When you thought Virginia Democrats may sluggish their anti-gun campaign after their occasion took a shellacking on the polls throughout the nation this previous November but retained slim majorities over each the state senate and legislature, suppose once more. Happily, the Outdated Dominion has a Republican lawyer normal, lieutenant governor and governor, the latter who is able to wield his veto pen like a battle axe. And after years of failed makes an attempt, Senate Dems are nonetheless throwing every little thing they’ll on the wall within the hopes that simply one in every of their restrictive, unconstitutional payments may stick.
On Monday, in a determined bid to reclaim misplaced floor, the Democrat-controlled Senate pushed by means of a flurry of gun management measures alongside occasion strains. Their crown jewel? A ban on so-called “assault weapons,” a imprecise, politically handy time period they’ve used to focus on a few of the hottest and generally owned rifles within the nation.
In fact, this isn’t their first rodeo. The identical ban has handed the Senate thrice earlier than, solely to get shut down within the Republican-controlled Home or buried underneath the load of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s veto stamp. Final yr, Youngkin made it crystal clear the place he stood, stating that banning a broad class of firearms used for self-defense and different lawful functions was a direct violation of the Structure. But, Democrats stay unfazed, operating the identical failed play over and over in hopes of a distinct outcome.
A Laundry Listing of Nonsense
The assault weapons ban is just the start. Virginia Democrats have additionally doubled down on legal guidelines that might criminalize gun homeowners for merely exercising their rights. Amongst their newest makes an attempt:
Obligatory locked storage legal guidelines – Whereas correct storage of firearms is one thing each gun proprietor ought to apply, ought to the federal government actually be the one telling us how you can do it and punishing law-abiding residents who’ve a proper to find out how they stay inside their properties. How do you even implement a legislation like this till after the actual fact. Schooling, not laws, is the important thing right here.
Banning weapons in hospitals with psychological well being providers – Final yr, Youngkin tried to strike a compromise that might forestall firearms from being transferred to psychological well being sufferers, however Democrats rejected it. Now they’re again, making an attempt to ram by means of an much more restrictive model that forbids even hid carry allow holders from lawfully carrying the place present legislation permits.
Extra restrictions on hid carry – Senate Invoice 1329 would strip law-abiding Virginians of their proper to maintain a firearm of their car for self-defense until they’ve a hid carry allow. Sen. David Marsden, D-Burke, claims it will cease gun thefts from automobiles, whereas Sen. Mark Obenshain, a Republican, rightly identified that the invoice would do the precise reverse—forcing gun homeowners to depart their firearms in plain sight slightly than securing them inside their autos. At the moment Virginia permits open carry, together with in autos, that means with this legislation, it could be authorized to depart a gun mendacity in your automotive seat or dashboard, however unlawful to lock it up in a console or locked storage field in your car. Inform me how that is sensible?
A ban on “ghost weapons” – Democrats are nonetheless obsessive about outlawing do-it-yourself firearms, although criminals overwhelmingly get their weapons by means of theft or unlawful avenue gross sales—not from folks 3D-printing receivers of their basements.
And maybe essentially the most absurd of all:
A five-day ready interval for gun purchases – Moreover being a persistent trouble for law-abiding gun homeowners to should shuttle a number of occasions to make a single buy, such a legislation leaves individuals who want to guard themselves, comparable to victims of violent crime comparable to home abuse, weak and unable to guard themselves for 5 days. As a substitute of providing an instantaneous carve-out for these in peril as advised by Republicans, Democrats insisted the invoice ought to cross as-is, promising they’d “repair it later.” They’re at all times so good at fixing issues later, proper? Some folks want to actually take into consideration how they need to vote earlier than going to the polls, perhaps we should always counsel a five-day ready interval after you come to the polls, you return house for 5 days after which come again to vote. I’m certain they’d lose their minds over that!
And for good measure, Senate Dems additionally voted to elevate the age for buying an “assault firearm” to 21—until, in fact, you’re in legislation enforcement or the navy. As a result of of their world, an 18-year-old is accountable sufficient to hold a rifle into fight or strap on a badge, however to not defend his own residence, whereas a 16-year-old ought to have the ability to vote, however should be warned to not eat Tide Pods, and a 12-year-old needs to be allowed to make the choice to have sex-altering surgical procedure whereas none of them may even sit in a Congressional listening to and outline one thing so simple as what a person and a girl are.
Frequent sense? Democrats like to throw that phrase round when suggesting restrictive gun laws but show in each different side, they don’t know what the hell “widespread sense” is.
Thank God for the Guv
Whereas Virginia’s Home of Delegates nonetheless must vote on these measures, and with a Democratic majority (51-49) it would doubtless cross down occasion strains, there’s little doubt that Gov. Youngkin will as soon as once more function the final line of protection for gun homeowners and true commonsense residents within the Commonwealth. The Republican governor has already rejected related restrictions earlier than, and nothing in these payments suggests they’d fare any higher on his desk this time round, that means the Democrat’s payments are extra about showboating and hoping the tide turns of their favor by the subsequent gubernatorial election
However make no mistake—this flurry of anti-gun laws is an indication of issues to return. Virginia Democrats, determined to cling to no matter scraps of energy they nonetheless maintain, are doubling down on the identical drained gun management playbook that has failed them time and time once more. With Youngkin holding agency and gun homeowners more and more mobilized, it’s clear that the actual battle for Virginia’s Second Modification rights and a stand for freedom of all Virginians lies forward on Nov. 4, 2025, when the state will elect a brand new governor.
As per state legislation, Youngkin can not run for re-election, so at the moment it appears like Abigail Spanberger, a Beltway veteran who’s a former CIA spook and the architect behind many of those anti-gun legal guidelines will run for the Dems, whereas the present Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a preferred pro-gun Republican, is predicted to run for the seat for her occasion. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the Democrats message their assaults on Earle-Sears, who’s each a girl and black, two widespread assault factors utilized by Democrats to go after usually white male candidates that received’t be accessible for them to make use of on this election.
