The Democrats swept into power in Virginia over the last two elections and they didn’t mind overstepping their mandate. They took a risky gamble on passing gun legislation, but went too far as usual and Americans across the country were outraged.
It starts in one state and it can quickly move to others if we are not vigilant about keeping our rights.
Thankfully, gun owners showed up in force and put the Dems on notice. The terrified Dems caved and pulled the most egregious bill that could have led to gun confiscations.
The Western Journal reported that as lawmakers met to consider a slew of gun control bills on Monday, they were greeted by “thousands” of Second Amendment supporters determined to voice their opposition.
Even in the face of that kind of popular discontent, 4 measures moved forward in the state Senate Judiciary Committee, thanks to a Democratic majority, though some were in slightly weakened form, the Free Beacon reported.
But at one bill, known as SB 16, a controversial measure that would have “effectively” allowed authorities to confiscate weapons that violate, was withdrawn entirely.
“We are beyond impressed by today’s turnout,” D.J. Spiker, Virginia state director for the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, told the Washington Free Beacon. “You can see the passion and enthusiasm that the citizens of Virginia have in joining us in this fight.”
The presence of gun-rights supporters at the state Senate judiciary committee hearing appeared to have a big impact, as the Dems formally withdrew S.B. 16 – a hotly-contested bill that would have effectively confiscated AR-15s and similar firearms—and moderated several other proposals. The NRA, however, said the changes were not enough and promised to continue to oppose the bills as they continue to move forward in the coming weeks.
“While there were some improvements to some of these bills, overall, it’s still bad legislation,” Spiker said. “Putting in more regulations and making it more onerous on the law-abiding citizens of Virginia is not something we stand for.”
Gun-rights proponents who spoke after the committee meeting said that they believed the Democrats’ gun-control bills represent an attack on the Second Amendment. Christina Baker, a traveling emergency nurse who came to the hearing before a 13-hour shift, said she understood that there are good intentions at work but fears an “assault weapons” ban or poorly constructed law could make her a criminal.
“I’m a single female that travels the country by myself in completely new areas,” she told the Free Beacon. “I never know where I’m going to end up, and to protect myself with whatever firearm I choose is so important to me. With the bills that are written and how they’re written, 90 percent of my firearms, including my carry firearms, would be made illegal, and I would be made a felon overnight.”
