Virginia is certainly becoming a hotbed, if not ground zero, for the Second Amendment fight. Recently, Liberty Nation’s James Fite told us about the state’s lawmakers threatening to bring in the National Guard for any sheriff or law enforcement officer who would not enforce the policies they felt violated the Second Amendment. Citizens did not take too kindly to the threat, and at least one county, so far, has approved the creation of a militia to protect its police and citizens from anyone who would try to disarm them or fire a police official for not enforcing the anti-gun laws.
Heading Toward a Civil War?
As one of the original 13 colonies, Virginia is no stranger to fighting against a government that its citizens feel do not have their best interest at heart. The home of eight former presidents, including Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the Old Dominion played a major role in the American Revolution. It was also at the heart of the Civil War, with the city of Richmond becoming the capital of the Confederacy. More than half of the battles were fought in this state. Is it any wonder modern Virginians, with the blood of their ancestors running through their veins, let loose the battle cry against government gun-grabbers?
Tazewell County became one of the many Second Amendment sanctuaries to fight against Governor Ralph Northam’s (D) proposed strict gun laws. Besides approving the sanctuary status, the council also granted another resolution that will create a militia formed of citizens.
VA Senate Bill 64 has a lot of pro-gun activists worried. State officials could retaliate and try to deny the county of funding or even evict public officials from office. The legislation also seems to target teachers and instructors. It states:
“A person shall be is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he:
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Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder;”
It also includes training or practicing with others: “Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm…” The wording seems to suggest that the law is also going after self-defense classes and instructors. Yet this goes against the state’s Constitution. County Administrator Eric Young said this was the reason they chose to approve a militia.
“Our position is that Article I, Section 13, of the Constitution of Virginia reserves the right to ‘order’ militia to the localities. Therefore, counties, not the state, determine what types of arms may be carried in their territory and by whom. So, we are ‘ordering’ the militia by making sure everyone can own a weapon.”
The resolution does more than that. It also allows the county to remove funding for any law enforcement agency that would violate the Second Amendment and to provide funding to programs offering training for all residents who can lawfully own a gun and firearms safety training in school. Law Enforcement Today explained on its website: “Thus, if anyone from the state tries to remove the Sheriff from their elected office because they refuse to enforce unjust laws, those state officials will be faced with a lawful militia composed of citizens within the state.”
As of the writing of this article, approximately 90% of the state’s counties have become gun sanctuaries. Since the Nov. 5 election that gave Democrats control of Richmond, 86 of Virginia’s 95 counties, as well as 15 towns and cities, have joined the move to provide sanctuary for the Second Amendment.
Is another civil war coming? How long before other counties in the state start creating militias as well? Will the governor be forced to bring in the National Guard, as his colleague suggested? All it takes is one brave soul to get the ball rolling, so it would not be farfetched to expect not only Virginia, but other states to raise their own gauntlets and, as the Founding Fathers wanted us to have the right and ability to do, form citizen militias to protect our constitutional rights against a tyrannical government.
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Read more from Kelli Ballard.
