Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a slate of anti-gun bills last week, finalizing an array of measures pushed by gun control lobbyists and Democratic legislators.
Northam had vowed when Democrats took control of the state legislature in 2019 to sign any gun control bills that came across his desk, and he made good on his promise.
“This is an exciting day for me,” Northam said on a conference call with gun-control advocates.
Most of the bills the governor signed will take effect July 1, 2020:
- Universal Background Checks on bonafide private sales of firearms
- Red flag law (“extreme risk protection order” law) with some additional protections
- One handgun a month for those without a concealed handgun permit
- Reporting lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours
- Increase in penalty for someone under 14 years old getting reckless access to a firearm (becomes a class 1 misdemeanor)
SEE ALSO: ‘I said it’: Democratic Virginia Senator Admits to Retaliating Against Sheriffs Who Supported Sanctuary Movement
Anti-gun activists hope that their successful efforts in Virginia can be a blueprint for other states.
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said on Friday that his group plans to replicate their heavy spending in states like Arizona, North Carolina and Pennsylvania to elect anti-gun legislators. Virginia is a “bellweather,” according to Feinblatt, and he believes his gun control agenda will be popular with voters in those states.
Virginia’s most prominent pro-2A group, the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), plans to challenge many of the new laws in court.
In an email to supporters, VCDL President Phillip Van Cleave also noted that the efforts of pro-2A activists helped modify—and in one case stop—several gun control measures.
“Have no doubt… VCDL’s Lobby Day, Second Amendment Sanctuaries, and your calls, emails, and letters absolutely had an effect in dulling the sword of tyranny,” Van Cleave said.
SEE ALSO: Virginia Passes Last-Second Background Check, One-Handgun-a-Month Legislation
While most gun control measures passed on party-line votes, several moderate senate Democrats balked at passing an assault weapons ban and tabled the measure for this session. At the time, Van Cleave credited pro-gun activists with the bill’s defeat.
Gov. Northam admitted that he “came up short” on that legislation but said he plans to try again next year.
“I will not stop,” he said.
Van Cleave is also looking forward. In an email to supporters, he called the fight a “war, not a skirmish” that will be “going on for a long while.” He urged Virginia residents to remain engaged and to flip the legislature back to red in 2021.
“The last election gave us a bad hand to play this year and next. We need to fix that,” he said. “Elections are in 2021 and the entire House is up for grabs. This ship can be turned around if gun owners all do their part, beginning with voting in every election, voting for freedom, and actively supporting pro-liberty candidates.”
A clear violation of your 2nd amendment rights especially with clause about public streets. I am sure this will go to appeals. The citizens of Virgina should hold a special election and unseat this politician. When will gun control advocates stop putting the action of criminals at law abiding citizens feet.
So Governor black face is intent on shitting on your constitution and your God given rights ? you know what to do Virginia , now get of the couch and get it done.
Seems to me Northam is making Virginia the blue print for America’s 2nd civil conflict.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again: “Scratch a liberal and you will discover a fascist.” The Virginia governor has demonstrated his racism in the past and now he is showing his tendency toward fascism. He is a crypto-Nazi who thinks he knows how you should live your life. The seizure of any weapon of which he does not approve is the next thing on his agenda. If he gets any more power, the only people who will be permitted to own weapons will the state police, the agency that protects him and his family and the one law enforcement agency he controls.
There are now 31 states that remain that do not have these Red Flag Gun Confiscation laws on the books that shred the 5th, 6th and 2nd Amendments in the Bill of Rights. Virginia becomes State number 19 that shreds a good portion of the Bill of Rights.
As long as people have their booze, snacks, crappy parents and educations, no fear of God, and their HD lobotomy boxes, they will vote for this vermin.
The difference between a governor’s mansion and a graveyard: citizens’ grand juries.
How this fool enjoys his last term as governor.
There you have it, proof of voter fraud, because nobody in their right mind would vote for that ……………..
You’re right on bob. My governor is an idiot