On December 4th, 2025, the Craig County Board in Virginia voted 5 – 0 in favor of a resolution declaring Craig County a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County. They did so in the face of upcoming state legislation to infringe upon the 2nd Amendment rights of those in Virginia, including Craig County residents.
County Supervisor Jason Matyas stated the following prior to the vote:
The American nation was separated from England and established based upon a very important underlying principle and Christian doctrine: The Doctrine of Lesser Magistrates
The Doctrine of Lesser Magistrates holds that when a higher civil authority enacts unjust or immoral laws—such as restrictive gun control measures that violate God-given and constitutional rights—lower-ranking officials have both the right and duty to refuse compliance or actively resist. Rooted in historic Christian principles and the concept of interposition, this doctrine argues that such resistance is obligatory and serves to protect individuals from ungodly and unlawful government overreach.
“In the context of the gun control tyranny that Virginia’s Democrats seek to impose in the coming months, this doctrine is the linchpin to fight these state laws that infringe upon the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Since all magistrates swear to uphold both state and federal constitutions, they are not bound to enforce laws contradicting those constitutions. Therefore, county officials in Virginia who would do their duty to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic”, must invoke this doctrine to not only refuse enforcement of gun control measures seen as unconstitutional violations of the 2nd Amendment, but to actively resist it, even to the point of threatening the agents of tyranny with arrest and imprisonment.”
He went on to say: “Gentlemen, we take our oaths primarily for times such as these, when the tide of evil is strong and our duty is difficult. This is not time to avoid conflict or settle for minor defeats – it is a time for meeting the tyrants head on and refusing to give an inch to their wicked machinations that would reduce us and our descendants to slaves.”
You can read the full text of the comments made by Supervisor Matyas here.
You can also read the full text of the Resolution by clicking on the first comment of the post.
The Lesser Magistrate Doctrine teaches that when the superior or higher ranking civil authority makes unjust/immoral law, policy, or court opinion – the lower or lesser ranking civil authority has both the God-given right and duty to refuse obedience to that superior authority; and if necessary, actively resist the superior authority.
The doctrine was first formalized by Christian men in Magdeburg, Germany in 1550.
The lesser magistrate doctrine is rooted in the historic Christian doctrine of interposition. Interposition is where one steps into the gap – placing themselves in between the oppressor and his intended victim. Interposition can take place verbally or physically.
The law of God is the objective standard to which all men and all governments of men are accountable. If civil authorities make law, policy, or court opinion that is contrary to His law – the lesser magistrates are to interpose and stop the evil.
Article posted with permission from Matt Trewhella
