Local Alaskan government urges taxpayers to take up arms

Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly last week passed a resolution encouraging taxpayers to arm themselves amid rising crime rates.

The resolution, which was passed unopposed, “encourages every eligible resident to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefor.” The text not only cites the Second Amendment as a basis for the resolution, but also notes that “the right to bear arms pre-dated the United States of America and pre-dated the US Constitution.”

Not only does the Matanuska-Susitna Borough lack its own law enforcement, but Alaska State Troopers are understaffed., reports Alaska Public Media. 

Ron Bernier, a co-sponsor of the resolution alongside Dee McKee, said the Alaska State Troopers’ recruitment crisis was not the only driver behind the resolution. According to Bernier, the Second Amendment was also a major factor.

Other local governments across the US have passed similar resolutions. These include Virgin, Utah; Kennesaw, Georgia; Nelson, Georgia; Gun Barrel City, Texas; and Nucla, Colorado.

In November, the Michigan town of Holton Township passed a resolution safeguarding the Second Amendment from “red flag” legislation and formed a militia to uphold the right to bear arms.

“The people of Holton Township, through their duly elected members of the Holton Township Board, hereby designate Holton Township as a Second Amendment Sanctuary in order to preserve for the people of, on and in Holton Township, the inalienable rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America,” read the resolution. 

“[T]he Holton Township Board hereby declares its intent to oppose any infringement on the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” the declaration added. “We, the people of Holton Township, hereby declare our inalienable rights, our freedom and our Liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America.”

The township board extended an invitation to qualified citizens to become members of the Holton Township Militia “to stop any infringement on our Second Amendment rights as defined in the Bill of Rights, in the United States Constitution.” Residents must be over 18 and pass a federal background check in order to enlist in the militia.

In addition, the town rejected “red flag” regulations, which permit the state to seize a taxpayer’s weapon in the event that the taxpayer “may harm themselves or others.”

“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,” read an addendum to the resolution. “Holton Township will not acknowledge any new regulation that prohibits or conceals open carry.”