A township in Muskegon County, Michigan has passed a resolution establishing itself as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary”—an idea which became popular a few years ago when Democrat-controlled legislatures started passing restrictive gun laws in various states—and in the process established a local militia.
The Muskegon County Republican Party posted the full text of the resolution on its Facebook page, and the story has gotten international attention from the Daily Mail, a British news agency.
This happened in Holton Township, which makes it clear in the resolution that it will not enforce so-called “red flag” laws. The resolution includes an addendum headlined the Militia Public Security Act.
Under terms in the militia addendum, all legal residents within the township “have the opportunity to be a member…by stating an open media or to friends and or family or by letter” their desire to join. There are certain requirements. They must be over age 18 and be able to pass a federal firearms background check.
The militia addendum protects the following items “from any federal, executive, county, or state regulations.”
- All firearms in which the stock hits the shoulder that are legal by federal law as of 3/27/2021. This includes all semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.
- All pistols or handguns that are legal by Federal law as of 3/27/2021. This includes
all semi-automatic handguns or pistols.
- All ammunition that is legal under Federal law as of 3/27/2021. This includes any current
- This includes any ammunition and quantity of ammunition that is intended for self-defense and or hunting. This also protects the rights for the people to reload their own ammunition.
- All accessories that are legal by Federal law as of 3/27/2021. This includes stocks, grips,
optics, magazines, clips, and suppressors.
- Any body armor that is legal under Federal law as of 3/27/2021.
The militia resolution notes, “This policy does not give any member the right to take violence into their own hands or act ‘above the law’ in any way.”
Also in the militia addendum is this advisory: “Holton Township will not acknowledge any new laws that are associated with red flag laws, or any other infringement of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. Holton Township will not acknowledge any new regulation that prohibits open carry or concealed carry.”
While the resolution may be largely symbolic, it sends a message to the Democrat-controlled legislature that, at least in Holton Township, local residents have had enough of the current gun control agenda in the Great Lake State. As reported earlier by TGM, a batch of new gun control laws signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this year will not become effective until mid-February 2024.
The resolution was supported by Supervisor Alan Jager, and Trustees Tammy Jager and Chris Thompsen, plus Clerk Malinda Pego. Treasurer William Halbower was absent.