Newly-empowered Democrat state lawmakers in Virginia are reportedly threatening action in the Commonwealth’s 78 counties that have so far declared themselves “Second Amendment Sanctuaries” if police and sheriffs do not enforce gun control laws passed in Richmond in 2020, according to the Washington Examiner.
The news agency reported, “Virginia Democratic officials…say local law enforcement supporting these resolutions will face consequences if they do not carry out any law the state Legislature passes.”
Gun rights activists are wondering openly on social media if civil war is about to erupt in The Old Dominion now that anti-gun Democrats can safely push any gun control package they want in Richmond. The story quoted Democrat State Rep. Gerry Connolly stating, “I would hope they either resign in good conscience, because they cannot uphold the law which they are sworn to uphold, or they’re prosecuted for failure to fulfill their oath.”
Another Democrat, Rep. Donald McEachin, reportedly suggested withholding funds from counties that don’t comply with Richmond-adopted gun control laws. Isn’t that the kind of quid-pro-quo Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of committing?
Virginia Democrats, led by anti-gun Gov. Ralph Northam, are planning a full menu of gun control including a ban on so-called “assault weapons” and original capacity magazines, “universal” background checks on all firearm transactions, reviving the state’s failed one-gun-a-month law and instituting a “red flag” law.
Democrats took full control of the legislature with last month’s election, thanks in part to the infusion of $2.5 million from Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund.
McEachin also suggested that anti-gun Gov. Ralph Northam “could call the National Guard if necessary.” He said the governor could call up the National Guard “to enforce the law.”
According to U.S. News, “the sanctuary movement is indicative of a growing backlash against Virginia’s leftward lean in recent years, coinciding with a campaign season that saw Democrats in November gain control of both chambers of the legislature for the first time in more than two decades.”
WTKR reported that Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said any new gun control laws will be enforced. Herring asserted that “the gun lobby” is behind these Sanctuary efforts. Virginia is home to the National Rifle Association, which was vastly outspent in this year’s state legislative races. Only about 40 percent of the registered voters actually turned out to vote, and now alarmed gun owners are flooding county commission meetings seeking some action against an anticipated gun control juggernaut.
