This is how you respond to a blood-dancing political opportunist’s attempt to use a tragedy to further the cause of civilian disarmament.
“Since Governor Northam called the General Assembly back into Special Session, it has been apparent to me that the motivations behind this session were only to politicize the tragedy of Virginia Beach, and to re-litigate gun-control legislation that previously had been introduced, debated and defeated in the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly. And, it is no coincidence that this Special Session has been called during an election year when all 140 seats of the General Assembly are up for the voter’s consideration in November,” Stanley said.
“Moreover, the proposals that Gov. Northam and the Democrats are offering for consideration by the legislative branch are blatant attempts to seriously restrict and infringe upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, and have absolutely nothing to do with preventing the horrible tragedy that occurred in Virginia Beach this year, and at Virginia Tech in 2007. Even Governor Northam admitted, after calling the Special Session, that the gun-control bills that both he and the Democrats are proposing ‘would not have prevented either tragedy from occurring.’ If that is truly the case, and I believe that it is, then this Special Session is about politics, and is not about developing a state policy that will truly address this terrible problem in our society.”
Sen. Stanley said his legislation chooses “policy over politics” and if made law “will address the issue head-on and will make the workplaces and our schools throughout the Commonwealth safer.”
– Elizabeth Tyree in Local senator submits 6 bills in response to Special Session on gun control
Meanwhile, as the Associated Press reports Governor Coonman is going all-in . . .
Virginia’s governor led gun-control supporters in chants of “enough is enough!” outside the Capitol Tuesday after summoning legislators to debate and vote on new gun laws.
Gov. Ralph Northam ordered lawmakers back for a special session to consider a wide range of gun-control measures, said people need “votes and laws, not thoughts and prayers” after a Virginia Beach employee shot and killed a dozen people in a city building on May 31.
GOP lawmakers criticized Northam as trying to exploit the tragedy for political gain in the leadup to Tuesday’s session. Republican leaders who control both houses of the legislature signaled they wouldn’t pass gun controls, focusing instead on increasing criminal penalties after gun crimes.
Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment filed surprise legislationMonday to broadly ban guns in any government building, but even that faced uncertain passage in the House.
Advocates both for and against stricter gun laws rallied outside the Capitol before the session began.
Gun-control supporters began their demonstration on Capitol Square by reading out the names of the state’s recent gun violence victims, including those in Virginia Beach.
Across the Capitol lawn, a small group of gun-rights supporters gathered ahead of a larger rally they planned in the afternoon.
Jim Snyder, a 69-year-old gun owner from northern Virginia, said the Virginia Beach shooting hadn’t moved the needle on gun issues for him one bit.
“I haven’t done anything wrong and they want to take guns away from me,” he said.