There is a movement gaining traction across New York to designate Fulton County as a sanctuary for firearms and its owners.

The call from Second Amendment advocates has left law enforcement in an awkward position, but they’re being vocal about where they stand on the issue.

“Fulton County 2A Sanctuary” describes itself as a diverse group of people who support the Second Amendment and are asking for more freedom and protection in the county. Its Facebook page has about 2,500 members.

“We’re actually trying to go at the county level, the budgetary process,” said Brandon Lyon, one of the group’s founders. “Restrict any county employees. That would be the sheriff, the DA, or anyone from using any resources or money to investigate or prosecute.”

The group has taken issue with the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013. Better known as the ‘SAFE Act,’ it’s meant to stop criminals from buying a gun by requiring universal background checks on all gun purchases, increased penalties for people who use guns illegally and broaden the legal definition of assault weapons.

“The SAFE Act really criminalized a lot of gun owners overnight,” said Lyon. “The restrictions they put on guns are mostly cosmetic. ... If a gun has a pistol grip or a rifle stock, but the actual gun itself could be the same.”

The group has approached law enforcement in the county. Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino says while he firmly supports the Second Amendment, he can’t tell people not to comply with laws already on the books.

“When I put my hand on a bible and raised my hand, I said I swear to uphold the laws of the State of New York and the laws of the United States of America,” he said. “I didn’t say some of the laws. The laws I liked, the laws I didn’t. It’s not a buffet. So a lot of us sheriffs are put in a box.”

During his four years as sheriff, Giardino says four arrests involving the SAFE Act have been made, but each of the arrests was because of another felony. Giardino says lawmakers in Albany need to have a better understanding of the culture in the state’s more rural counties.

“There is even individuals that don’t own firearms that are sick and tired of New York City, the Democratic-controlled legislature and the governor telling people how they have to live and what they have to do when they’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.

The sheriff says the 2A sanctuary advocates are doing the right thing, but that he cannot declare the county a sanctuary.

“This is exactly why we are going after the budgetary process, so that we can actually take off some of that pressure from the sheriff and the district attorney,” said Lyon. “This isn’t something that is going to change in the next week; this isn’t something that is going to change in the next month. It’s a movement that is building.”

In New York, an elected law enforcement officer can be removed by the governor if they do not enforce state law.