Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared a temporary state of emergency banning all guns from Capitol Square ahead of a massive pro-gun rally planned for Monday.
“Let me be clear. These are considered credible threats by law enforcement agencies,” Gov. Ralph Northam said.
Roanoke.com reports that Virginia Democrats in the statehouse are pushing eight proposals to significantly curtail gun rights.
The newspaper reports that the legislation includes “banning assault weapons (defined as any semi-automatic rifle or pistol with a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds), reinstating the state’s repealed one-handgun-a-month law, requiring background checks for firearm transfers (with some exceptions) and creating a procedure for courts to temporarily ban people from possessing firearms if there are clear signs they pose a danger to themselves or others.”
Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. delivered a terse warning to Democrats who are considering a crackdown on guns during an interview on The Todd Starnes Radio Show.
“I’m pretty sure I’m going to call for civil disobedience if the Democrats go through with this,” Falwell said.
Virginia Republicans condemned the governor’s crackdown.
“Governor Northam’s declaration is a direct infringement on the right of the People to keep and bear arms,” said Jack Wilson, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. “The Republican Party of Virginia condemns any and all legislation that takes aim at the Second Amendment. Northam and the rest of the Virginia Democrats have made their session goal crystal clear: a disarmed, vulnerable and subservient citizenry.”
Call Out National Guard?
The Hill.com reports that Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) even suggested that the governor may need to nationalize the National Guard to enforce the law.
Falwell told Starnes that he has never seen Virginians so fired up over a piece of legislation.
“You don’t mess with people’s guns in this part of the state,” he said. “They (Democrats) don’t know what they’ve gotten into and they’re going to find out the hard way, I’m afraid.
Jeff Katz, the host of a popular radio show on WRVA, said thousands of citizens are expected to rally in Richmond to protest the Democrats.
“People are outraged,” he said. “This is the tipping point.”
Ban Indoor Shooting Ranges
The New York Times reports that one freshman Democrat wants to ban indoor shooting ranges.
“The very act of training someone to defend themselves would become illegal under some of the Democrat’s laws,” Katz said on the Todd Starnes Show.
Meanwhile, dozens of counties and jurisdictions have been declared as sanctuaries for the Second Amendment and some law enforcement officers are vowing to defy any proposed gun grab.
“Law enforcement officers in Virginia are proudly standing with real citizens,” Katz told Starnes. “They understand the value of law abiding citizens trained and armed.”