CHINA GROVE — Following the lead of a number of North Carolina counties, China Grove town council members will vote Tuesday on a resolution declaring the town a “Second Amendment sanctuary.”

The meeting will be 6 p.m. in Town Hall — 333 N. Main St.

Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions have been passed in numerous counties, including Rowan, since a nationwide effort started in 2013 and gained steam recently following a change in partisan control in Virginia. Last week, Gaston County became the most recent N.C. county to pass this kind of resolution.

In North Carolina, the state determines the powers and freedoms allowed to county governments, and the resolutions do not change any laws. They are formalized statements by government bodies meant to show support for the right to legally carry guns, based on the right to bear arms outlined in the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

China Grove Mayor Charles Seaford and Town Manager Ken Deal said they expect the resolution to pass.

“We’re not expecting anything to come out of it or anything, but just wanted to show our support of the Constitution and everyone’s Second Amendment rights,” Seaford said, adding the town wanted to give its stance following the county’s adoption of a sanctuary resolution.

Deal said the town has always been in favor of doing the right thing. This is one of those times, he said.

Deal said he feels better being in a group where he knows there are people who are trained and carry concealed handguns, adding there are security measures taken at some local churches that include members with concealed carry permits.

The state issues concealed carry handgun permits.

While any legal weapon can be carried in the open if not specifically prohibited, there is no permit that allows concealed carry of weapons that include a “bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken, stun gun, or other deadly weapon of like kind, except when the person is on the person’s own premises.” This does not apply to an “ordinary pocket knife carried in the closed position,” according to state general statutes.

China Grove on Tuesday will also look at the purchase of a pair of new police vehicles at the meeting. The town normally purchases two vehicles a year to keep up its fleet of about 14, usually getting seven years of service out of a vehicle. After an audit, the town had $257,000 to put back into the fund balance. Since it was a good year for the town’s finances, officials will look at purchasing the vehicles for around $35,000 each.

The town has been trying to boost its fund balance on the recommendation of the Local Government Commission, which provides oversight of every local government unit in the state. It recommends a reserve of 70% of the annual budget for towns the size of China Grove, which has about 4,000 residents. Deal said the town currently has 59% saved in its fund balance.

“We’re OK, but we want to keep a good fund balance,” Deal said.