The sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia deserves the praise of every American who holds the Second Amendment near and dear to their hearts. In the wake of numerous gun control proposals from incoming Democrat lawmakers, Sheriff Scott Jenkins has hit back, promising to deputize thousands of his constituents should any bill threaten their constitutional right to own firearms and thereby impact their ability to defend themselves and their loved ones.

Recently, a seven member board of county legislators voted unanimously to declare Culpeper County a Second Amendment Constitutional County (otherwise known as a Second Amendment sanctuary county).

Second Amendment Constitutional Counties pledge, through resolutions passed in their various legislative bodies, to not expend undue resources on the enforcement of laws they feel violate the Second Amendment.

Speaking in front of a packed house at the Culpeper Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning meeting, the sheriff had this to say:

“The right to bear arms—some believe that the Second Amendment gives us that right, when in fact it’s a God-given right. If you don’t believe in God, it’s a law of nature that every creature can defend their lives from threats,” Jenkins said. “If the legislature decides to restrict certain weapons [in a way] I feel harms our community, I will swear in thousands of auxiliary deputies in Culpeper,” Jenkins said. “There’s no limit to the number of people I can swear in.” The sheriff added, “Personally, I don’t think some of the bills that are proposed will pass, I don’t think we’re that far left in Virginia.”

Jenkins is serving his third term in the elected office. According to the Culpeper Star-Exponent, he would not refuse to enforce laws he disagreed with but instead would work around them through a process of deputization.

Virginia has been making the news ever since their legislature, the Virginia General Assembly, fell into the hands of Democrats. It didn’t take long for these new legislators to flex their muscles by prefiling a number of gun control bills for review during the upcoming 2020 legislative session.

Here’s a brief rundown on some their most pernicious proposals:

Senate Bill 16 would make possession of semi-automatic rifles with a fixed capacity of more than 10 rounds illegal and would additionally prohibit possession of any rifle with a pistol grip or second hand grip. Threadedreaded barrel barrels on both pistols and rifles would also be banned. Pistols with detachable magazines would be subject to a weight limit of 50 ounces. This proposal effectively outlaws the private ownership of AR-15s. They would be seized by law enforcement officers.

would make possession of semi-automatic rifles with a fixed capacity of more than 10 rounds illegal and would additionally prohibit possession of any rifle with a pistol grip or second hand grip. Threadedreaded barrel barrels on both pistols and rifles would also be banned. Pistols with detachable magazines would be subject to a weight limit of 50 ounces. Senate Bill 18 would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy any firearm. Children under the age of 18 would be banned from using a firearm without adult supervision. Some critics of the bill argue that it would make self defense technically illegal for minors.

would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy any firearm. Children under the age of 18 would be banned from using a firearm without adult supervision. Some critics of the bill argue that it would make self defense technically illegal for minors. Senate Bill 64 is perhaps the most troubling of the proposals. This proposal would potentially make firearm instructors liable for the way students use weapons in the future. Should a student end up misusing a firearm for some criminal act, his former instructor could be found guilty of felonious paramilitary activity. Critics argue it could have a chilling effect on gun safety courses.

These bills are currently prefiled in the Virginia General Assembly, and that’s partly what led to Jenkins’ decision to speak out. He further elaborated on his views in a Facebook post yesterday afternoon.

Here’s what Sheriff Scott Jenkins had to say:

“Every Sheriff and Commonwealth Attorney in Virginia will see the consequences if our General Assembly passes further unnecessary gun restrictions. “Red Flag” laws without due process will create enormous conflict as well.

America has more guns than citizens and murder has long been illegal. At best, the proposed gun restrictions will disarm or handicap our law-abiding in their defense and possibly cause a criminal to choose another tool for evil.

I’d like to thank our Board of Supervisors for their resolution of support of our citizen’s natural right to self defense as protected by our Constitutions. My office will always encourage and support our citizens in firearms training, concealed carry permits, and the ability to defend themselves and their families.

I remain very optimistic that our General Assembly will not pass the proposed bills. Obviously, if passed, there are many of us willing to challenge these laws through the courts. In addition, if necessary, I plan to properly screen and deputize thousands of our law-abiding citizens to protect their constitutional right to own firearms.”

-Sheriff Scott Jenkins

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves…and include all men capable of bearing arms.” (1788)

-Richard Henry Lee