
A Constitutional Sanctuary is simply a municipality that has declared itself to be a safe haven for various constitutionally protected rights. While the concept of Constitutional Sanctuaries started with Second Amendment Sanctuaries, it was expanded upon as multiple states began locking down their citizens and stripping them of their Constitutional Rights.
Constitutional Sanctuary
Pursuing a "Constitutional County" Resolution for Your County
STEP 1: Educate yourself...
Familiarize yourself with the concept of "Constitutional County" (Constitutional Sanctuary) by reviewing the websites, videos, documents found above.
​​​STEP 2: Educate others in the community and organize, organize, organize...
Do this by printing out the petition found below. Edit it as needed to reflect your specific county. Use the petition as a tool to talk to others about the idea of Constitutional County and to start networking and building support. Ask others to gather signatures as well. Make sure you have a point person to whom the signed petitions are returned. Reach out to local patriot groups that may have formed in your area. At this point you are networking and it is important to be developing an email contact list of those willing to participate in this movement. The purpose of the petition is two-fold. Signatures can certainly indicate support for the idea of Constitutional status when they are submitted to the county government. But, the act of gathering signatures is also an act of education and networking.
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​​STEP 3: Initiate contact with your county legislators (or their equivalent *)...
Craft an email to send to all the county legislators sharing your vision for establishing your county as a Constitutional County. Ask them if they would be willing to sponsor a resolution. Share examples of other counties who have passed such a resolution. If you are not sure how to contact your county legislators, an internet search generally yields that information. Just search on "County legislators in ________ county, state (eg: county legislators in Cattaraugus County, NY).
[* Some counties have a "board of supervisors" rather than county legislators]
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​STEP 4: Assess the interest and courage of your county legislators...
If some of the legislators respond to your initial email with interest, begin a dialogue with them. If you do not hear back from any or if they contact you but seem reluctant to embrace the idea of Constitutional County, rally the members of your email contact list and other interested parties to respectfully email and call the legislators with the simple message: "We are interested in having a resolution drafted and passed in our county stating that we are a Constitutional County."
​​​STEP 5: Request "Privilege of the Floor"...
"Privilege of the floor" means that you are given the opportunity to address the legislators formally during one of their legislative sessions. County legislatures will have specific procedures to follow, thus you have to request and be granted "privilege of the floor." Check out the website of your county government. Call or email to find out the procedure and to express your desire to be granted the privilege. Find out if there is a time limit. Be prepared to explain why you are seeking privilege of the floor. An example response: I am concerned about the loss of civil liberties and wish to express to the legislators that community support exists for passing a resolution affirming that this county is a county that supports the primacy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
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​STEP 6: Hit your message out of the ballpark when you address the legislators during your privilege of the floor opportunity...
Have a well prepared message to share (there is a sample one available at the top of this page that you can edit and use if needed). Bring supporters with you. Make sure the supporters are enthusiastic, respectful, and peaceful. At this point, you can also deliver the signatures you have collected on the petition IF you have a good number of signatures (at least 300 or so for a rural county). If you do not have at least 300 signatures, do not hand in the petitions. The petition is not required to pursue a resolution to declare the county is a "Constitutional County." The petition merely supports the concept and is a tool of education.
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STEP 7: Follow up, follow up, follow up...
Continue contacting legislators (and ask your email contact list to do the same) regarding the resolution. If necessary, draft a sample resolution and provide it to the legislators. Ultimately, the resolution passed needs to be drafted by them, but if you provide one they could use and build on, it may encourage them to move it forward.
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STEP 8: Once the resolution is passed...
The resolution will be mostly symbolic at first. And that is ok. Symbolism matters. The step to take once this symbolic piece of local legislation is in place is to make it useful. As issues arise, refer back to the resolution. If unconstitutional mandates come down from the State or Washington, ask your legislators to consider the concept of nullification (i.e. refusing to enforce the mandate) based on the spirit and the letter of the resolution. At this point, it will be very important to be intentional. Pursue issues that are specific and of a do-able scope and size. We are building a foundation one stone at a time.
STEP 9: Answering the question, "What does this resolution mean?"...
At the point immediately following its adoption by the county government, the resolution is symbolic. It is a first step, not the last one, in a long walk back to the liberties we inherited as American citizens. Thus, in many ways the answer to this important question lies with us, the People. Will “We the People” do our part in participating in the process? Will we stay informed and speak up to express to our County Legislators the need to take the resolution to the next level: nullification of mandates that are unconstitutional and that fail to pass the “strict scrutiny” test required when liberties are infringed? Will we – with peaceful integrity and thoughtfulness – be courageous enough to refuse to comply with mandates that assault the boundaries of Constitutional restraint of governmental authority? Whether this resolution remains symbolic or becomes consequential depends on the grit and perseverance of the Citizens and the courage and political will of the Legislators whom they have elected. The next step is nullification of unconstitutional mandates. Do we have the courage? Do we have the will? Will we grow weary and discouraged, or will we persevere? Do we treasure the jewel and heritage of liberty enough to press on and strive to pass her on – polished and renewed – as the legacy we leave to the next generation? We have much to think about. We have much to do.
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​STEP 10: Stay involved and encourage others in your town and in your county to do the same...
Attending and participating in school board meetings, town meetings, and county meetings are essential. If we are serious about taking back our government, we must recognize this is a commitment for the long-haul. Constitutional patriots must be woven into the school boards, town boards, and county government. This can occur through simply attending the meetings and continually staying informed. This can occur by running for positions at the local level. If we fail to say involved, a nice sounding resolution will mean nothing.
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STEP 11: Reach beyond the borders of your county...
Do you have family and friends in other counties that might be interested in pursuing a Constitutional County status for their county? Reach out to them and get the ball rolling.
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And always, pray. Lift your eyes to the Creator Redeemer God who has authored life and liberty. Walk with Him in truth and righteousness. Pray for national repentance and restoration.
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