In the latest development of the ongoing dispute over gun control in Virginia, Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency and a temporary ban on weapons on capitol grounds, ahead of a planned pro-gun rights rally.If this already sounds like an overreaction to you, wait until you hear Northam’s professed cause for concern.Vandana Rambaran reports at FOX News:
Virginia’s Ralph Northam announces temporary gun ban on Capitol grounds, state of emergencyGov. Ralph Northam, D-Va., declared a state of emergency Wednesday and said he is temporarily banning individuals from carrying firearms and other weapons on Capitol grounds ahead of a scheduled gun rally for fear of a repeat of the violence law enforcement was ill-prepared to deal with at another rally in Charlottesville more than two years ago.Northam said at a press conference Wednesday that the decision is based on “credible intelligence” from “mainstream channels, both offline and online, such as alternative dark web channels used by violent groups and white nationalists from outside Virginia,” which law enforcement says have “malicious plans” that include storming the state Capitol building and stirring up violence at Monday’s rally.”This includes out of state militia groups and hate groups planning to travel from across the country to disrupt our democratic process with acts of violence,” Northam said. “They’re not coming to peacefully protest. They’re coming to intimidate and cause harm.”
Watch Northam’s announcement below:
The NRA released this statement on Twitter:
Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms reports that Northam’s efforts are backfiring:
As Northam Enacts Capitol Gun Ban, More VA Towns Back 2A ResolutionsEven as Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is set to declare a temporary emergency in the state of Virginia in order to declare the state capitol grounds a gun free zone, more and more Virginia towns and cities are declaring their locales Second Amendment Sanctuaries.There are now at least 130 counties, towns, and cities in Virginia that have taken the step, including several on Tuesday.Council members in Portsmouth voted 4-3 Tuesday evening to declare the city a “Second Amendment Constitutional City” with a crowd of gun owners in attendance.
“Tonight is about supporting not only the Second Amendment but all of our rights. They are natural rights. They’re God-given, not made by man, and no man can take them away,” said Les Gilliam, who attended the meeting.
Featured image via YouTube.
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