Gun rights supporters scored a victory in Virginia on Monday, as a proposed ‘assault’ weapons ban was voted down. Unfortunately, this is just one battle in what is probably going to be a prolonged war.
Tyler Olson reports at FOX News:
Virginia lawmakers reject Northam’s assault-weapons ban, as Dems balkA bill backed by Gov. Ralph Northam that would ban the sale of assault-style weapons in Virginia failed on a committee vote Monday morning, setting back one of the biggest priorities for the newly minted Democrat-controlled government in the state.A crowd of gun-rights activists packed into the committee room cheered as the vote came in, with four moderate Democrats joining Republicans to shelve the bill until next year. Heated exchanges over guns have dominated this year’s legislative session. They were also a key topic of last year’s legislative elections – particularly after a mass shooting in Virginia Beach claimed a dozen lives – and gun control groups heavily funded Democratic candidates.Gun-rights protesters have been out in force for weeks in Richmond, Va., the state’s capital, over Democrats’ gun control agenda.”I have friends that are not going to comply,” warned Nicholas McGraw, a gun owner from King William County who came to protest the assault weapons bill on Feb. 7, before the measure died.McGraw’s comments reflected the attitude of many conservatives and Second Amendment activists in Virginia, especially in its more rural areas.
Rejecting the bill was a bipartisan effort, which is encouraging.
Alan Suderman reports at ABC News:
Virginia lawmakers reject assault weapon banVirginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s push to ban the sale of assault weapons failed on Monday after some of his fellow Democrats balked at the proposal.Senators voted to shelve the bill for the year and ask the state crime commission to study the issue, an outcome that drew cheers from a committee room packed with gun advocates.Four Democrats — most of them moderates — joined Republicans in Monday’s committee vote, rejecting legislation that would have prohibited the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms, including popular AR-15 style rifles, and banned the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds.
This report from WTVR News is short but informative:
As I said, this is a win but the issue is far from over. Mark Levine, who sponsored the bill, tweeted this on Monday:
This is my favorite response:
Featured image via YouTube.
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