U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Virginia Democrats changed the rules of the General Assembly to ban guns and knives in the state capitol. Nearly all knives are banned as well as any item capable of launching a projectile. There is an exception for folding knives with a blade of less than 3 inches in length.
All people entering the capitol, with the exceptions of full-time, on duty, paid law enforcement officers and military personnel, who are conducting official business at the state capitol, are subject to the policy.
To enforce the policy, Capitol police are authorized to search and seize all people entering the building, with the exception of current members of the General Assembly. In practice, it is expected all people entering the building will have to go through metal detectors, with the exception of current legislators.
The rule change was passed on strict party lines. Democrats voted for the ban, Republicans voted against it.
The Democrats claim the ban is required for “public safety”, and that the Capitol Police recommended the ban. From vpm .org:
“This is a recommendation from our Capitol Police who we trust every day, and who have kept us safe, and I trust their judgment,” House Majority Leader Charniele Herring told the Joint Rules Committee meeting.
Capitol Police Chief Col. Anthony Pike said the Capitol Police had not recommended the ban. From wfmz.com:
But Capitol Police Col. Anthony Pike said after the vote that he made no recommendations on whether guns should be banned, only on how to implement the ban Democrats wanted. The new policy will require that everyone entering the Capitol, except for lawmakers, must go through a metal detector.
The Democrats were able to cite one incident, in 2006 when a Republican delegate accidentally discharged a handgun into a bullet-proof vest hanging on a door. No one was injured. Another delegate forgot a gun in a conference room, in 2017, for about 20 minutes.
Perhaps that would be a reason to ban delegates from conduction dry-fire practice. It does not seem to apply to the general public.
In the last 30 years, several states have loosened restrictions on the exercise of Second Amendment rights in state capitols. Among those are Texas, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. At least 20 state capitols allow some form of the practice.
This is likely the first of numerous restrictions on the carry, ownership, and use of firearms in Virginia by the newly minted Democrat majority. They are unwilling to bear arms themselves. Machiavelli spoke of the mindset that is generated when a government disarms its people:
When you disarm [the people] you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred against you. – Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537.
The Democrat party seems to believe they can convince enough of “the people” that they will be safer without arms than with them.
The next election will determine if Machiavelli or modern Democrats were a better judge of political realities.
Machiavelli had an excellent understanding of power politics and human nature, while modern Democrats have the advantage of mass media and propaganda techniques.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
Restrictions on the citizens, exceptions for the masters…er…rulers…er, oppressors…
@Baldwin; Good explanation with words of these Publicly TAX SUPPORTED and Paid SERVANTS. I believe the best word to use for these USURPERS is TYRANTS!!!!!!
Traitors to the people who voted for them and traitors to the United States of America.
Public safety my keister! The legislators are protecting themselves, no one else. They are terrified of weapons to begin with and the possibility of someone using one on one of them is simply unacceptable. Too bad they won’t do something that would actually help the people they represent defend themselves.
Correct. Was this dictate based upon the best evidence available? How many violent incidents have happened with guns and knives at the capital building? What is the specific threat? Crickets…………………………….
The ones they created.
Today, democrat lawmakers AND STAFFERs bypassed lines going hundreds of yards out the door, and walked right by the metal detectors.
Laws are for the serfs, not the Lords of the manor. Those hypocrites are packing.
The voters made them the elites. The voters can unmake them.
Ayn Rand from “The Nature of Government” 1964:
“We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.”
We are there. First Hunger Games will be held soon. For real.
@ring, It will happen in cities first. Flee the cities. Invest in canned foods and ammunition futures. Then we will Restore the Republic.
@OV and cheap, too!
And why, pray tell, should or would a People trust a government that does not trust the People? Ask any leftist or progressive and you get a blank stare for an answer.
“All people entering the capitol, with the exceptions of full-time, on duty, paid law enforcement officers and military personnel, who are conducting official business at the state capitol, are subject to the policy.”
Actually, the only military personnel who are exempt are members of the armed forces of the United States.
That means members of the Virginia National Guard are NOT EXEMPT.
The official policy is here:
“https://publications.virginiageneralassembly.gov/display_publication/236”
Just take out the quotes and download (PDF).
In case this message does not get delayed by the MODERATOR, I have the unquoted link here:
https://publications.virginiageneralassembly.gov/display_publication/236”
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Separate but equal.
Welcome to the new Jim Crow.
“any item capable of launching a projectile” — LOL, so they are banning straws now? What do they think Virginia is — California?
As ridiculous and oppressive as this ban is, they still have the *audacity* to exempt lawmakers from the requirement? An elected lawmaker is *FAR* more likely to be a danger to others than someone with a concealed-carry permit. This raises the ire of the public just like Congress exempting itself from Medicare, Social Security, and other plans that they force everyone else into.
How about that? The democrats want the people to trust them, but at the same time, they don’t trust the people. They want people to fear them because it makes the legislators “feel good” that they have power over the people. People who would trust democrats who are being or who have been bought by people like Bloomberg and Soro’s, would trust the Devil himself.
I bet their stupid non-law (Marbury v Madison says laws that violate the Constitution are VOID) doesn’t include crossbows. If I could be there next week, I would gleefully bring a crossbow and a brace of bolts with speartip hunting heads, just to make those commie bass-turds defecate in their pants!!!
Will, they do not know what a cross bow is.
You guys did read the article ? “Nearly all knives are banned as well as any item capable of launching a projectile.” I would imagine that even includes slingshots.
Good enough for me, but not for thee huh?
It would be interesting to know how many of the phonies are them selves armed.
Would you want to work unarmed in a” gun free” zone?
Sounds crazy to me. Wait, that would make the Democratic legislators subject to the red flag laws. Virginians, do your patriotic duty and red flag these folks and their security staff.
I agree. However, I suspect the judges will not have the same animosity towards them as the common folk. I also have never read what the police will do if they do not kill you first or find firearms on your property/within your home. I seriously doubt they will just say “oops”, and go away.
Democrats are the ones who are afraid of getting shot or stabbed because in their delusional minds it’s their anti-Constitutional lies that make them fearful.
They are banning anything capable of launching a projectile. If I throw a rock, am I not using my hand and arm to launch a projectile? When I spit am I not using my mouth and lungs to launch a projectile? Does this not mean that they have banned people from the legislative buildings?
The Capitol buildings are now posted:
https://vpm.org/news/articles/9731/new-metal-detector-requirement-causes-long-lines-at-virginia-capitol
See the cattle line? Led to slaughter of our rights.
Virginians and their supporters
“sun Downer 1, 2, 457
REMEMBER THIS Governor Northam, no American citizen should ever trust the levers of government in the hands of those government officials, elected or appointed, who do not trust the American citizens. That is not my sentiment alone but embraced by far greater men than I — than you. Moreover, those officials who take note of the shiny objects and fight for them are those people who also fail to understand the lives and ignore the citizen.
More proof modern politicians have less wisdom than those of the 15th century:
“When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli
“Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli
Delegate Nick Freitas has a few words and pictures:
https://www.starexponent.com/news/new-gun-ban-creates-long-lines-even-for-legislators-at/article_45f303ea-9cb7-57e3-9fd8-f39a141aa253.html
“If you’re wondering why the Democrats are willing to put up with this mess, it’s because they exempted legislators from having to go through this …,” Freitas posted on Facebook Monday morning. “And that is part of the problem. When they exempt themselves from the difficulties they create, it become less likely they will make the changes they need to.”
Freitas is running for Congress.
https://thebullelephant.com/nick-freitass-impressive-list-of-endorsers-continues-to-grow/