Nearly 30 Virginia Cities Reaffirm 2A Sanctuary Status as Sheriffs Vow to Back Constitution

Last week, we documented how the Second Amendment battleground is taking shape at the local level, and developments in Virginia since then have underscored the point. This week, we take a look at the massive push in Virginia to establish sanctuary cities to protect Second Amendment rights, and how that continues the local battleground approach as sheriffs vow to protect the Constitution.

This isn’t Virginia’s first rodeo. In 2019, citizens reacted to a wave of gun control measures proposed after Democrats flipped both chambers of the General Assembly, taking control with a trifecta that included Democrat governor, Ralph Northam.

By early 2020, a grassroots movement had developed resulting in 95% of Virginia localities adopting measures declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), a state-level, non-profit gun rights organization founded in 1994.

News2A spoke with Philip Van Cleave, President of the VCDL, who confirmed that as of February 18, 29 municipalities have reaffirmed their sanctuary city status through council measures, with a 30th expected to vote in support of such a measure this evening.

“Virginia’s Second Amendment Sanctuary movement is driven by localities wanting to protect and defend the right to keep and bear arms. Sanctuaries are pushing back on the Virginia’s General Assembly’s gun-control agenda, making it clear that they have no desire to enforce unconstitutional and immoral gun laws,” Van Cleave told News2A.

The VCDL is on the front lines both informing and fighting against another onslaught of unconstitutional gun control measures being pushed in the current legislative session.

Similarly to how gun rights groups came together to provide citizens in New Jersey a course of action and policy briefs to force their town councils to support pro-2A measures (in 2025, more than 16 municipalities passed rebates to permit to carry fees), the VCDL is now at the helm of grassroots efforts in Virginia, providing tactical guidance and sample resolutions that citizens can bring to their towns to promote sanctuary city policies.

County Sheriffs Vow to Uphold Constitution

Numerous county sheriffs are already on board and making public statements on social media. On February 17, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis said, “Let me be clear: The Henry County Sheriff’s Office will never infringe upon any constitutional rights of our citizens. We will continue to uphold the law, but we will also stand firm in defense of the freedoms guaranteed to every American.”

Grayson County Sheriff Gary C. Hash made a similar statement on February 17, posting, “As the constitutional sheriff of Grayson County, I unequivocally support and will defend the constitutional rights of our citizens, including their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. I was appointed sheriff of Grayson County in January 2026 on these foundational principles. I remain steadfast in my oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I will continue to stand firm in that commitment as your Sheriff.”

Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith echoed these sentiments, posting the following on February 17: “I would argue that perhaps few other states have gun cultures like our Commonwealth, as we rank first in the nation per capita for the number of registered gun owners. That makes me proud, and that is uniquely American. It is my hope that in the very near future, the Supreme Court of the United States will finally overturn many of these Second Amendment infringements already established in other states…. Your constitutional right to keep and bear arms will never be infringed upon by me or any member of my staff.”