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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVirginia gun rally: Fears of violence as militia groups gather
A demonstrator stands outside a security zone before a pro-gun rally in Richmond [Julio Cortez/AP Photo]The US state of Virginia is bracing for a pro-gun rally on Monday that experts and political leaders warn could descend into violence. The rally, billed by its organisers as a peaceful event to lobby legislators to protect the Second Amendment, is expected to draw dozens of militia groups to the state capital, Richmond, according to social media and statements by the groups.
"We have received credible intelligence from our law enforcement agencies of threats of violence surrounding the demonstration planned for Monday, January 20," said Virginia's Democratic Governor Ralph Northam. "This includes extremist rhetoric similar to what has been seen before major incidents, such as Charlottesville in 2017," he tweeted, referring to the Virginia white supremacist rally in which a neo-Nazi rammed his car into a group of anti-racist protesters, killing 32-year-old anti-racist demonstrator Heather Heyer.
The pro-gun "Lobby Day" is an annual event during which pro-gun groups take to the Virginia Capitol grounds to lobby their state legislators. This year's event, effectively endorsed by President Donald Trump, comes as the now-Democratic state legislature and governor seek to push through new gun control measures.
Those measures include limits on the purchases of handguns, background checks for firearm transfers and enabling local governments to ban guns in parks and other public spaces. The three bills passed the state Senate last week and could be voted on in the House of Delegates as early as this week. Other bills are being considered, including a so-called "red flag" bill, which would allow law enforcement and lawyers to seek emergency orders to confiscate or block the sale of firearms to anyone deemed "a substantial risk of injury to himself or others".
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/fears-violence-grip-virginia-pro-gun-rally-200119201306201.html
calimary
(81,440 posts)pwb
(11,287 posts)Looks like they just finished?
jmg257
(11,996 posts)A whole bunch of people walking around, some with guns, a lot with stickers and cell phones.
Likely all trying to stay warm.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)C_U_L8R
(45,018 posts)Buncha losers would be better off spending their money on education and helping the world than masturbating over who's got a bigger gun.
Initech
(100,099 posts)I remember all sorts of articles coming out after that about how many of these guys who were actively protesting had extremely crappy jobs like fast food restaurant janitor. I wonder who was paying for them to be there?
no_hypocrisy
(46,160 posts)Like an encampment b/c of all the publicity they're getting?
jmg257
(11,996 posts)no_hypocrisy
(46,160 posts)Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)President Donald Trump risked ratcheting up tensions when he tweeted on Saturday:
"Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia.
That's what happens when you vote for Democrats, they will take your guns away."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51170252
alittlelark
(18,890 posts)Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)"Finally got yourself a girlfriend there, buddy?"
ooky
(8,926 posts)their guns, taking pictures of themselves, thinking to themselves how cool they look and what big shots they are.
The guy in the picture isn't "demonstrating". He's posing.
jmg257
(11,996 posts)but still get to feel like you did something.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)and never served in the military.