RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MILITIA WITHIN THE COUNTY OF
CAMPBELL PURSUANT TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE l , SECTION 13 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
WHEREAS, the constitutions of the United States and of the Commonwealth of Virginia recognize the preexisting, God-given, natural right of self-defense as belonging to individuals, and to communities made up of individuals; which no human institution may lawfully abrogate or infringe, and
WHEREAS, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed;" and
WHEREAS, Article S 13 of the Constitution of Virginia states "That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power;" and
WHEREAS, Va. Code SS 44-1 and 44-4 reference three statutory classes of the Militia of the Commonwealth of Virginia: the "National Guard," the "Virginia Defense Force," and those individuals from the body of the people, trained to arms, who make up the currently "Unorganized" Militia; and
WHEREAS, under Va. Code S 44-75.1, in "the event of invasion or insurrection or imminent threat of either," the Governor or his designee may cali forth the Miiitia to state active duty for service; and may do so in the "event of flood, hurricane, fire or other forms of natural or man-made disaster wherein human life, public or private property, or the environment is imperiled;" or in "emergencies of lesser magnitude...including but not limited to the disruption of vital public services, wherein the use of militia personnel or equipment would be of assistance to one or more departments, agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;" and
WHEREAS, under Va. Code S 44-78.1, when the circumstances described in Va. Code S 44-75.1 A 2, 4 or 5 arise within Campbell County, the Sheriff or this Board "may call upon the Governor for assistance from the militia," and the "Governor may call forth the militia or any part thereof to provide such assistance as he may deem proper in responding to such circumstances," including the Militia in Campbell County; and
WHEREAS, the Militia must be able to assemble and train as individuals or collectively; in the event they are called by the Board and ordered by the Governor or President to assist local civil authorities in times of need, and
WHEREAS, the Militia is composed of the "body of the people" and should, as the Constitution of Virginia directs, be 'trained to arms" with firearms that are in "common use" within society, including modern semiautomatic rifles and pistols with certain ergonomic features (including AR variants), which have the ability to use standard capacity detachable magazines of more than ten round capacity, are ideally suited for defensive purposes by individual citizens, and by those who are members of law enforcement, militia, or military.
WHEREAS, the Militia have a long history of selfless and honorable service to localities, states and the federal government in times of crisis, natural and manmade disasters and other emergencies, and WHEREAS, the Militia can be a valuable asset in modern times in assisting local authorities during times of crisis, natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies that may arise, and
WHEREAS, the Motto of the Commonwealth of Virginia, established by our founders, is Sic Semper
Tyrannis, ('Thus unto Tyrants'), is a warning to those entrusted with governance within the Commonwealth not to exceed their Constitutional authority, and
WHEREAS, the militia, composed of the body of the people, are, as intended by our founders, the last best hope of the Commonwealth to ensure and secure the liberties protected by the Constitution that may be threatened by foreign forces or a tyrannical government, and
WHEREAS, to commit to the intent and fullness of the Constitutional freedoms granted by the Constitution of the United States and Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Campbell County Board of Supervisors finds the following measures as appropriate and necessary, so
THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors that we express our intent to uphold and protect the Second Amendment and Article l, S 13 rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense, and to prepare for service or to serve as a member of the Militia in Campbell County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in order to support the Militia, enhance the safety and security of the citizens of Campbell County and establish, as our founders intended, a barrier against a tyrannical government, the Board hereby expresses its intent to:
(1) Decline to expend county resources for any effort to enforce unconstitutional laws enacted after January 20, 2020 restricting ownership and use of firearms that are in common use and accessories such as magazines, including modern semiautomatic rifles and pistols with certain ergonomic features (including AR variants), which have the ability to use standard capacity detachable magazines of more than ten rounds, being required for self-defense by individual citizens or for service to the community as part of the Militia in Campbell County. .
(2) Recognize the right of all able-bodied residents of Campbell County, who are otherwise lawabiding citizens of the Commonwealth and the United States, to assemble and train to arms for service individually or in groups as members of the Militia from or in Campbell County, in the event they are called or ordered out for lawful purposes by the President of the United States or Governor of Virginia.
(3) Support opportunities for law-abiding citizens to assemble for recreational and civic purposes and train to arms, to include, but not be limited to: firearms safety training, marksmanship, first aid training, and other training or activities that enhance the individual citizen's ability to defend himself, his family, his community; and the Militia's ability to respond effectively to a crisis.
BE IT RESOLVED FINALLY, that the Board hereby declares our intent to oppose all unconstitutional restrictions on the Bill of Rights and specifically the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article l, S 13 of the Constitution of Virginia through such legal means as may be expedient, including, without limitation, legal process.
The undersigned Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Campbell, Virginia hereby certifies that the Resolution set forth above was adopted during an open meeting on March 3, 2020, by the Board of Supervisors with the following votes:
Nay:
Signed this day of,2020.
Clerk, Board of Supervisors