While many Virginians remain shocked that Governor Northam (D) intends on banning guns as part of the most sweeping and radical gun control legislation in Virginia history, it is important to remember that Northam is simply following his predecessor Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Governor Terry McAuliffe actually banned firearms, however virtually no one noticed and the media in Richmond hardly even covered the action undertaken. The Commonwealth of Virginia in fact imposed imposed strict limitations in November 2017 regarding any protests, rallies or public demonstrations at the Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond erected in 1890 by Virginia Democrats to celebrate the life of the Virginian.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe proclaimed emergency powers and issues emergency regulations forgoing any legislation to do so through the General Assembly which his Party held the minority.
McAuliffe would restrict the right to assembly by reducing permitted crowd sizes at events at the Lee Monument to 500. The previous crowd limit was 5,000. The Governor also changed the required permits for public assembly requiring a permit for an event hosted for more than 10 people.
So basically a school bus load of children could never visit the Lee Monument again without an actual permit to do so and now you know why you never see the tour buses stopped at the monument unloading tourists. So much for hospitality and tourism in the city.
Yet, Governor McAuliffe went further. McAuliffe issued a gun ban on any events scheduled at the Lee Monument. Something that had never been done before in the history of the Monument Avenue.
These regulations were a stated direct result from the events in Charlottesville, Va. in 2017 as means towards changing the "climate" or "preventing" protests in Richmond. So in effect, a sitting Governor was attempting to prevent organized protest or assembly in the capital city of the Commonwealth and was using emergency regulations to do it.
The Progressives cheered McAuliffe having no regard for the rights of assembly or the right to bear arms and the Governor totally circumvented the legislature to do it.
The Governor passed no regulations or requirements to take effect in Charlottesville where the rally occurred nor did the Governor ever ask the City Council of that city to address its monuments though Charlottesville would later "black tarp" both the Lee and Jackson monuments in Charlottesville and rename Lee Park to Emancipation Park.
Governor McAuliffe singled out only the Lee Monument for his targeted discriminatory regulations and further prohibited anyone from open carry or conceal carry on the premise of the Lee Monument. The monument is not a government building or complex nor a religious venue that typical legislation limits open carry.
How did this all happen in truth. Simple. The Progressives used the "public safety" messaging to convince Virginians that a threat was eminent. That the Commonwealth would be over run with Unite the Right protesters or Neo Nazi/KKK groups. None of which happened after the Charlottesville event.
Progressives manufactured a "crisis".
Progressives manufactured a "crisis".
Virginia Democrats and Governor McAuliffe assured Virginians that such restrictions “will balance First Amendment rights and ensure that all Virginians remain safe....We believe these regulations can be a model for localities across Virginia as they consider how to approach these types of events in the future.”
Message? Localities would be given license to enact their own measures to restrict assembly, open carry or restrict entry to buildings while carrying a firearm.
Message? Localities would be given license to enact their own measures to restrict assembly, open carry or restrict entry to buildings while carrying a firearm.
Furthermore, what Governor McAuliffe actually was saying is the Confederate monuments are no longer off limits and protected. These actions were the true catalyst or "green light" moment for Virginia history to be attacked.
Prior to the "emergency" action taken by McAuliffe vandalism was a virtual rarity in Richmond and Charlottesville. Afterward, dozens of instances have occurred with the use of red paint on various statues and monuments. In effect, The Democrats made the monuments a target and thus a "symbol" of their intentions moving forward to fundamentally change the perception of the part these Virginia treasures play in Virginia history.
Prior to the "emergency" action taken by McAuliffe vandalism was a virtual rarity in Richmond and Charlottesville. Afterward, dozens of instances have occurred with the use of red paint on various statues and monuments. In effect, The Democrats made the monuments a target and thus a "symbol" of their intentions moving forward to fundamentally change the perception of the part these Virginia treasures play in Virginia history.
While campaigning for office, Governor McAuliffe stated numerous times that the monuments should remain a part of Virginia history. He was quoted as saying "they are all part of our heritage".
McAuliffe and the Democrats have in fact betrayed Virginia history and its heritage.
The nexus between what is happening today with Governor Ralph Northam's proposed gun legislation, McAuliffe , Mayor Levar Stoney and the Virginia Progressives is clear. Northam's proposals are merely an extension of what Governor McAuliffe implemented in 2017.
Unlike most monuments in Richmond, Va which are owned by the city, the Robert E. Lee Monument is owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and thus all Virginians. This fact may be its only saving grace in truth as the City of Richmond has some have proposed for the removal of Confederate monuments in the city, including Mayor Levar Stoney who is likely to run for Lt. Governor in 2021
It is important to note that with all the predicted hysteria and fears that Progressives always craft as their narrative regarding such issues as racism and the monuments the city just last month unveiled a new statue Rumors of War whose sole purpose is a counter-reaction to the monument of J.E.B Stuart on Monument Avenue.
Of course there were no protests or rallies objecting to the erection of the two million dollar Rumors of War statute outside the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts by anyone.
Far too many forget the "emergency" action undertaken by Governor McAuliffe. It is clear that Governor Northam this time planning to use the legislature to enact unconstitutional gun bans and or confiscation rather than "emergency" powers or regulations.
The media hardly covered the regulations back in 2017 regarding the actions undertaken by McAuliffe. Even though on their face they were an afront to freedom to assemble and right to bear arms in the public square.
This is the lesson. Virginians can no longer stand by and allow such measures to be advanced further by government imposing regulations or unconstitutional laws for fear of being called "code words" by the Progressives.
In 2017 if anyone opposed McAuliffe's measures they would be called "racist" paying no mind to the underlying assault on freedom and liberty such regulations represent and have led us to where Virginia is today.
Pro Second Amendment supporters must understand that the very intention they have for uphold our Constitution will be portrayed as anything but by Progressives and the media.
Pro Second Amendment supporters must understand that the very intention they have for uphold our Constitution will be portrayed as anything but by Progressives and the media.
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