Bronson's "Second Amendment Sanctuary" Farce

Is it 2024 yet?

On his first day as Mayor of Alaska's most diverse city, while sporting a red 'power-tie,' David Bronson said he would sign an executive mayoral order making Anchorage a Second Amendment Sanctuary city.

A 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' is states, counties, or localities in the United States that have adopted laws or resolutions that oppose, or mean to prevent or impede, law enforcement agencies from assisting in the enforcement of certain gun control measures enacted by other governmental bodies.

Bronson's announcement today appears to be primarily symbolic. "Second Amendment sanctuary" resolutions carry no legal weight. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring issued an opinion in 2019 stating that such resolutions "have no legal force."

Besides, Alaska is already a symbolic Second Amendment Sanctuary state. In July 2010, Governor Sean Parnell signed the Alaska Firearms Freedom Act (HB 186), which declared that certain firearms and accessories are exempt from federal regulation. Three years later, Parnell signed HB 69, which amended and expanded HB 186.

It's not clear why the new Mayor decided he would sign the executive mayoral order. However, after today's announcement, members of the Save Anchorage group, which heavily and interestingly backed Bronson for mayor during the campaign, have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with Bronson's decision.

One group member wondered whether the Assembly had to go to their "safe space" after today's announcement, and another asked what Anchorage Assemblyman Forrest Dunbar's reaction to the news was.

292 group members have "liked" a blog post detailing Bronson's intent to sign the executive mayoral order. The number of likes represents a little over 3% of Save Anchorage's total 'membership' roster.