State of the Commonwealth: Wason Center Survey (Gun Control element)

This morning a State of the Commonwealth 2020 Survey Report was released  by the Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. The Center was established in 2007 and has been a vital resource regarding Virginia public policy.

The Center routinely releases public survey's regarding policies impacting Virginians as well as political races throughout the Commonwealth.

From the Center's report released this morning:

Gun control. One of the central issues in the November elections was gun control, and Virginia voters are firmly in support of further restrictions. The most widely supported restriction is making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks (Q12A), with 86% of voters saying they support or strongly support that measure. Three-fourths (76%) of voters oppose or strongly oppose allowing a person who legally owns a gun to conceal carry that weapon without a permit (Q12C), while 73% say they support a “red flag” law allowing a family member or the police to seek a court order to temporarily take guns (Q12D) from legal gun owners judged to be a threat to harm themselves or others. While a majority of 54% of voters support a ban on assault-style weapons, this measure has the highest opposition, with 42% saying they oppose or strongly oppose such a ban (Q12B

https://cnu.edu/wasoncenter/surveys/2019-12-16/

Other Summary Highlights of the Judy Ford Wason Center survey:

-Voters strongly support requiring background checks on all gun sales (86%-13%) and passing a ‘red flag’ law (73%-23%); a slight majority (54%-44%) support banning assault-style weapons.

-Voters strongly back the Equal Rights Amendment (80%-13%).

-A slight majority oppose giving localities authority to remove or alter Confederate monuments (51%-44%).

-Voters strongly support decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana (83%-14%).

-Voters strongly support raising the minimum wage (72%-28%)-

-Voters strongly support automatic voter registration (64%-31%) and no-excuse absentee voting (74%-23%).

-Voters strongly support passage of the redistricting reform constitutional amendment (70%-15%).

Dr.Quentin Kidd, Director Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy

“This survey suggests there’s pent-up demand among voters for a lot of the Democrats’ policy agenda” 

“There’s pent-up demand in the Democrats’ caucus, too, and it will be revealing to see what legislation the new majority prioritizes now that they’re in power.”

The Center will release the data metrics of the polling and survey in the coming weeks. The Center's survey appears to support the will of Progressives in Richmond to fundamentally change Virginia.

The Center's survey illustrates just what Conservatives are up against moving into the next legislative session. Progressives believe they have a mandate from the People given they control the "trifecta" in Richmond; Governorship, Senate and House of Delegates.

Two Virginia Congressional Democrats Waffling?

Just when the Virginia Democrats face an onslaught of mobilized opposition to the Virginia Progressive Democrats attempts to introduce state legislation to make hundreds of thousands of Virginians felons overnight for owning firearms, Congressional Democrats in Virginia now face the question of impeachment.

It could not have come at a worse time for Virginia Democrats. Especially Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D) and Elaine Luria (D).

Both Spanberger and Luria were elected during the "Blue Wave" in 2018 to Congress. Along with about twenty nine other Democrats, they were elected in districts that President Trump won in 2016. While all across the country other Democrats are facing the impeachment question, Spanberger ad Luria also have to deal with a growing Constitutional movement known as the 2A Sanctuary Movement rejecting Virginia Democrats attempt to face the most restrictive gun legislation in the entire country.

Abigail Spanberger represents the Virginia 7th District comprising of Central Virginia localities like Chesterfield and Henrico all the way up to Culpeper while Elaine Luria's Virginia 2nd District is predominately the Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, Norfolk and Williamsburg corridor.

Spanberger recently in Spotsylvania County at a town hall meeting was lambasted for her support thus far for impeachment. Less than a week later, Spotsylvania County would pass a resolution to become a 2A Sanctuary county joining virtually every locality in her district except Henrico and Chesterfield. Thousands of Virginians showed up at rallies and meetings in localities comprising the district. Even in Chesterfield County where a vote on 2A has not been taken witnessed two thousand citizens attend its recent December agenda meeting.

 By introducing the Articles of Impeachment at this time, Nancy Pelosi has put both of these Virginia Representatives right in the crosshairs of a growing movement going into 2020. The timing could not be any worse as both have such started fundraising for the 2020 campaign for re-election.

Spanberger faces some real challenges now. A half dozen candidates including Delegate John McGuire, Tina Ramirez, Delegate Nick Freitas, Andrew Knaggs, Pete Greenwald and Craig Ennis have already declared candidacy for the Republican nomination to face Spanberger next November.

Nick Frietas, who just won what may be the biggest write in campaign last month after missing a filing deadline for his Delegate seat has been extremely active at meetings and rallies in support of the 2A movement. Tina Ramirez provided her support at the Goochland County board meeting during the comment period and John McGuire also has attended meetings like the one held last week in Chesterfield County. Ramirez leads an international non profit focused on religious freedom around the world.

Not only is the 2A movement providing local opposition to Democrats but now multiple conservative organizations have begun ad campaigns directed at these Representatives over impeachment. Freedomworks, Heritage Action and the American Conservative Union are just three of the forces behind multiple streams targeting the Democrats in Trump won districts.

There are rumblings that Spanberger may now be waffling over impeachment. Spanberger's biggest accomplishment to date was not supporting Pelosi for Speaker back in January. The Democrats know they can lose about seventeen votes and still push the needle of impeachment. Pelosi may be willing to give up some Democrat votes in the Trump won districts to satisfy those voters in an effort to prevent a "red wave" in 2020 that would cost her majority. Luria is also in the same position as just last month the Virginia Senate seats in her district were won by Republicans even though Democrats secured victory in both the Senate and House of Delegates of Virginia.

Both Spanberger and Luria signed on to an op ed that was published in the Washington Post in support of the impeachment inquiry. This op ed many claim is what pushed Speaker Pelosi to advance impeachment.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/democratic-reps-luria-and-spanberger-of-virginia-join-calls-for-trumps-impeachment/2019/09/24/8aaae884-deca-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html

Voters have not forgotten. Based on the town hall meetings hosted by both, there is considerable opposition to impeachment in their districts. And now with the Governor pushing extreme gun control measures in Richmond the Republicans it appears have been "poked".

The power of Virginia politics no rests with the densely populated Northern Virginia localities where Republicans have little footing any longer. The conservative localities of Virginia lead a different life. They are mostly rural and not nearly as populated. The values also appear to be quite different than Northern Virginia where the population has been heavily influenced by immigration the last two decades and the the increase in size of the federal government. Residents are paid more in Northern Virginia and have greater access to services than the majority of the rural localities. Gun ownership and gun appreciation is also quite higher in rural conservative localities as well as opposition to impeachment.

The above map put together by Larry Sabato of the UVA Center of Politics illustrates the power dynamic in Virginia. Many localities in Virginia now question their voice in Richmond and it is this question that very well may have awakened a Republican Party that has been dormant for almost a decade.

Trump impeachment and the 2A Gun Sanctuary Movement may just be the combination that will not only defeat Democrats next November on the ballot along with Trump but also return the House of Delegates to the Republicans in 2021.

It is no wonder there are rumors that Spanberger or Luria may break with other Democrats in the House of Representatives to put one of the fires out but voters now likely will see the move has simply purely political and something counter to the campaigns both ran in 2018 to win their seats in the first place.

Thus far the #2AStrong Virginia Gun Sanctuary Movement is approaching 80 localities sign on in opposition to Progressive gun laws and the number is growing.

#Spanberger #Luria #Sabato #UVACenterofPolitics #VaGOP #BlueVirginia #VAHouseofDelegates #TinaRamirez #VA07 #VA02 #2ASTRONG #gunsanctuary #vagunsanctuary #2A #Northam #Pelosi #impeachment #HeritageInstitute #Freedomworks #TeaParty

Charlottesville (Albemarle County) Surrounded by 2A Sanctuaries

Charlottesville, Va has remained in the news for the last few years mostly due to two things; one the success of the University of Virginia and its sports programs and two an inept, feckless city government focused on "social injustices" of the past rather than moving the city forward as world class city.

Following the rally in 2017,  Charlottesville has moved so far to the left that radical extremists seem to have become the norm elected to the city council. A history that includes Councilor Wes Bellamy long well known for his racist and homophobic tweets but also his disgraceful sexist comments directed towards white women. And lets not forget his famous "i hate snow" statements because snow is "white". Unbelievably, Bellamy was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education despite a history of offensive statements.

Wes Bellamy, Councilor

Charlottesville in the wake of the tragedy in 2017 elected Mayor Nikuyah Walker. Walkers slogan has been "Unmasking the illusion" of systematic racism and inequality in the city and yet the city has been run by Democrats for decades and is one of the most liberal Progressive localities outside Northern Virginia. In fact, Charlottesville policies mirror Arlington County and many other Progressive cities in the Northeast than it does other Virginia areas.

The localities surrounding the City of Charlottesville and predominantly supporting it economically do not share the same level of pessimism towards Virginia or America and its history as the City. Charlottesville over the last two years has attempted various ways to remove Virginia history from the public square. The City has spent hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars on defending positions in and out of court relating to its policies. The city leadership has sought the removal of both the Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson statutes but recently added that the Lewis & Clark monument should also be removed.

Charlottesville has become known to be home to the "Black Tarp" Progressives.

The Courts have ruled thus far against the attempts of Charlottesville to remove monuments citing the legislation enacted in Richmond to protect "war memorials" from removal by local authorities. Just as thousands of Virginians are showing up at agenda meetings all over the Commonwealth in support of the Constitution, Charlottesville and its leaders along with other Progressives are looking to the General Assembly to repeal the protections placed upon the monuments and history they seek to remove.

This dynamic illustrates the real disconnect between places like Charlottesville and the Virginians living around it. While thousands are standing for our founding principles, Charlottesville appears ashamed of our nations founding and those that formed our Republic. Even Thomas Jefferson may not make it through the direction the city is moving. A man that basically built much of the history there, but Jefferson owned slaves so he to has become a target of the "social justice" warrior elite heavily funded by contributions from outside the Commonwealth.

Charlottesville's neighboring counties are enacting Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions to protect its citizens from the State's planned gun bans. Thus far localities like Orange County, Rockingham County, Greene County, Louisa County  Buckingham County and Nelson County have enacted support for the #2AStrong movement in Virginia that is sweeping the state.

Almost eighty counties have signed on to the 2A gun sanctuary movement in Virginia thus far. Many Virginians are looking to Charlottesville and asking whether they no longer should support a city economically that so opposes the very history of Virginia that has played such an integral role in our nation. Virginia's ties to the Constitution can be seen everywhere across the state. Whether the history of the Virginia Plan or the participants in our Revolutionary Period, much of America's founding can be found in Virginia.

Young students educated all across the country learn of Virginia and its role in our founding from Jamestown to the surrender of the British. They learn of and many as they grow older visit places like Williamsburg and Yorktown. Charlottesville's leadership has sought to turn its back on all of that.

The more Charlottesville pushes its progressive agendas the more it alienates itself from the Virginians living around the city who contribute economically to the city's future. The City is the certainly important to the region, home to a major educational institution like University of Virginia but also research hospitals and business centers but its is politically becoming disconnected to majority of Virginians who support it economically.

The 2A Movement is yet another example of how Charlottesville and Albemarle County, one of the most wealthy localities in Virginia, may very well be out of touch with its neighbors. Albemarle did not have 2A up for discussion on its December monthly Board meeting but Supervisor Rick Randolph stated that "we do not have any involvement on this issue".

Randolph stated that Albemarle County has set its priorities for the year and has no plans for a sanctuary resolution.

Many Virginians are asking themselves why they should support these localities further when they clearly to do not stand with them or the Constitution.

“No one is talking about taking away somebody’s shotgun, hunting rifle, and handgun if they have a concealed carry if they have a permit none of that is going to be taken away on even a state level.”  (Rick Randolph, Supervisor Albemarle County, Va)

Chesterfield Board Betrays Constituent Trust: Plays Politics

                                                     "You work for us- Do your jobs"
                                            Patrick Murphy- resident Midlothian (Chesterfield)

There was a monthly Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Agenda Meeting Wednesday night in Chesterfield County, Virginia outside the State Capital of Richmond. Chesterfield is an suburban locality with roughly 350,000 residents and has traditionally been represented by Republican leaders on its Board of Supervisors and School Board.

The County however, has been changing politically over the last decade as more and more younger families move into the County. While recent elections demonstrated the continued strength of some Republicans like State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (VA-11) who defeated a Progressive Democrat challenger last month, fellow State Senator Republican Glen Sturtevant (VA-10) was defeated in his race but was victorious in the Chesterfield and Powhatan precincts of the district earning 51% in Chesterfield and 76% in Powhatan,

Powhatan County has already endorsed the 2A Gun Sanctuary Movement but Chesterfield appears unwilling to advance any 2A resolution in defiance of the Richmond.

In fact in the days leading up to Wednesday evening monthly meeting, the Republican Chair of the Board of Supervisors Leslie Haley informed local reporters that no such measure would be enacted by the Board or voted upon regarding a 2A sanctuary  as over 60 other localities have undertaken thus far including many of Chesterfield's neighboring localities.

Amelia County and Colonial Heights have also signed on to the 2A movement.

The determination by Haley to take no action before even listening or hearing the concerns of constituents is striking. Thousands gather for an agenda meeting to have their voices heard and just like a week ago when Haley avoided constituents at a leadership meeting with the Delegation from Chesterfield County to the General Assembly a greater arrogance is being displayed.

Haley asserted "Folks we have County business to do tonight" following the ending of the public speaking period and that the "we are following Board procedures" and after a citizen asked if there was way procedure wise to get a vote on the matter he was informed there was no such procedure. Haley proceed to close the floor to the public comment period.

                                  "Folks, Folks there is no action item on the Board's Agenda"
                                        Leslie Haley, Chair Chesterfield  Board of Supervisors

Haley appears determined to defer to Richmond. Her concern appears less about any Constitutional infringement by the State  but rather money. Haley raised the issue of the State withholding financial resources should the County endorse a 2A resolution in defiance of the laws that may be enacted by the General Assembly. Supervisor Jaeckle all  but passed the buck regarding guns to Richmond and the "state level"who enacts such laws with little local level jurisdictions could address warning citizens to work with real and the right politicians and not those who would use them for their own ends.

Putting the interest of the State and the relationship the County has with Richmond over that of the will of constituents smacks of Republicans who have forgotten the very core principles they often claim to represent. By taking no action and in effect sitting on their hands, this Board intends to do the bidding of Progressives in Richmond.

Chesterfield had a real opportunity Wednesday. An opportunity as one of the largest localities in Virginia outside Northern Virginia to take a stand with Constitutional , Conservative and Libertarian Republicans to send a message to Richmond even if symbolic in nature that the U.S. Constitution still hold meaning to Virginians.

Leslie Haley failed constituents as well as all Virginians. She and her colleagues should be held accountable in 2020 regarding how the manage the County moving forward on any array of issues at the local level.

Not only has this Board disrespected fellow Republican leaders like Sen. Amanda Freeman Chase who are supporters and advocates for the Constitution they have even gone as far as to tell them to "stay the their lane". Yet, Haley and her Board have forgotten one simple basic fundamental fact. Though Chase may be a State Senator in a different body, she is a resident of Chesterfield County and this Board is her Board as well.

The citizens of Chesterfield own this Board not the members that reside on it. The out of control political games in Chesterfield and the undermining of its elected officials on the current Board to the very core principles of governance that Republicans have long stood for proves that the Republican Party today is at a crossroads.

These leaders no more reflect Republican let alone Conservative values as the Democrat majority in Richmond does.

These Chesterfield "leaders" have betrayed the trust of constituents.

#ChesterfieldGOP #VaGop #LeslieHaley #AmandaChase #2A #2ASTRONG #progun #pro2A #ChesterfieldBOS #VCDL #GunsSaveLives #gunsanctuary

Virginia Patriots Winning: Progressives Out Flanked

Politicians tend to either be very cunning or very foolish. Virginia Progressive Democrats have doubled down on the latter.

"We're looking at banning the sales of assault weapons ... that would be what we would                                             start with." (Gov. Ralph Northam- Virginia)

Virginia Progressives have attempted to use what they consider a voter mandate from the November elections to move Virginia's gun policy into the realm of what can only be consider "Fool's Gold". Pushing an agenda in truth that most Democrats never even campaigned on. Led by State Senator Dick Saslaw (D-Alexandria) who characterized fellow Virginians who owned guns "delusional", the Northern Virginia Progressives in the Senate and the House now have as one Rockbridge County resident speaking at a Second Amendment Sanctuary hearing termed it; "stirred the pot".

That "pot" has become a resistance movement throughout the Commonwealth not organized by a Party or some outside outside Virginia advocacy group. Not organized by the National Rifle Association as Democrats in Richmond contend but rather individual Virginians mobilizing in support of the Constitution and whom reject the blatant and boastful attempts by Virginia Progressives to confiscate or force gun registration in Virginia.

No one believes that the Progressives will stop with registration though it now appears as though they have over played their political hands in terms of confiscation. Progressives have long sought to eliminate the sale of what they deem to be "assault style" weapons. Of course they rarely will speak coherently with any clarity on exactly what that firearm is. Progressives attempt to use the AR-15 as its symbol for a classification of firearm that actually really does not even exist. Progressives use the symbol simply as a means of covering up that its true goal is to remove all long rifles and ultimately handguns from citizens.

The pre-files that Progressives have filed tipped their hand to the people of Virginia. The bills filed in the Senate for consideration in January by the General Assembly are very alarming and telling as to the kind of "New Virginia" that Progressive seek to create. A Virginia where the common citizen is unable to defend themselves and must become subjects to Richmond authority over their localities through threats of withholding state funding to those areas of the Commonwealth that do not bow to the totalitarianism of the Progressive Socialists in Richmond.

By they "stirred the pot". They manage to do something the Republican Party has been unable to do for almost almost six years in Virginia; unite Conservative and Libertarians right leaning voters with a single purpose.

That single purpose is to oppose the "New Virginia" legislation that Progressives seek to enact.

To that end, Governor Ralph Northam (D) is already retreating before the massive mobilizations where local agenda meeting are witnessing the highest level of turnout for local meetings than anyone can remember. Whereas as local meeting may have typically a dozen or so citizens, the last two weeks has drawn over a thousand citizens to meetings all the way from Virginia Beach to Bristol.

The Governor has noticed.

As it stands this morning, thew word in Richmond is that Northam is backing away from mandatory confiscation. This is a direct result of the almost 80 supported "Gun Sanctuaries" established throughout Virginia. These sanctuaries refuse to enforce any law enacted by the Assembly that would infringe on the Constitutional rights of any of its residents. The localities have the conferred police powers from the State and will not enforce locally those laws enacted by Progressives that violate individual rights, freedoms and liberties.

Northam's recent "grandfather clause" position would require gun owners with "assault style" rifles to "register" them with the State.

Meaning that Northam and Majority leader Saslaw will abandon the goal of out right gun confiscation but rather shift towards registration in their attempt to control guns in Virginia. This control inevitably will lead to one of the very issue that drove our revolution; taxation.

Why would citizen be required to register firearms if not for the purposes of taxation? Currently the firearms dealer maintain records of gun sales following background checks and a formal purchase. The serial number is used to identity the gun NOT the purchaser as it stands today as law enforcement can track a serial number to find out where a firearm was purchased then visit the federally authorized dealer to investigate the providence of the firearm. This in effect protects privacy.

Law abiding citizens would never have their firearms traced by law enforcement. There would never be a need to do so. The Northam plan however, means that every firearm and purchase ( as in the individual) will be registered. Progressives will also seek to limit the number of firearms one can actually own in totality not just purchase in certain time windows.

The fact that progressives are retreating and scrambling from forced confiscation is a victory but merely a skirmish victory in the face of the legislation Virginia faces coming in January.

Further posts related to sanctuary movement:
https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2019/12/progressives-calling-gun-sanctuaries.html
https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2019/12/sanctuary-strategies-movements-with.html
https://conservativestateus.blogspot.com/2019/12/progressives-waging-war-speech-assembly.html

Chesterfield Progressives Organizing Opposition to Gun Sanctuary Movement

Chesterfield County, Va  on Wednesday, December 11th very well be the largest locality thus far to address the gun sanctuary movement spreading across the entire Commonwealth.

Though there will only be limited discussion during the meeting scheduled as the "gun sanctuary" resolution has not been formally proposed there is a public comment period scheduled at this months agenda meeting where citizens have the ability to raise issues and concerns with the Board.

Nothing new to those who live in Chesterfield or witnessed last months negative and divisive campaign launched against State Senator Amanda Freeman Chase (VA-11) by Progressives supported by Everytown for Gun Safety and other radical Progressive advocacy groups from outside the Commonwealth including the likes of Michael Bloomberg. Everytown contributed over 100,000 to Republican State Senator Glen Sturtevant's  opposition Ghazala Hashmi. Bloomberg has just entered the Democrat primary nomination process seeking the Democrat nomination to run against President Trump in 2020.

Bloomberg has used the gun control issue and advocating for confiscation as his initial number one campaign issue.

Recently at a joint leadership meeting in Chesterfield where both the Board of Supervisors and the delegation from Chesterfield that sits in the General Assembly met together to discuss the upcoming year and especially the upcoming session in the General Assembly. At this meeting, Senator Chase was told to "stay in her lane" by Supervisor Steve Elswich  (Matoaca) regarding the sanctuary issue. Elswich did not seek re-election an in effect is a lame duck but represents much of the resentment being displayed by Chesterfield Democrats towards the pro-gun movement.

An email campaign of opposition to the gun sanctuary resolution movement have been underway in Chesterfield for weeks. It has been claimed that it is the former campaign staffers of the Amanda Pohl (D) campaign that lost to Senator Chase last month behind the opposition campaign.

The Chesterfield Progressives are seeking to fill the fill the parking lot of the administrative building and adjacent lots early on Wednesday encouraging  those who oppose 2A supporters to park there and leave their cars during the day. They are also planning to arrive early and have sent emails according to posts on social media to County employees working in the building to attend and fill the meeting room early before it is formally opened up to the public given their access within the building.

Because the sanctuary resolution is not part of the monthly agenda meeting, only about twenty speakers are permitted to speak in the public comment period. 20.

Chesterfield County has a population of almost 350,000 residents. Only 20 citizens are permitted to speak during a public comment period on non agenda concerns each month.

Hardly representative of the people.

Chair Leslie Haley (R) has demonstrated little support for the 2A Resolution movement and has not responded to citizen emails and even shut down citizens at the recent meeting having "no time" to discuss the matter with citizens in attendance after the leadership meeting concluded.

There is certainly something afoot with the so-called Chesterfield "Republicans". You will recall this is a group that removed Senator Chase from the County Committee. They removed a sitting Republican State Senator in an election year from a county committee knowing full well that the media would run with it. In fact the media reported in effect that Chase was no longer part of the Republican Party.

Chesterfield Observer is no friend of Chase and no friend to the #2ASTRONG movement. Understand this as coverage from the Wednesday night meeting is provided Chesterfield residents.

The Speaker List has been released already for the meeting. Though a massive rally is planned outside given the likelihood of the meeting room being filled. 

It is important to have the local leaders there in support. Given the population of Chesterfield, the County has multiple Delegates in the Assembly that should be contacted and asked to attend or even speak before the crowd.

Provided by Gary Jeter on Facebook regarding the Speaker List for Wednesday Night in Chesterfield County, Va.

December 11, 2019
Speakers List
Evening Session

1. Emily Hartman – Anti gun
https://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/…/letter-will-state-s…/

2. Speaker – Dale Woodlief Tutton - Anti gun -
https://www.facebook.com/dale.tutton

3. Susan Marusco –
husband/wife speaker 3 and 6
https://www.facebook.com/susan.marusco
- Anti gun https://www.google.com/search?q=Susan+Marusco+gun+control

4. Susan McFarland – beat-writer on gun control issues
https://www.google.com/search?q=Susan+McFarland+gun+control

5. Gena Reeder – Anti gun
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gena-reeder-05820b132/
and
https://www.google.com/search?q=Gena+Reeder+gun+control

6. Stephen Marusco – Anti-Gun
husband/wife speaker 3 and 6
https://twitter.com/stevemarusco?lang=en and

7. Meredith Baker - California Resident– Anti gun
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbaker07/
and
https://www.google.com/search?q=Meredith+Baker+gun+control

8. Patrick Murphy - not 100% sure which Patrick Murphy this may be (common name) -
Anti gun https://www.google.com/search?q=Patrick+Murphy+gun+control

9. Pro-2A speaker (confirmed)

10. Pro-2A speaker (unconfirmed)

11. Lori Haas – NOT a Chesterfield County resident - Professional Anti gun lobbyist - mother of VA Tech shooting victim — https://www.google.com/search?q=Lori+Haas

12. Pro-2A speaker (confirmed)

13. Pro-2A speaker (unconfirmed)

14. Pro-2A speaker (confirmed)

15. Speaker – affiliation unknown

Join the #2AStrong Movements here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/429364747755341/  (Chesterfield)
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/  (Commonwealth of Virginia)

Progressives Calling Gun Sanctuaries "Delusional": Virginia 2A Patriots Respond

Thousands of Virginia Patriots have been mobilizing all across the Commonwealth of Virginia the last few weeks. Patriots that believe in the declarations of the Founding Father's and believe in the very essence of less government intervention into individuals lives the better.

             Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
                                                   Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
                                                                   — Margaret Mead

The Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement or #2AStrong as many have come to recognize it on twitter and facebook is growing. Recent remarks by the power apparatus of Richmond, the capital seat of Virginia, have left thousands of Virginians uniting in the movement to send a message to the Virginia General Assembly; DO NOT TREAD ON ME.

That timber rattlesnake depicted in the familiar yellow Gadsden flag adopted in 1778 is coiled and ready to strike.

State Senator Dick Saslaw representing the 35th District in the Virginia Senate has characterized the 2A movement as "delusional". Of course to the Virginians who live in Saslaw's district gun ownership is not exactly a high priority or even a way of life for his constituent base which in truth is more and more less "Virginian" every election cycle. Lets be honest, there isnt much hunting or target shooting going on in City of Alexandria and yet Saslaw sought to cast the aspersion of "delusional" upon a Virginia populace that is overwhelming pro gun.

Progressives in the General Assembly appear poised to enact some of the most radical and regressive gun control restrictions in the country. While Saslaw continues to make his degrading comments directed at gun supporting Virginians in the Senate, the House of Delegates has managed to select virtually all of its leadership from one region of Virginia; Northern Virginia.

Delegate Mark Levine (P- Arlington County) and no friend of the second amendment  and often very angry is a supporter of banning assault rifles, bump stocks and high capacity magazines recently stated the following regarding the new Progressive Leadership in Richmond:

"all 55 members of the new House Democratic Majority gathered in Richmond to elect the next Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

I am thrilled that we elected my friend Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41st-Fairfax County) as Speaker. She is the first woman, and first Jewish Delegate, to hold the position.

We also elected two other members of the Leadership team. My friend, Alexandria's own Charniele Herring, was elected House Majority Leader. She is the first African-American and first woman to hold the position in the state legislature's 400-year history. My Arlington delegation compatriot Rip Sullivan was elected Caucus Chair.

I know all three of these Delegates well. I work well with them and trust them. And I am excited to have them leading the Democratic Caucus as we move Virginia forward. This is the most diverse caucus that there has ever been in the General Assembly's 400-year history. No General Assembly majority has ever looked more like the people of Virginia than the current House Democratic majority"

And NO DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAS EVER BEEN SO ANTI-GUN AND SECOND AMENDMENT THEN THIS ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

In effect the Commonwealth now is controlled by Fairfax County and Arlington County; two of the most Progressive jurisdictions in Virginia that certainly do NOT represent the majority will of the People.

The Senate has already pre-filed numerous gun control bills for the next session of the General Assembly and in response thousands of Virginians have mobilized in their counties to attempt to send a message to the legislature that should they enact such unconstitutional measures in Richmond in 2020 the localities will not use their own resources to pay for the "policing" of such laws.

Virginia is a Dillon Rule Commonwealth which means there is little a locality can authorize without it being conferred by the State. Thus, localities cannot pass their own pro-gun alws or ordinances at local level anti to the State authority. In short, if the State bans guns the localities cannot pass ordinances that unban guns.

That being said, what localities can do is refuse to enforce the laws conferred by the State. The State grants each individual locality its on "policing powers". Thus, the county can chose not to have the State law enforced. This means local deputies or police would not confiscate guns banned by the State. State Police however certainly could still enforce the state laws enacted and would have a obligation to do so.

Thus far the movement is approaching 50 localities that have drafted or voted in support of the 2A Gun Sanctuary policy that rejects the Assembly's intent to pass radical gun legislation.

This week marks an historic event in Virginia politics as over a third of the State localities have hearings or votes regarding #2AStrong resolutions. On Monday night, thousands of Patriots attended meetings in places like Bedford County, Shenandoah County, Poquoson, Mecklenburg County, King & Queen County, Bristol, Radford and Rockbridge County.

Tuesday night localities like Hopewell, James City, Caroline, Warren, Surry, Northampton, Prince George, Colonial Heights, Cumberland and Spotsylvania will hear from #2AStrong Patriots.

On Wednesday night one of the largest localities outside Northern Virginia in Chesterfield County will have an agenda meeting schedule that will include a public comment period and over three thousand citizens are expected to be there.

At the Rockbridge County resolution meeting on Monday night many citizens were afforded the opportunity to speak before the Board regarding the implementation of a gun sanctuary policy. Ryan Bland of Carters Creek and an Army veteran articulating that after relocating across the country he returned to Rockbridge County because "the crying liberals ran me out of those places" (Seattle and Boulder). Bland contends that the objective of the gun bans is to run out those that do not believe as the Progressives do from Virginia in hopes that they will leave thus providing them even greater control in future elections.

Morgan McGowan another veteran (USMC) directed her time before the board to address the assault upon the quality of life of those that live within the rural localities of Virginia and the over reach by a the state legislature to control individualism which is a fundamental premise our country was founded on.

Jessie Graham reminded citizens of the historical context of why it is we as Americans have a second amendment in the first place and the result of the British troops attempting to confiscate guns from colonials and Robert Lucas stated that the Progressives have not only "stirred it up" but they have "poked" the People with their attempts to ban firearms.

Monte Jessee spoke to the reality involving criminals that will never abide by any laws passed in Richmond and to remove the ability for citizens to defend themselves in the fifteen to twenty minutes at times it may take for an officer to arrive at home.

Anne Olson however disagreed with much of the one thousand in attendance. Olsen opposes the gun sanctuary measure and stated their was a "myth of 2A support" in the county and that the evening was merely a "partisan" event. She characterized herself as part of the "nobody's" but ones that will come out and vote.

Kaley Zolman stepped up and provided the crowd and the Board with some data regarding Rockbridge. Zolman of Buffalo Creek stated that only .78 of the crime committed in Virginia was committed in Rockbridge. That the county was in fact a safe place to live and that the State is proposing making it illegal for children to continue to hunt with their families or carry firearms and that target shooting would now become a "paramilitary" activity under Senate Bill 64.

Begs the question, if Progressives are so concerned with "gun safety" than why would they prevent parents in the country who own firearms from teaching their children to respect firearms through teaching them to shoot at targets and how to handle firearms?

If we are talking about safety, why are we not funding new programs with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to teach or instruct regarding safety? Instead the answer is to confiscate guns out of fear of what a citizen "may do" with a firearm in the future.

Todd Pauge of Fairfield spoke to the kind of legacy such laws will leave far down the road for the Commonwealth. Pauge referenced the protests in Hong Kong and the inability for citizens to defend themselves against government with no guns to resist. Future generations will have had their rights ceded to the government.

K. Peterson urged the Rockbridge Board and the citizens to "stand against the tyrannical powers" of Richmond in the fight to preserve liberty and freedom for all.

Rockbridge County would vote in support of the #2ASTRONG with only one Supervisor (Lyons) voted against the measure.

Whereas leaders like Dick Saslaw and Mark Levine think that Virginians who support the 2A are "delusional" it appears given the response and turnout throughout Virginia regarding these resolutions that Northern Virginia truly does not understand the meaning of what is is to be a "Virginian" and the historical meaning that goes along with the honor of being a Virginian. That could very well be because their districts look less and less like the rest of the Commonwealth with every election cycle.

Progressive socialism may in truth be the real "delusion".

Join the #2AStrong movement here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/578238489390036/