Virginia’s Gun Rights Will Not Survive a McAuliffe Victory
Oct 27, 2021 6:00:47 GMT -6
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Post by tennessean on Oct 27, 2021 6:00:47 GMT -6
Let me speak from experience as a native Marylander. If Virginia elects McAuliffe this November and Virginia Democrats pass an assault weapon ban, it’s unlikely that ban will be reversed at the state level. Maryland has not gotten its right to bear arms back since SB281 in 2013. It’ll be an uphill battle for Virginians if they don’t get involved and get out to vote for their 2nd amendment right this November.
McAuliffe has promised to ban the sale of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, “ghost-guns”, and more. He’s also pledged to treat gun violence as a public health crisis so that he can fund his anti-gun programs from non-traditional sources. Starting to sound familiar?
There are many reasons besides the 2nd amendment to vote against McAuliffe, especially if you’ve been following the horrific scandal that has been the Loudon County school board. (Loudon County is a leisurely and beautiful 20-minute drive from where TMGN is located.)
But the reason I’m writing this article is that gun owners need to ditch the apathy that obscures their political activism and get out to vote. I understand the “they can take the guns if they pry them from my cold dead hands” mentality. I’m 100% with it. The problem is if my children’s rights get legislated away, there will be nothing left to defend, and “they” won’t need to fire a shot to take my firearms. The fantastic thing about this country is that we can get out to vote and change policy. 96% of Virginia counties opposed the gun laws passed by a government representing NoVA, the DC suburbs, and little else. Speaking as someone who never understood the importance of getting up and voting– and now living in MD and experiencing the consequences–I beg you, please vote if you’re in VA!
We saw the effect of making our collective voices heard last month when what the Biden administration thought was a shoo-in for ATF director backfired because of grassroots activism! Do you think David Chipman or the Biden admin thought that would happen? No way! But gun owners made their voices heard and collectively pressured senators to keep a gun control activist out of the ATF. If that isn’t a detailed case study of why gun owners need to express themselves and make their voices heard, I don’t know what is!
Lastly, it is essential to note that Virginia is the 3rd most armed state per capita in the country, and the 3rd most armed by the number of registered weapons, coming in behind Florida and Texas. If Virginia can come that close to a complete reversal of its values because of one election and some demographic changes, we should expect that Texas and Florida won’t be far behind.
McAuliffe has promised to ban the sale of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, “ghost-guns”, and more. He’s also pledged to treat gun violence as a public health crisis so that he can fund his anti-gun programs from non-traditional sources. Starting to sound familiar?
There are many reasons besides the 2nd amendment to vote against McAuliffe, especially if you’ve been following the horrific scandal that has been the Loudon County school board. (Loudon County is a leisurely and beautiful 20-minute drive from where TMGN is located.)
But the reason I’m writing this article is that gun owners need to ditch the apathy that obscures their political activism and get out to vote. I understand the “they can take the guns if they pry them from my cold dead hands” mentality. I’m 100% with it. The problem is if my children’s rights get legislated away, there will be nothing left to defend, and “they” won’t need to fire a shot to take my firearms. The fantastic thing about this country is that we can get out to vote and change policy. 96% of Virginia counties opposed the gun laws passed by a government representing NoVA, the DC suburbs, and little else. Speaking as someone who never understood the importance of getting up and voting– and now living in MD and experiencing the consequences–I beg you, please vote if you’re in VA!
We saw the effect of making our collective voices heard last month when what the Biden administration thought was a shoo-in for ATF director backfired because of grassroots activism! Do you think David Chipman or the Biden admin thought that would happen? No way! But gun owners made their voices heard and collectively pressured senators to keep a gun control activist out of the ATF. If that isn’t a detailed case study of why gun owners need to express themselves and make their voices heard, I don’t know what is!
Lastly, it is essential to note that Virginia is the 3rd most armed state per capita in the country, and the 3rd most armed by the number of registered weapons, coming in behind Florida and Texas. If Virginia can come that close to a complete reversal of its values because of one election and some demographic changes, we should expect that Texas and Florida won’t be far behind.