Disgraced Governor Ralph Northam was quick to make political hay out of the Virginia Beach shootings.
He announced an emergency legislative session, summoning all of Virginia’s part-time legislators back to Richmond to vote once again on his slate of gun control bills the body rejected earlier this year.
But in a recent statement that Republicans are calling a blunder, Northam appears to have revealed too much.
“Northam conceded that his proposals wouldn’t have necessarily prevented the Virginia Beach shooting” The Roanoke Times reports.1
Among Northam’s laundry list of proposals are a ban on the private sale of firearms, a ban on suppressors, gun rationing, and even ex post facto gun confiscation.
The Democrat Governor made this statement shortly after calling an emergency session to pass gun control laws using the Virginia Beach shooting as the cause for action.
But now, Northam is admitting his caucus’ own proposals would have done nothing to stop this shooting, but may help prevent gun violence in general.
Citing no specific cases, Northam stated that the legislation he’s supporting “would have helped” lower the general level of gun crime.
Republicans have announced they plan to focus on “tough on crime” legislation to prevent bad actors from being able to access firearms.
Virginia Gun Control Session Sparks National Attention
Gun control groups have been quick to rally behind Northam’s call for restrictions on gun rights.
Some pro-gun groups have jumped into the fray as well, including Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR).
“Gun owners must make it clear to their lawmakers that they oppose ALL gun control, including Republican-backed ‘gun control lite’ such as ‘Red Flag’ gun confiscation and revivals of the defunct ‘Project Gestapo,’” stated Dudley Brown, President of NAGR.
“Project Gestapo” refers to severe prison sentences for technical violations of gun restrictions, such as having the incorrect out-of-state Concealed Carry permit, or owning a firearm with a barrel that’s one inch too short.
The flurry of gun-control groups have also pledged to be heavily active in Virginia, hoping to reduce the rate of gun ownership in the Commonwealth.
The emergency session will begin on July 9th in Richmond and is expected to end after a couple days.
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