City Council this week learned how it will need to comply with a Second Amendment sanctuary referendum approved by Altoona voters in November.

Also approved by a majority of voters for the county as a whole and by each of the other municipalities individually, the referendum requires that each of those jurisdictions enter into an intergovernmental agreement with all the others to prohibit any from using “taxpayer resources” to enforce potential laws that would compromise gun rights.

The solicitors of the county and the municipalities have been discussing the matter and have agreed on a draft resolution that uses the language of the referendum, Altoona solicitor Tom Finn told council.

“It mirrors the terms and conditions,” Finn said. “You have to meet the spirit and intent of the referendum.”

The solicitors of all the jurisdictions were to take the draft resolution back to their elected bodies for review and comment, Finn said.

All of them will need to wait on any potential changes proposed to the common agreement as a result of those reviews.

No changes were proposed by City Council.

It’s probable council won’t get to act on a final version until March, according to Finn.

The referendum requirement applies to legislation passed after the Nov. 2, 2021, election day.

“(This is) something we’re required to pursue,” Finn said.

The only way the requirement can be rescinded is by a referendum that reverses it, Finn said.

What would happen if an elected body refused to adopt the resolution? asked Mayor Matt Pacifico. “Could they be sued?”

Yes, according to Finn.

“A lot of people would show up at (their) next meeting,” said Councilman Bruce Kelley, laughing.

“It’s good to be clear that’s not happening here,” said Councilman Dave Butterbaugh, who pointed out that he’s a member of the Blair County Second Amendment Coalition, which promoted the referendum.