RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency Wednesday in advance of expected demonstrations on Capitol Square on Monday, January 20, 2020.
Northam claimed at a press conference Wednesday that law enforcement intelligence analysts have identified credible threats of violence surrounding the event, along with white nationalist rhetoric and plans by out-of-state militia groups to attend.
The Governor’s declaration prohibits all weapons, including firearms, from Capitol grounds. According to Northam, these measures will provide joint law enforcement and public safety agencies the resources they need to keep demonstrators, policymakers, and all Virginians safe.
This emergency declaration is temporary and extends from Friday, January 17 at 5:00 PM until Tuesday, January 21 at 5:00 PM.
Virginia Democrats have made it a legislative priority to enact gun control measures in the state of Virginia. Over 100 towns and counties have declared themselves ‘Second Amendment Sanctuaries.’ Anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 Virginians are expected to show up to Richmond on Monday, January 21 to protest gun control measures.
Because there’s no electoral college in the state’s elections, heavily populated northern Virginia (which includes areas just outside of the very liberal D.C.) determines the state representatives — even if those elected leaders do not reflect the majority of the state’s populous. That’s how leaders like Democratic Governor Northam gain power, and that’s how strict gun laws are enacted — something Virginia citizens have recently decided they’d like to fight.
But when Northam, and other state legislators, caught wind of the protest, the governor banned all citizens from exercising their 2nd Amendment rights at the state Capitol.
Northam is making a political point, escalating the situation, rubbing salt in the wound, and effectively lumping all law-abiding citizens under the “radical right” umbrella.
While Antifa groups are most famous for sometimes-violent protests against right-wing groups, the Richmond-based Antifa Seven Hills is joining 2nd Amendment supporters in support of gun rights.
“I think it’s been pretty important for us to focus on the fact that gun control in America has a legacy of racist enforcement,” Seven Hills spokesperson James told Vice, requesting that his last name be withheld from publication. “Like taking guns away from black people, because black people were perceived as a threat to property and the sanctity of the state.”
Several leftist gun rights groups have formed in response to the election of President Trump. This includes Redneck Revolt, which was established in 2016, and the Socialist Rifle Association, which was formed in 2018 and has chapters in all 50 states.
“I think what’s particular about the South is that we have to be a bit more creative and sensitive to the people around us — instead of fulfilling some sort of meme of what antifa is,” James said. “That’s really what we’re trying to work against right now, especially by talking to conservatives and showing we aren’t just a black-clad group of rabble-rousers who are out for attention and have jobs funded by George Soros.”
However, social media reports have warned ANTIFA is planning to infiltrate the rally to start a fight, ” “I’m in Richmond and have just received information from a very reliable source concerning Monday’s rally against the legislature’s gun grabs. Antifa has rented seven buses to bring in their thugs to cause trouble. The report says they will be wearing MAGA hats and wearing NRA garb. They will pretend to be pro-gun people. Others posing as democrats holding anti-gun signs will stand on the side. The Antifa thugs, pretending to be pro-gun, will attack the sign holders. Making it look like the pro-gun people have started the violence. This is the plan. If you are attending the rally be aware. Be very careful.”
So it goes.
Kearn SCHEMM says
The very fact that Northam has determined to restrict the most basic of democratic rights – free assembly – to try to suppress opposition to a very unpopular set of laws shows how “democratic” he and his cronies are. My guess is that they would love to see another Charlottesville situation which they would then use to justify even more draconian and useless “control” legislation. Gun control is always directed at law abiding citizens, criminals do not obey the law anyway.
tokenny says
Hey Kearn, maybe you should read that again and point out where he is restricting free assembly.
2nd amendment rights have nothing to do with free assembly
Kim Stevens says
I often wonder if this man has thought how he will be treated in his retirement, locally.
Ray Otton says
Are you referring to Mr. Northam or Tokenny? 🙂 :-); 🙂
Paul Plante says
I wonder if this is Northam’s “Reichstag Fire” moment – create a need in the mind of the public for martial law and then impose it.
Northam has the ideal BOOGEY-MEN right now to scare people with since they don’t yet exist outside of the mind of Northam.
MJM says
Well, I am not Kearn, and I don’t own a gun. I certainly know how Ralph is restricting the Right of Free Assembly. We have the right to peacefully assemble. The Constitution does not say we can’t assemble freely and peacefully if we are carrying guns. So when Ralph says we can’t bring guns he most certainly is restricting free assembly. How anyone would not see that as a restriction is beyond me.
This entire event is really turning into a disgusting bullying display by Ralph.
How convenient that a very liberal media outlet warns Ralph ( and his security people) that people dressed with MAGA hats and NRA clothes are gonna be the prime suspects. What’s that ? 1/2 the people going ? So all of Trump’s vocal (with hats) supporters, and all the NRA folks are already being told they are personas non grata. They are all being bullied and deemed to be feared by an outrageous, virtally anonymous assertion. Unbelievable.
Why aren’t Ralph’s informed people stopping the buses that are coming containing those people that threatened the safety at this assembly ? Nope. That would make sense. instead threaten so many and make the police and attendees fearful of each other.
I have said it here before, and I say it again. Ralph is a bully. His entire response to the citizens of this Commonwealth, by virtually ignoring all the votes and petitions opposing his ideas, is irresponsible. He creates a potentially a dangerous situation, Instead of facing the threat assessment info properly. He’s a disgrace.
On MLK’s Birthday too. Maybe that is him under that hood in his yearbook.
Ya’ know Ralph, if you were truly a leader, you would ask to speak at the event and talk to The People.
LEAD !!
He’s hiding just like Pelosi hid with the papers that should have immediately gone to The Senate.
In the meantime, knowing he won’t ask to speak, I hope everyone going brings a cardboard rifle. Wave ’em high.
Don Green says
Sorry, Governor Northam–the assembly of thousands protesting your Party’s proposed legislation turned out to be peaceful. Instead of black makeup, you have egg on your face!
Chas Cornwell says
“Sorry, Governor Northam–the assembly of thousands protesting your Party’s proposed legislation turned out to be peaceful. Instead of black makeup, you have egg on your face!”
So, which is it? Either Governor Northam is the one wearing the hood and sheet of the KKK in the picture or he is the one is black face. Republicans can’t seem to get their stories straight. Once again, no one and I mean no one can tell if it is even young Ralph in that picture. And funnily enough, a racial picture from thirty-five years ago suddenly tweaks conservative values? Funny to me. And one other thing for you trembling, knee-knocker gun owners out there. The proud State of Virginia is NOT coming for your guns. The state is looking to put conditions on purchasing and red flagging per established gun laws as written today. Your cabinets full of rapid firing testosterone replacements are just fine and will be… and read slowly…AS LONG AS the 2nd Amendment REMAINS IN PLACE. It is as simple as that. So, your infantile display of over the top nationalism and false patriotism was a nice show and all, but unnecessary. I guess it was better than doing some helpful and selfless service in your communities to show solidarity to the principles of MLK day, huh? And lastly, that peaceful easy feeling created at the capital yesterday, you can THANK Gov. Ralph Northam for…His correct actions to fortify and secure an area where tens of thousands of guns (who knows how many were locked and loaded) congregated and were displayed, prevented another Charlottesville or worst. Think about it…one…just one fool doing a fool thing, could have sparked an OK corral on steroids. Snowflakes. Idiots. Paranoiac Prima-donnas. Oh, and guess what’s up in Virginia in the month of January? That’s right…Gun sales are up! NRA must be so proud. Gotcha…again. Bang, bang…
Paul Plante says
Helpful and selfless service in my community is as a result of our upbringing and has nothing to do with Martin Luther King, a famous American philanderer, nor did he have anything to do with it.
And Northam looks like the little boy who called wolf here, when there was no wolf in sight.
Slide Easy says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss2hULhXf04
Ray otton says
Eh, bullshit. Most of the demonstrators stayed outside the “safety” compound, keeping their guns with them. Meaning, THEY kept the situation from escalating, not Mr. Northam.
Mr. Northam’s claim that he merely wanted “to control the situation” was a blatant attempt to scare the populace into thinking knuckle dragging buffoons were going to start the civil was on the steps of the state capitol.
His actions were right out of the Stalinist playbook.
Make one group of people the bad guys, set up a confrontation between them and the government and then invoke stringent new laws to protect the general population from those bad guys.
It didn’t work.
23,000 LAW ABIDING citizens exercised their 1st and 2nd amendment rights without a single gun going off, putting to rest your outrageous claims of what COULD have happened.
Seriously, it takes no effort at all to go to Youtube and observe the videos that show people of color, gays, kids, women and, OMG, white men!!!!!!, all assembling without even a hint of violence.
There’s even a couple of videos showing the demonstrators cleaning the sidewalk of debris after the event. Try to find that after a fascist Antifa rally.
The problem is, Chas, that watching those videos would make short work of your prejudice against gun owners so you won’t do it.
Your loss, not ours.
As for the claim that Democrats aren’t coming for the guns and only want “common sense gun laws”, in their own words –
“Confiscation could be an option. Mandatory sale to the state could be an option.” – Andrew Cuomo
“If someone is so fearful that they are going to start using their weapons to protect their rights, it makes me very nervous that these people have weapons at all.” U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman
“I think you have to do it a step at a time and I think that is what the NRA is most concerned about. Is that it will happen one very small step at a time so that by the time people have woken up, quote, to what’s happened, it’s gone farther than what they feel the consensus of American citizens would be. But it does have to go one step at a time and the banning of semi assault military weapons that are military weapons is the first step.” Mayor Barbara Fass, Stockton, CA
“If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them… ‘Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ’em all in, I would have done it. – U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein
“Banning guns is an idea whose time has come.” U.S. Senator Joseph Biden
“I feel very strongly about the Brady Bill. I also associate myself with the other remarks of the Attorney General. I think it’s the beginning. It’s not the end of the process by any means.” William J. Clinton, 8/11/93
“The Brady Bill is the minimum step Congress should take…we need much stricter gun control, and eventually should bar the ownership of handguns, except in a few cases.” U.S. Representative William Clay
“the state of Iowa should take semi-automatic weapons away from Iowans who have legally purchased them prior to any ban that is enacted if they don’t give their weapons up in a buy-back program. Even if you have them, I think we need to start taking them,” Iowa state Rep. Dan Muhlbauer
“People who own guns are essentially a sickness in our souls who must be cleansed.” Colorado Senator Majority Leader John Morse.
“We needed a bill that was going to confiscate, confiscate, confiscate.” Discussion among Senator Loretta Weinberg (D37), Senator Sandra Cunningham (D31), Senator Linda Greenstein (D14) of New Jersey’s State Legislature
“No one in this country should have guns.” Superior Court Judge, Robert C. Brunetti, Bristol, CT.
“It is extremely important that individuals in the state of California do not own assault weapons. I mean that is just so crystal clear, there is no debate, no discussion,” Leland Yee, California State Senator.
“I don’t know enough details to tell you how we would do it or how it would work, but certainly the Australia example is worth looking at,” Hillary Clinton
“If I could I would take all the guns in America, put them on big barges, and go dump them in the ocean, nobody would have a gun. Not police, not security, not anybody. We should eliminate all of them.”Oregon Circuit Judge Kenneth Walker
So Chas, you can lie to yourself about your own party’s desires to take away law abiding citizens’ civil rights but the fact is…….they are coming for our guns and we aren’t going to submit.
PS – There is no such thing as an assault weapon. There is a designation of assault rifle, but those are restricted to military use.
Publius Americanus says
Let’s not forget Eric Swallwell, (D-Crap filled Cali) and what he said………
“Joe Biggs sent a message to the Democratic representative saying, “You’re outta your fucking mind if you think I’ll give up my rights and give the gov all the power. So basically @RepSwalwell wants a war,” in his response to Swalwell’s proposing a ban on “military-style semiautomatic assault weapons.”
Swalwell responded: “And it would be a short war my friend. The government has nukes. Too many of them. But they’re legit. I’m sure if we talked we could find common ground to protect our families and communities.”
Yes, threaten us with using the full force of Government on US CITIZENS and then we can ‘talk’.
Why, Chas? Why is it that you merely have to scratch a Democrat to reveal the totalitarian underneath?
Publius Americanus says
the 2nd amendment does NOT grant us the right to keep and bear arms.
It should be called the “Bill of things you have no power over, these are God given rights that no man can take away.”
But you liberals just know so much better than us……just look at all your success stories………….Soviet Union, NorKorea, Cuba, any major American city….
William R Barton says
I’m in total agreement with you!
Ray Otton says
So, what the world knows now is that anti-gun people are actually the most pro-gun people in the world.
They want the government to take away YOUR guns using THEIR guns.
Paul Plante says
As an observer, it was good to see Northam’s bluff called here, his cry last week that these were violent people.
I think he is stealing a page from the political playbook of Democratic Socialist tyrant and dictator Young Andy Cuomo, the military governor of the corrupt third-world ****hole of New York, who now rules, like Northam with his martial law/state of emergency, by decree, much like Augustus Caesar did when he assumed the mantle of emperor of Rome.
Like Cuomo, Northam now seems to have himself a lock on the legislative branch with a lickspittle rubber-stamp Democrat that will approve his every action, and allow him to rule as he pleases.
So it will be interesting to see how this drama down here in the Old Dominion continues to play out.
Will Northam, like Cuomo, come out and openly say “conservatives are not welcome in Virginia,” the way Cuomo says they are not welcome in New York?
The candid world watches and waits with bated breath to see which twist and turn in this passion play of Northam’s comes up next!
And we are surprised here to the north of you that the Democrats didn’t have their violent paramilitaries dressed up in MAGA hats and wearing those T-shirts we see Democrats wearing up this way that say “I’m with Trump – **** your feelings,” which is stupid in a small town where everybody knows who the Democrats are, down there to incite violence that would then be blamed on the 2d amendment crowd.
I came across one of the sniveling little skulkers wearing one just the other day at the market, in fact, which prompted me to tell the little skulker that he was a real A-HOLE, at which he sneered at me and then scuttled away.
And that is the kind of dirty tricks that the Democrats are up to up this way, anyway.
Ray Otton says
We know that Democrats conspired with foreign agents, lied, cheated, and denied due process to Mr. Trump all the name of overturning a lawful election.
If they were willing to do that to a duly elected president in order to obtain power, what should Americans expect of them if they refuse attempts to be disarmed?
They will do their utmost to create a situation where blood is spilled and lives are lost to start a war. They believe that only bloodshed will finally get the people on their side, willing to give them control to “fundamentally transform the United States of America.”
They have now reached a point where they think they can win. They believe they are on the side of all that is good, just and reasonable and if Americans must die for them to be in control, it is a small price to pay to attain the country they believe America should be.
They have tried convincing, they’ve tried legislation, they’ve tried smearing law abiding gun owners as testosterone dripping buffoons.( Right here on the CC Mirror site, in fact)
Nothing has worked.
The new Virginia gun laws bring into focus the realization that Democrats plan to win this war by making fellow Americans into the enemy. The only way to do that is to put blood on their hands so they can pass legislation resulting in gun confiscation and the negation of civil rights.
Then once there is a bloody confrontation they could unleash various government agencies on law abiding Americans.
Northam did his best to provoke this bloodshed at the 2A rally. He put up fences and declared a state of emergency, illegally banning legally owned and carried guns.
This was all planned out. He needed to build enough tension to foment the violence necessary to taint all legal gun owners as illegitimate nuts.( Again, “Nuts” invoked right here on the Mirror. If nothing else, Liberals do like their hive mind mentality)
In addition to Monday’s machinations, last week members of his administration threatened to call out the National Guard to seize guns from people whom they hoped would refuse to obey their new legislation. Another serious provocation to be sure.
What Democrats don’t realize is that making war on Americans who support the 2A while trashing the constitution will not get them a civil war, it will be more of a revolution that will destroy them and their party.
With the rally having been 100% patriotic and peaceful, with not a single arrest, much less any violence, Democrats have put all their cards on the table with a losing hand.
Americans everywhere now understand the left is coming for them, coming for their constitutional rights, coming for their guns.
However, we are a stubborn and independent people. We will never surrender our rights, though demanded by an alliance of politicians, media and the elites.
Americans will never give up their guns. The left does not understand what will happen when they order the National Guard and LEOs to take legally owned property because they live in an echo chamber and can’t conceive of anyone telling them no.
There are more than 400 million guns in America owned by more than a hundred million citizens including 6 million former military members. There are simply not enough willing NG soldiers and LEO’s they can deploy to have even a slim chance of success. Don’t forget, these are the same people who insist that we can’t round up 20 million illegal aliens.
The left seems intent on forcing war. They have shown gun owners what they can expect, but are oblivious to the ramifications.
In any war, the enemy gets a vote and we are your enemy.
So, if it comes to a hot war, it will not be “limited’ as in Vietnam. There will be assassinations of leftist leaders, targeting of power plants serving cities and coasts, as well as pipelines and electrical grids. They should expect food blockades of cities and the sabotage of telecommunications.
There will be bloodshed, there will be suffering and it will be widespread on both sides.
The Democrats want this war, not us. Just like the last civil war. They are foolish in that desire, just like last time and ignorant of the consequences, just like last time.
They should be careful what they wish for but emboldened by a slim majority victory in Virginia this past November………………………………..they will not be.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hubris: describes a personality of extreme or foolish pride or dangerous overconfidence, often in combination with arrogance.
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Blue Hoss says
Let the games begin…
Chas Cornwell says
What is so damned funny about folks on this space is how they think they “know” people. For example, one Mr. Ray Otton professes to think I am prejudiced against guns. For one, I am not! I am prejudiced against stupidity. And this country is full of stupid people. People who don’t know Constitutional law, people who don’t know state laws, people who have no idea what the Governor was even talking about when he spoke about amending state laws governing the sale and the control of gun ownership. (red flag laws) Just stupid folks stirred up by their sounding boards of propaganda and misinformation. And don’t think you can turn this around on me. You can’t. I’ve read what the lawmakers want. It’s well within reason and is justified by the unraveling of civility within our society today. Nowhere, nowhere in any legislation does it say they are confiscating anyone’s weapon. Nowhere!
There are places for guns and there are places guns should not be allowed. Anyone who steps out of line on these regulations is a criminal and subject to laws already in place. Clear…and simple. There will always be victims and victimizers. You, carrying a gun everywhere, does not negate this fact! You could go your whole life without meeting a victimizer. OR, you could just as easily be in a parking lot, late at night and someone walks up and puts a revolver in your face. Still think you have time to diffuse the situation.
This world is full of misguided idiots. And those that know me, know I do not stand in their corner. I don’t profess to have all the answers, if any…but, I do know this…live by the sword; die by the sword. Truth! If you carry a gun, you better be prepared to use it. And I’m not talking about having fair aim. I am talking about taking a human life. How many can say they are prepared to do this? How many actually will?
So, Ray, think I am prejudiced against guns, huh? I’m a gun owner…I just don’t feel the need to march to protect my rights as one. They aren’t coming for my gun. Got it? Capiche? And I’ll tell you this, a mob of twenty-three thousand diverse people screaming rights looks a lot like the beginnings of revolution to me. You ready for that, big guy? This where you want to take your stand. Take a look at Hong Kong, Venezuela, Paris, Syria, Iran, Puerto Rico. Really? You want your back yard to turn into this? What do you think you are up against? Who do you think you are up against? It is all stupidity. And it’s all evil. To think, consider, after Sandy Hook (take a long hard look at what went down there – and do you have children/grandchildren?) to think of how America turned her back (legislatively and morally) against those innocent lives lost and allow those children to “die in vain”. (My words) I truly believe the gun debate became the “evil” this country inherited after this incident. And, I am sure it is far from over. The corruptness from the top has now filtered to the bottom. We ALL are stained with it. It’s just that some of us realize it is time to “get clean” of it. The rest? Blind fools…All. Matthew 23:17-31
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” Quote: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Publius Americanus says
“and is justified by the unraveling of civility within our society today.”
Said erosion being the sole goal of the Left.
The Days of Rage.
The S. D. S.
The Weathermen.
Destroying the traditions and values that made America simply because they were their parents values and what do those old bastids know?
See Chas, what you are describing is the end result of the hippies and lefties upsetting the apple cart. All well and good until you want an apple, and there are none to be found.
See Chas, those traditions and values were Chesterton’s fence. And you all tore the fence down without being able to explain why it was there.
The result was as predictable as sun rise, sun set.
Sandy Hook? All because the lefties in Ct would not allow that poor woman to commit her son. Once again, you blame US for the blood on YOUR hands.
Ray Otton says
Turn things around on you? heh, that’s rich.
First up –
We don’t have to go any further than your support for “Red Flag” laws to know you haven’t a clue, whether or not you own a gun.
Red flag laws turn our Constitution on it’s head by making people PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE……….Not unlike the stupid impeachment wherein the Speaker of the House said in a most reasonable voice that “All we want is the president to prove his innocence” and (D)’s everywhere nodded in agreement.
Talk about uneducated masses, huh?
Next up –
You keep claiming that the (D)’s aren’t coming for our guns though anyone of us can to an internet search and in 3.05 seconds find page after page of (D) politicians saying exactly that. So please stop deluding yourself that (D)’s aren’t completely, utterly against private ownership of firearms.
In addition, a bill was pulled that did call for confiscation of AR-15 style rifles which puts to rest your claim that Virginia (D)’s are “Nowhere, nowhere in any legislation does it say they are confiscating anyone’s weapon. Nowhere!”. ( Love the exclamation point, that makes it really, extra special true)
Unfortunately, SB 16 contained a controversial measure that would have effectively allowed authorities to confiscate weapons that violate it.
It was pulled even before the “gun nut demonstrations” because even the generally clueless (D)’s realized it was a bridge too far…….for now. You can be sure that the bill is on back burner just waiting for the right time.
And then there’s the quote from Dr. King ( A lifelong Republican) –
““He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
Abortion anyone?
The thing is, why are we still fighting these battles? We’re still fighting them because you won’t shut up and listen.
We’re still fighting these battles because the only solution your mind can comprehend is gun control. You can’t even acknowledge that there are potential solutions out there that don’t inhibit the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens. You don’t want to do anything except restrict gun ownership in various ways, most of which won’t stop the violence we’re talking about yet further intrude on law abiding, I REPEAT, law abiding citizens’ civil rights.
Further, you don’t listen when we tell you that gun control will make the problem worse. No, I’m not saying you should agree with it. I mean, you should since it’s the truth, but I don’t want to force you to accept reality.
Disagree? Fine. But don’t pretend that we’re fine being called “nuts”, “stupid” or approve kids being killed or anything of the sort. And BTW, all of these charges have been leveled against gun owners right here on the CC Mirror.
This pisses us off for one very good reason.
The truth is that no one wants kids to be murdered. We’re still battling because we’re sick and damn tired of being presented as being pro-child murder by the party that condones full term abortions.
We’re not about to budge a single inch because you’re not willing to listen to us about anything. You’re too busy vilifying us, pretending we’re in favor of things like mass shootings and dead kids.
Why should we listen?
No one responds well to attempted bullying which is all this line of reasoning is. It’s nothing more than an attempt to bully us into silence. It’s pretending that you’re somehow better than us and trying to badger us into complying with your wishes.
The thing is, we’re not going anywhere. We’re a bunch of pain-in-the-butt, in-your-face, freedom-loving jackasses who aren’t going to go anywhere to roll over and die. We’re here, and we’re going to keep fighting. We have no real choice. The only alternative from our perspective is to allow people like you to restrict gun ownership further and make the problem even worse.
When the good guys are disarmed, who will be around to stop the bad guys from hurting them?
Nothing.
So that’s why we still have this battle. It’s why we’re going to keep having it, too.