Some Virginia counties are considering the passage of a “No Shut Down” Resolution meant to resist the enforcement of Governor Northam’s New York-style COVID restrictions. A draft of the resolution orders sheriffs to arrest state and federal agents attempting to enforce the unconstitutional orders.
Members of the Campbell, Bedford, and Appomattox Boards of Supervisors are reportedly taking the matter under serious consideration.
While the issue didn’t come up for a vote at a recent Bedford County Board of Supervisors meeting, citizens have been vocal in their support and the Campbell and Appomattox boards are expected to begin officially reviewing the resolution soon, though some members have expressed doubt that the boards can order sheriffs to arrest shut down officials.
“We are working with our county teams to urge the County Board of Supervisors and County Sheriff to nullify these illegal orders out of Richmond,” a petition circulating the counties reads before a sampling of the resolution.
“Therefore the [ ] County Board of Supervisors will not recognize the Governor’s decree pursuant to the Constitution of Virginia Article 1 Section 2…Orders its Sheriff to arrest any State Police officer, state health agent, or federal agent attempting to enforce the unconstitutional order…Orders its Commonwealth’s Attorney not to prosecute the unconstitutional mandates prohibiting the people’s right to peaceably assemble…”
The resolution resists any executive orders the governor may pass. These two paragraphs are in question by the Campbell County and Appomattox County supervisors. It ORDERS county offices to comply, or else they lose their funding. @ABC13News pic.twitter.com/MFeoV0UhNG
— Brhett Vickery (@BrhettVickery) November 21, 2020
Under the proposed resolution, any office that enforces Governor Northam’s executive order would lose county funding. As I recently reported for National File, on Thanksgiving Eve in Warren County, Virginia, the Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to residents restricting the size of holiday gatherings under penalty of law and encouraging neighbors to spy on and report their fellow neighbors for suspected violations.
