Virginia Lawmakers Seek to Ban Tradition of Open Carry in Entire State

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Virginian lawmakers are trying to ban all open carry in the state. IMG NRA-ILA

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Last year, the anti-Second Amendment majority in the Virginia legislature that was purchased by gun-ban extremists passed a number of anti-gun measures. Anti-gun activists even demanded an opportunity to gloat over what they had bought.

Thanks to the efforts of NRA members and the grassroots lobbying of the pro-gun community, the crown jewel in the anti-gun legislative package—a ban on countless semi-automatic firearms, suppressors, and standard-capacity magazines—fell short.

This year, the anti-gun groups have a new demand; limiting carry options.

In a letter to Virginia lawmakers, four gun-ban organizations—Brady, The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Giffords—demanded “a ban on open carry in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

To these organizations, any law-abiding Virginian who openly carries a firearm in compliance with the law is simply an “extremist” whose only goals are “intimidation and coercion.” They believe this in spite of the fact that Virginia—from the time the Spanish first reached the region in the 1500s, to the founding of Jamestown in 1607, to the establishment of Virginia as a crown colony of England in 1624, to Virginia’s declaration as a free and independent state on May 15, 1776, to the Declaration of Independence, all the way to today—has never prohibited open carry, and never had a problem with it; with the possible exception of anti-gun activists being upset at the sight of guns.

Even Everytown President John Feinblatt implies that banning open carry everywhere is likely unconstitutional, in the same editorial where he lays the groundwork to do just that. He mentions commentary by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, in the landmark District of Columbia v. Heller case, quoting Scalia as having written, “nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on…laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.”

While that passage isn’t even part of the Court’s ruling, the fact that Feinblatt mentions it means he, at least, thinks it is important. But what it implies is that the Court may allow certain restrictions on carrying firearms in certain “sensitive places such as…government buildings.” What it does not even remotely imply is that there is justification for banning the carrying of firearms everywhere, even if “just” openly, as Feinblatt’s organization now wants for all of Virginia.

Whether or not this call for a ban on open carry in Virginia will gain any traction remains to be seen. On January 18, anti-gun activists, including a representative for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, held a virtual meeting with Virginia elected officials.

Of course, if the anti-gun organizations were really just concerned about the lawful open carry of firearms in government settings, as Feinblatt seemed to be claiming, then everything being discussed regarding Virginia is really pointless. Last year, as part of the anti-gun legislative package that was passed in Richmond, Virginia’s preemption law was partially gutted. Previously, Virginia did not allow local governments to enact regulations on firearms that are more restrictive than what comes out of Richmond. Now, however, cities and counties have the ability to prohibit firearms where government business takes place.

The Virginia legislative process can move very rapidly, so be sure to watch for updates on how the Second Amendment may be impacted in Richmond.


About NRA-ILA:

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

National Rifle Association Institute For Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)

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willyd

Base is that Va. is too close to DC and all of the politicians are to willing to take the 2nd Amendment AWAY!!!!!!!!! Those in Va. got what they wanted in their election of their BLACK FACED GOVERNOR!!!!!!!!!!! Let him have no outside security, NO GUNS means NO GUNS TO NO ONE!!!!!!!!!

Bozz

You forget. They make the rules for others, not themselves. They will still have their armed security surrounding them, while everyone else is left defenseless. The democrat mantra: Rules for thee, not for me.

Arizona Don

Constitutional carry should be nation wide!

USMC0351Grunt

Virginians of yesterday: BALLS! And MEN!

from the time the Spanish first reached the region in the 1500s, to the founding of Jamestown in 1607, to the establishment of Virginia as a crown colony of England in 1624, to Virginia’s declaration as a free and independent state on May 15, 1776, to the Declaration of Independence, all the way to today—has never prohibited open carry…”

Virginians Today: PUSSYS

Choogie

They are still doing everything in their power to take away our gun rights and tear them apart piece by piece with red flag laws and unless we keep on fighting back we will loose to a democrat run state. So far they have not stopped us from getting a CC license. I don’t have any connections and I do have my CC. Your last statement isn’t true musicman44mag. However if a person isn’t legal that person shouldn’t have one anyway.

Arizona Don

Constitutional carry should be nation wide. After all the second amendment declares and protects our right to “keep and bear arms”  Keep means possess bear means carry. Look them up.  Since federal law overrides state law it is already legal to carry a gun and it does not say open carry it just says keep and bear arms. So it can be concealed. Furthermore, the second amendment says shall not be infringed however the second amendment is the most infringed amendment in the bill of rights and has been since the late 1920’s.  Lately however, the first amendment is catching up to the second because these socialist democrats… Read more »

Arizona Don

The public is beginning to understand restrictive gun laws do nothing to reduce crime and that is a provable fact. However, restricting (reducing) crime is not the goal of those who write those laws, confiscation is! Those who obey laws or those who do not obey laws are either hindered or assisted by restrictive gun laws.  They effect those who obey laws the most by disarming them and assists those who do “not” obey the laws by disarming their victims? Of course common sense dictates that is right in both instances. Both should be obvious to every intelligent citizen of the US. So why isn’t it? Propaganda spread… Read more »

HLB

“Open Carry”. My goodness, that term was as lost as the word “Constitution” was before being discovered by people who had never read it. Now, open carry has been discovered by those same people. Open carry is the key. No person who open carries is trying to fool any one. Honesty with yourself and others is significant in the physical pursuit of rights. Winning a “game” or passing a law does not put a weapon in your hand when you need it. You put that weapon there. If you think you can deliver on your intentions by hiding your weapon,… Read more »

Arizona Don

A gun is like a parachute if you need one and don’t have it you may never need one again.  Here in Arizona we have and have had for some years now constitutional carry. It works and Arizona is the proof. We have always had open carry it works to but not as good as concealed carry.  

Bozz

Did anyone notice the lack of media coverage on this year’s VCDL Lobby Day? They got plenty coverage last year when 25,000, mostly armed, Virginians showed up at the state Capitol. The anti gun dems didn’t like that at all, so this year they preemptively and illegally reserved any venues the VCDL might use for Lobby Day. Now they are trying to make open carry illegal, to take some of wind out of VCDL’s sails and teeth out of their protests.