Will the Virginia 2A Sanctuary Movement Resonate in the 2020 Elections?

“I guarantee you there are Republicans, independents, Democrats, people who aren’t politically active but want to protect their families and their property, and that is why they are here and you are seeing this across the commonwealth,” [GOP Congressman Scott] Taylor said, according to WTKR.

[University of Mary Washington professor Stephen] Farnsworth, however, says the polls aren’t with Republicans. “20 years ago, Democrats said almost nothing about guns because it was a political loser for a Democrat to talk about gun control. In today’s Virginia, polls show that talking about gun control is an asset to a Democratic candidate, not a detriment.”

One GOP consultant said on the condition of anonymity that the sanctuary push will be the end of the gun movement in Virginia. “This is why Republicans continue to lose middle class and suburban voters.”

The Wason for Public Policy released a poll earlier this month showing that 86% of Virginians support background checks on all gun sales while 73% supports red-flag laws. However, the numbers did drop significantly to 54% in support of an assault weapon ban.

“Republicans tried to make the state elections in 2019 a referendum on gun control, at least in some key swing districts,” said Farnsworth. “By shutting down the special session in less than two hours, they created at least as much of a target on their backs as the did on the backs of Democrats.”

– Brandon Jarvis in Some Republicans see momentum in gun sanctuary movement. Will it work?