Thousands Protest for Gun Rights in Virginia
More than 22,000 pro-gun demonstrators gathered in front of the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond to protest recently proposed firearms restrictions on January 20, according to Reuters.
Due to security concerns posed by neo-Nazis and other extremist groups, State Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA) banned all firearms on capitol grounds. Federal authorities arrested three alleged neo-Nazis intending to use the protest to trigger racial tensions. Capitol Police also reported the arrest of a 21-year-old woman who refused to take off a face-cover after repeatedly being told that masks were prohibited.
Despite the firearms ban on capitol grounds, around 16,000 protestors remained outside the area, and some were armed with military-style weapons and wearing camouflage clothing and gear.
Many demonstrators held American flags, along with signs saying “Come and Take It” next to images of firearms, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some shouted, “We will not comply,” and “U.S.A.” into bullhorns. According to Reuters, many praised President Donald Trump and his commitment to upholding Second Amendment rights.
Phillip Van Cleave, President of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, which organized the protest, discussed the far-right presence with the Wall Street Journal: “I didn’t expect any from our side, but we didn’t know about all these groups that said they were going to piggyback onto our rally.”
Many people traveled from outside the state to protest against the gun control plans. Teri Horne, who came from Texas with her Smith & Wesson rifle and .40-caliber handgun, expressed her concerns with Virginia’s gun control policies to Reuters: “What’s going on here, if not stopped, will spread to other states. They will come for guns in other states if we don’t stop them in Virginia.”
A few counter-protesters walked around Richmond carrying banners, protesting white supremacy and calling for the removal of President Trump and Vice President Pence. Police thwarted any possibly violent interaction between the two groups.
Northam expressed his relief that the event remained peaceful on Twitter, writing, “we are all thankful that today passed without incident.” Northam has vowed to pass new gun control laws in his state, and he is currently supporting a package of eight bills, including universal background checks, “red flag” laws, and an assault rifle ban.
President Trump commented on the situation in Richmond. “The Democrat Party in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia is working hard to take away your 2nd Amendment rights,” President Trump tweeted following the protest. “This is just the beginning. Don’t let it happen. VOTE REPUBLICAN in 2020.”
The rally was held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which usually is reserved as Lobby Day where local citizens can lobby their legislators. According to the Associated Press, many groups stayed away from the Capitol due to the threat of violence.
As a result of the increased threat, fifteen college students and one high school student from the March for Our Lives Organization slept overnight in front of the offices of Democratic legislators to ensure that they could reach the Capitol area safely.
According to Reuters, many of the state’s gun owners have discussed the possibility of creating “sanctuary cities” for gun rights, with local government bodies in almost all ninety-five counties passing declarations not to enforce new gun control laws. Across the U.S., over two-hundred local governments and sixteen states have passed similar proposals.