The Second Amendment Sanctuary movement began in the United States in the early 2010s, although the origins of the movement can be traced back to earlier events. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right of Americans to keep and bear arms, and this right has been a subject of intense debate and controversy for many years.

In recent years, there have been concerns among some gun owners and activists that the federal government is seeking to restrict or regulate gun ownership and possession in ways that violate the Second Amendment. In response to these concerns, a number of local governments and jurisdictions have adopted so-called “Second Amendment Sanctuary” laws or resolutions.

The first Second Amendment Sanctuary law was passed in 2018 by Effingham County, Illinois. Similar laws and resolutions have since been adopted by a growing number of counties and municipalities across the country, particularly in states with strong gun cultures such as Texas and Florida.

These laws and resolutions generally declare that local officials will not enforce federal laws or regulations that they believe infringe on the Second Amendment rights of citizens. Supporters of these laws argue that they are necessary to protect the constitutional rights of citizens, while opponents argue that they undermine the rule of law and can lead to confusion and conflict between state and federal authorities.

The movement gained significant momentum in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest prompted a surge in gun sales and heightened fears of government overreach. In response, several states, including Arizona, Idaho, and Wyoming, passed laws strengthening the legal protections for gun owners and declaring their states to be “Second Amendment sanctuaries.”

Overall, the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement reflects ongoing debates and controversies over gun ownership and regulation in the United States, and highlights the tension between federal and state authority in a country with a strong tradition of individual rights and local autonomy.