What Virginia’s Governor is Doing During This Pandemic

Photo of Gov. Ralph Northam: Public domain image courtesy of Livestream. 

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed multiple anti-gun measures into law late last week during a global pandemic and, as a record number of Americans buys guns to protect themselves.

“I was proud to work with legislators and advocates on these measures, and I am proud to sign them into law,” said Northam in a press release.

One of these bills establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders, otherwise known as red-flag laws. Other new laws include a one-handgun-purchase-per-month policy, so-called “universal” background checks on all gun sales, and requirements for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms in two days or less. These bills take effect on July 1.

Northam also signed into a law a bill allowing localities to create so-called “gun-free zones.” This will undermine the Commonwealth’s preemption laws. It will also leave law-abiding citizens unable to defend themselves against criminals who ignore these restrictions.

The Virginia governor also took this time to reiterate his desire to push more extreme anti-gun legislation in the future. “We can’t stop here. We need to keep working on this issue. It will be year after year,” Northam said on a call with the press. Northam is likely referring to his hallmark legislation against the Second Amendment: a ban on the most-popular semi-automatic rifles sold today. A previous iteration of this ban was defeated during this year’s legislative session.

“Thanks to broad opposition from citizens across the state, Gov. Northam was unable to get his comprehensive gun ban passed this year. He stated during his press conference that he will seek it again next year. Make no mistake, the anti-gun majority will be back in 2021 to push their agenda once again,” reported the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Northam’s campaign against the Second Amendment began well before this legislative session, but it was last November’s elections that signaled this coming battle for Second Amendment freedom in the state.

Referencing those elections, Virginia Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn said, “In November, Virginians called out loud and clear for meaningful legislation to address gun violence in the Commonwealth. They demanded action and we delivered. I am grateful to the Governor for his leadership and for signing these bills that will save lives.” 

Politicians like Filler-Corn either don’t realize or don’t care that restricting the basic freedom of law-abiding citizens isn’t what saves lives. Disarming good people makes them less safe. Targeting criminals is what can save lives. But then, that honesty isn’t helpful to their real goal of disarming Americans so they can gain more control over them. Gun control, after all, is really all about control.