By Dave Workman
At least four commonwealth’s attorneys (county prosecutors) in Virginia have gone on record as refusing to enforce a new gun control law which becomes effective July 1 banning so-called “assault weapons” and original capacity magazines, saying the law—signed by Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger—is unconstitutional.
Prosecutors in Powhatan, Pulaski, Smyth and Spotsylvania counties have lined up against enforcement of the ban. Likewise, according to report at the Washington Times, Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Kilgore of Scott County “made similar remarks.”
The four Commonwealth attorneys are Phillip Blevins Jr. (Smyth County), Rob Cerullo (Powhatan County), Justin L. Griffin (Pulaski County), and Ryan Mehaffey (Spotsylvania County).
Fox News is reporting that Mehaffey is taking an especially “hard line” stance. He appeared in a video detailing his criticism of Spanberger’s bill, which was posted at the Fox News website. Fox News says Spanberger “has been slipping in the polls amid criticisms of her progressive policy agenda.”
In an interview with Fox News, Mehaffey stated, “Our founders were careful to make sure when they drafted our founding document, that the ultimate right of the people was preserved to defend themselves and to defend their community. So, the linchpin of the constitutional analysis is going to be does this instrument have some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a regulated militia.”
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, a national grassroots gun rights organization, has applauded the four prosecutors for taking a stand against the new law. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb expressed confidence that when the law is challenged in court, it will ultimately be struck down. He noted the irony of the law’s effective date, just three days before the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary.
A Spanberger spokesman told the Washington Times, “Governor Spanberger believes that firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on Virginia streets. The people of Virginia must be able to trust that all the commonwealth’s attorneys will uphold the rule of law and keep Virginians safe.”
The Washington Times is also reporting that Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League has called on members to “activate the Second Amendment sanctuary movement 2.0.”
