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A bill to scrap Lee-Jackson Day as a holiday in Virginia has now passed both the House and Senate. Lee-Jackson Day, established over 100 years ago, is observed annually on the Friday preceding the third Monday in January. It honors Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, both native Virginians. Critics of the Lee-Jackson holiday view it as a celebration of the state's slave-holding history that’s offensive to African Americans. Many cities and counties have opted not to observe it. The bill passed the Senate last month with a vote of 22-18. The bill then passed the House...

A bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Virginia's nondiscrimination law cleared committees in the House of Delegates and Senate this week and appears to be on its way to becoming law in the Old Dominion. A version of the bill known as the Virginia Values Act was shepherded through the Senate committee by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria). In the House, it was sponsored by Mark Sickles (D-Franconia), where it passed by a 16-6 vote, with all Democrats and three Republicans voting in favor. The mood among activists was celebratory. Democrats hold a 55-45 majority in the...

Democrats in Virginia aren’t wasting time with their first statehouse majority in 26 years—by repealing the state’s 70-year-old right-to-work law that has helped the commonwealth thrive. Twenty-seven states including Virginia have right-to-work laws that give workers a choice of whether to belong to a union. According to the National Institute for Labor Relations Research, the rate of job growth was two times higher in right-to-work states between 2008 and 2018 than in states where workers can be compelled to join unions or pay dues as a condition of employment. This disparity is the result of a confluence of pro-growth policies...

While Virginia Democrats are merrily approving gun control laws aimed at the state’s legal gun owners, they apparently aren’t interested in focusing on violent criminals who use firearms in the commission of a crime. HB 1175 would have increased the penalty for using or brandishing a firearm while committing certain felonies, which seems like a pretty common sense bill to me. Instead, members of the House Public Safety Committee rejected the measure on Tuesday, while approving a number of gun bills that are meant to restrict the rights of legal gun owners in the name of public safety. “We will...

The pro-gun masses had their day at the Virginia Capitol Monday. But mathematical reality quickly set in Tuesday morning as a Democratic-led House of Delegates panel easily dispatched nearly a dozen Republican-sponsored gun bills. The proposals would have made it easier to carry guns in places of worship, allowed concealed carry without a permit, limited gun-free zones and strengthened mandatory sentencing rules for gun crimes. They hit a legislative buzzsaw in a public safety subcommittee, just as Democratic-sponsored gun-control bills did when Republicans controlled the General Assembly. “Thank you very much. It’s an honor to be the first to go...

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia lawmakers have voted to ban firearms at the state Capitol, the first in what’s expected to be many contentious gun votes in coming weeks. Newly empowered Democrats in the General Assembly voted Friday to ban guns at the Capitol and a legislative office building, saying the move was needed to protect public safety.

Ignoring a deadline that ended more than three decades ago, a Virginia Senate Committee advanced a measure Thursday to ratify the pro-abortion Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. The AP reports the committee voted 10-5 in favor of the ERA, including nine Democrats and one Republican, state Sen. Jill Vogel. The vote happened just days after the U.S. Department of Justice said the ERA is dead because the 1982 deadline set by Congress has passed. The ERA would amend the U.S. Constitution to guarantee equal rights for all born citizens no matter what their sex is. Though the...

The following bill, profiled January 6, 2020, in the Virginia House of Delegates makes indoor shooting ranges not owned by government illegal to own and operate. HOUSE BILL NO. 567 Offered January 8, 2020 Prefiled January 6, 2020 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-511.2, relating to indoor shooting ranges; prohibited in buildings not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or federal government; exceptions; civil penalty. ---------- Patron-- Helmer ---------- Committee Referral Pending ---------- Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1....

There is no such thing as a gun free zone. A person intent on criminal violence will not be deterred from bringing a gun to a location because of a “no guns” sign or an anti-gun statute. The only consequence of such measures is to ensure law-abiding citizens are disarmed and vulnerable. As demonstrated by Texas churchgoer Jack Wilson and the other armed congregants of West Freeway Church of Christ, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry for the defense of themselves and others can prevent harm. As counterproductive as gun free zones are, Virginia’s Michael Bloomberg-bought General Assembly wants to go...

The top of the photo shows three commonly owned AR-15 rifles (displayed at Albemarle County Firearms) which would be banned under proposed Virginia laws for having features such as a pistol grip, folding stock, and flash suppressor. If those features were removed, the weapon would be legal. By contrast, the gun at the bottom is a hunting rifle, which can deal two or three times the damage of the weapons above, but would not be banned under the proposed legislation because it is a bolt-action weapon instead of a semi-automatic. Photo: Lisa Martin. Following Governor Ralph Northam’s 2019 promise...

I just did a search on the "Virginia's Legislative Information System," website and listed under the Bill Subject Index, these are the "Weapons" related active Bills for 2020 (so far): 2020 SESSIONWeapons HB 72 Children; allowing access to firearms by children. recklessly leaving loaded, unsecured firearm. HB 78 Firearms; purchase, possession, and transporting following certain convictions. HB 161 Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. HB 162 Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; waiver of sovereign immunity. HB 224 Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. SB 13 Capitol Square; possessing or transporting a weapon within Square,...

Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday that he would throw his weight behind the decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia this year but said he wants to study full legalization before going further. Northam announced legislation Friday that would make possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil offense carrying a $50 penalty, instead of a criminal misdemeanor. The proposal is part of a broader “criminal justice reform agenda” that includes changes to the state’s parole system, a higher threshold for theft to be considered a felony, and an increase to the age at which a young offender can be tried...

With Virginia Democrats taking over all branches of state government, a firearms store owner in the state says sales of guns, magazines, and ammunition are up 200%, and more of his customers are paying in cash. “This is the largest Christmas and November, December that we've had, basically, since Trump has come on board. The only other person that was a better salesman right now is when we had President Obama,” said Jerry Rapp, owner of SpecDive Tactical, in Alexandria, comparing the administrations of President Trump and his White House predecessor, Barack Obama. “Every time [Obama] turned around he was...

Excerpt: Virginia’s pop-up gun sanctuary movement has turned its attention to fighting the governor’s call for a $4.8 million, 18-officer team to enforce his proposed “assault weapons” ban. Two key groups issued an alert this week to push gun owners to four budget hearings Thursday around the state, asking them to quiz state legislators if they will vote to ban or confiscate weapons.

How you can help with lobbying the General Assembly starting on January 8, 2020While VCDL Lobby Day is on Monday, January 20, 2020, VCDL will actually be busy lobbying the General Assembly from the first day of the session, which is January 8 this year, to the last day that any gun bills are being considered. This is what we do every year and nothing is any different this year. The third Monday in January is VCDL Lobby Day every year. That date is picked because it is a federal holiday, which allows more gun owners to be able to...

1. NEW! A bus from Southwest Virginia is now available! Also general info on buses 2. Good guy with a gun saving lives: Church killer stopped by one of several armed worshippers 3. Help needed: Hampton gun show on January 11 and 12 4. Town of Elkton was voted a sanctuary on December 16! 5. Action item: Lynchburg 2A sanctuary meeting January 14 6. Action item: Waynesboro 2A hearing on January 13 7. Action item: Clarke County to consider 2A resolution on January 6 8. Action item: Mount Jackson to have public hearing on 2A Sanctuary resolution on January 13...

Attorney General Mark Herring released a statement after resolutions were passed by localities across Virginia declaring themselves exempt from new gun safety laws that the General Assembly may enact. He said localities and local constitutional officers “cannot nullify state laws” and must follow gun violence prevention measures passed by the General Assembly.

Important: VCDL statement about Lobby Day Monday, January 20, is VCDL's Lobby Day. It is not VCDL's Protest Day. There is a distinct difference between the two. Lobby Day is about, well, lobbying - sending a message to the General Assembly and to the Governor, Attorney General, and the Lt. Governor. That message is simple: no more gun control that in any way, shape, or form negatively affects law-abiding gun owners. Bills that go after criminals or bills that are beneficial to gun owners are fine. While there have been some verbal threats by the Democrat leadership to push major...

Two out of three localities voting on Monday because sanctuaries! There are now 95 Sanctuaries with many more localities meeting Tuesday night. Status for Monday Night: Montgomery County - passed 4-3, 800+ Pulaski County - unanimous, 800+ Roanoke City - declined to vote again, 200+ Story covers crowds and Montgomery and Pulaski: https://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/pulaski-county-approves-second-amendment-sanctuary-resolution-as-montgomery-county/article_d605a864-fc96-5410-b250-47ef63f97c2c.html

The poll is based on interviews last month with 901 registered Virginia voters.