, the voters rejected the initiative on the ballot last November.

Rob Taylor is hopeful of covering the state with Second Amendment protections that will have the effect of killing bills in the legislature.

It seems like the Portland riots have had more than one impact on the state.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-07-14 17:04:23

Last Update: 2021-07-14 17:16:13