SE Minnesota News

Rural Minnesota has seen some progress on the argument over gun control regulations as gun rights activists push for sanctuary counties for the Second Amendment. 

According to MPR News, Clearwater, Marshall, Red Lakes, Roseau and Wadena Counties voted to defend the rights of gun owners within county limits as part of the Second Amendment sanctuary concept. 

A number of other counties have attempted to make such a change in the past. While those who are well-educated in the legality of this type of decision say that it is mostly a symbolic push — in that counties must enforce certain state laws — those who are passionate about the right to bear arms believe this to be an important decision..

David Schultz, professor of political science and law at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University, explained the motivation behind this push. 

“I think this is clearly what's driving this concern, among especially people in greater Minnesota, that they need to take some kind of action for protecting what they perceive to be threats to their gun rights,” Schultz said.

While sanctuary cities have most often referred to protective boundaries for immigrants, gun owners hope that it will mean limited federal involvement or interference in the context of their gun rights. 

Schultz, however, said that this effort is misguided, perhaps. 

"If the focus of declaring yourself to be a sanctuary county is to try to insulate yourself against state gun regulation, that will largely fail,” Schultz said.

According to Post Bulletin, in Wabasha County, a board of commissioners meeting was met with a plea from a county administrator, requesting that the county declare their dedication to the Second Amendment. 

The board and other administrators, however, highlighted the fact that individuals pushing for more gun rights protections must comply with state and/or federal regulations. 

“We still have to follow what the state or federal laws are. We can't take the state or federal government to court if they're infringing on what could be someone's personal rights,” County Administrator Brian Buhmann said. “We don't have someone to sue."