Newly-elected Virginia state Democrats are making good on their campaign promise to enact stricter gun control laws. But not everyone in the state is willing to accept the proposed assault weapons ban, and the result has been a massive internal conflict that’s pitted legislators against the people they’re supposed to represent.
In response to new gun control measures, dozens of Virginia counties have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuary counties and vowed not to force their residents to hand over weapons, no matter what Richmond says.
Now federal legislators are pushing back, threatening to make the issue a national one if local counties don’t comply.
“I would hope they either resign in good conscience, because they cannot uphold the law which they are sworn to uphold, or they’re prosecuted for failure to fulfill their oath,” Democratic Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly told the Washington Examiner. “The law is the law. If that becomes the law, you don’t have a choice, not if you’re a sworn officer of the law.”
Cutting off state funding to counties that refuse to obey the gun control measures is one option Virginia Democrats have weighed. But some went even further and suggested Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam could call in the National Guard, if necessary.
“Ultimately, I’m not the governor, but the governor may have to mobilize the National Guard to enforce the law,” said Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin. “That’s his call because I don’t know how serious these counties are and how severe the violations of law will be. But that’s obviously an option he has.”
Instead of resorting to bureaucratic threats, Virginia Democrats should take this opportunity to listen to their constituents and reevaluate this initiative. The fact that so many counties have opposed the legislation is telling: 75 of Virginia’s 95 counties have now declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, along with nearly 40 independent cities.
Democrats might have won both of the state’s legislative chambers in November, but they still govern a people largely divided on the issue of gun control. As of October, 47% of Virginia voters supported candidates in favor of gun control, and 44% opposed them. That’s a tight margin, which means Democrats cannot afford to ignore the other half of the debate if they hope to keep their majority for long.
Northern Virginia counties situated in the Beltway decided November’s election, but they should not be allowed to dictate which rights the rest of the state can and cannot enjoy. Individual counties should have the right to protest this law without fear of retaliation, and the state’s legislature would be wise to listen.
