RICHMOND, VA — Over 130 localities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia have declared themselves as 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries since newly elected Democrats declared they were coming after gun rights. This followed a huge tipping of the political balance in November when Democrats assumed control of Virginia’s government for the first time in over two decades.
In it’s first week the new Democratic majority made it known it was not business as usual, creating waves of assault on long held and recognized gun rights in the Old Dominion. With this one stroke they created an awareness of their new status and power.
Minority Leader, Todd Gilbert, Republican – Shenandoah County, said Democrat leadership decisions were, “made in haste and without external input…”
The new majority status Democrats banned guns in the Capitol and lawmakers’ offices. Up until this week Virginia allowed concealed carry holders, lobbyists, staffers and delegates (legislators) to bring their guns into the capitol and legislative offices. Unfortunately the new gun-free rule in the Capitol caused everybody who wanted to enter the legislative office buildings and the State Capitol long lines and confusion. Most staffers and lobbyists spent their morning waiting to be scanned by metal detectors prompting Todd Gilbert, the Republican Minority Leader from Shenandoah County, to write a letter to Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, saying, “The policy that has led to these long lines was made in haste and without external input or reflection,” he said. “This type of unintended consequence was predictable and preventable.”
“The good guys won’t have the guns, they won’t be able to protect themselves…” — Sen. Amanda Chase, R – Chesterfield
Governor Ralph Northam asked for four bills to reduce gun violence and the Virginia Senate passed these on Thursday. The bills were for universal background checks, limiting handgun sales to one a month, ERPO — extreme risk protection order laws, and for allowing local governments to ban guns in certain places.
After a gunman killed 12 people in Virginia Beach last May, Democrats promised they were coming after guns. They now hold the majority in both houses of the legislature: 21-19 in the Senate, and 55-45 in the House, and they are rapidly following an anti-gun agenda.
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, said, “It is the law-abiding citizens whose rights will be most affected by this legislation, not the criminals.”
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg“, said, “It is the law-abiding citizens whose rights will be most affected by this legislation, not the criminals.”
Legislators and citizens raised concerns in a Senate Judiaciary Committee meeting over the search process for firearms when an ERPO is issued. Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, said “The government will come in and be able to search your house, and you’ve not been accused or alleged of committing any criminal offense.” He said “Every Virginian should be afraid.“
“Every Virginian should be afraid.“ — Sen. Ryan McDougle, R — Hanover
“Criminals love gun-free zones because there’s no one there to shoot back at them,” said Robert White, a James City County resident.
State director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Lori Haas, estimated at least 130 gun bills have been filed this session, including some by Republican to increase penalties for gun offenses.
Sen. Amanda Chase, R – Chesterfield, said “The good guys won’t have the guns…”
Four guns bills passed: Senate Bill 35, allows localities to prohibit firearms or ammunition in public places, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D – Mount Vernon); Senate Bill 69, limits citizens to “one gun a month”, introduced by Sen. Mamie Locke (D – Hampton); Senate Bill 70, requires universal background checks for any firearm transfer and mandates anyone guilty is charged with a Class 6 felony; Senate Bill 240, also known as the “red flag bill,” creates a process for attorneys and law enforcement to file “emergency orders” prohibiting a person from purchasing, possessing or transferring a firearm if they pose “a substantial risk of injury to himself or others.”
All the gun bills passed along party lines, with much debate, argument and procedural maneuvering among the senators.
Sen. Amanda Chase (R – Chesterfield) was concerned the measure will create gun-free zones and disarm law-abiding citizens. “The good guys won’t have the guns, they won’t be able to protect themselves, and we’re basically creating a disastrous situation in which criminals will not follow the law, and it will only hurt and create victims.”
Some information in this article was gathered from The Virginian-Pilot and other local Virginia news outlets.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard.
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