2nd Amendment Sanctuaries

[Watchdog]

Virginia Beach Declares Itself To Be a Second Amendment Constitutional City

Quoting from one news source:

"The Virginia Beach City Council, by a 6 to 4 vote, adopted a resolution Monday declaring itself a'Second Amendment Constitutional City.' It stated 'its continued commitment to support all provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the right of the people to keep and bear arms.'"

Virginia's governor, Ralph Northam said in a video posted on Facebook Tuesday (bold print is mine):

"Our eight pieces of gun legislation don't threaten the Second Amendment....They are all constitutional. We have no intention of calling out the National Guard. We're not going to cut off people's electricity. We're not going to go door to door and confiscate people's weapons. We're going to pass common sense legislation that will keep guns out of dangerous hands and keep Virginia safer."

Interested forum members may read the whole thing by clicking here.

 

[asilcot]

Quoting from one news source:

"The Virginia Beach City Council, by a 6 to 4 vote, adopted a resolution Monday declaring itself a'Second Amendment Constitutional City.' It stated 'its continued commitment to support all provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, including the right of the people to keep and bear arms.'"

Virginia's governor, Ralph Northam said in a video posted on Facebook Tuesday (bold print is mine):

"Our eight pieces of gun legislation don't threaten the Second Amendment....They are all constitutional. We have no intention of calling out the National Guard. We're not going to cut off people's electricity. We're not going to go door to door and confiscate people's weapons. We're going to pass common sense legislation that will keep guns out of dangerous hands and keep Virginia safer."

Interested forum members may read the whole thing by clicking here.

We're not stupid enough to go door to door and take your guns (probably wouldn't make it to the second door anyway). We'll just run a few roadside checks, maybe drop in at the range once in a while (maybe that is why they want to close indoor ranges), and just work a couple of red flag reports a day. That will help keep Virginia safer (for us).

 

[ladder13]

No one wants to hear this, but the courts are NOT the place to change laws - it's your legislature. At least you have some way to work at change by getting involved in your state & local party (whichever) at the grassroots, electing rational legislators, then pressing them to repeal irrational, outdated, or offensive laws. That is, however, an 'effort,' meaning folks will need to get off their posteriors and engage with the process rather than just complaining about it.

It seems odd to he against judicial activism, yet for it when it suits one's purpose.

This opinion is worth what you paid for it.

My purpose is the US Constitution, specifically the 2A as written. But maybe I’m alone on that in this “2A Forum”.

 

[Jessie]

I agree. If the Governor wants your guns and the legislature wants your guns, that leaves two avenues available to keep your guns per the Constitution.
Blocking action by using the courts is the most acceptable.
Otherwise, it’s wait a couple of years and make sure you vote the fools out, then learn scuba diving to try and find your dumped guns somewhere in the ocean.
If what they are attempting to do is unconstitutional, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to the courts to stop it.
It shouldn’t be considered as legislating from the bench, but rather righting a Constitutional wrong.

 

[schutzen-jager]

even New Jersey now has two towns - but they still can not conflict with state or federal law -

added one more last week - now have three - two in the north one in the south part of state -

 

[TTSH]

I agree. If the Governor wants your guns and the legislature wants your guns, that leaves two avenues available to keep your guns per the Constitution.
Blocking action by using the courts is the most acceptable.
Otherwise, it’s wait a couple of years and make sure you vote the fools out, then learn scuba diving to try and find your dumped guns somewhere in the ocean.
If what they are attempting to do is unconstitutional, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to the courts to stop it.
It shouldn’t be considered as legislating from the bench, but rather righting a Constitutional wrong.

The crazy thing is that all the various parts of what the anti-2A pols in Virginia are trying to do have been tested in the courts elsewhere and not found to be unconstitutional. Some things are still in the process of going through the courts, of course, but I see little immediate hope of beating the gun grabbers in court. Long-term might be a different story.

Take that as the perspective of this member living behind enemy lines in firmly anti-2A Massachusetts. The only thing different about Virginia is that this is all coming down at once thanks to a certain anti-2A billionaire (whom I shall not name for fear of being punished).

My point is: Do not place a lot of hope in the courts reversing the situation in Virginia just because it's a sudden and nasty bit of culture shock to the good folks living there who just want to be left alone. All these onerous laws exist elsewhere and have passed at least some level of court scrutiny. That is the sad truth that Virginians will be facing going forward.

Replacing anti-2A pols, if possible, is ultimately still the best answer.

 

[runscott]

Nice article in today's WSJ about this subject - 'opinion' section.

 

[asilcot]

The crazy thing is that all the various parts of what the anti-2A pols in Virginia are trying to do have been tested in the courts elsewhere and not found to be unconstitutional. Some things are still in the process of going through the courts, of course, but I see little immediate hope of beating the gun grabbers in court. Long-term might be a different story.

Take that as the perspective of this member living behind enemy lines in firmly anti-2A Massachusetts. The only thing different about Virginia is that this is all coming down at once thanks to a certain anti-2A billionaire (whom I shall not name for fear of being punished).

My point is: Do not place a lot of hope in the courts reversing the situation in Virginia just because it's a sudden and nasty bit of culture shock to the good folks living there who just want to be left alone. All these onerous laws exist elsewhere and have passed at least some level of court scrutiny. That is the sad truth that Virginians will be facing going forward.

Replacing anti-2A pols, if possible, is ultimately still the best answer.

The only glimmer of hope for a different outcome here is that we also have the second amendment written into our state constitution. From what I understand that is the the initial basis that would be used in any legal proceedings. Of course there is nothing to challenge in court until the laws are passed.There are supposedly a few dems on the fence about a law to ban/register firearms that are currently legally owned. I feel sure they will fall into line when the time comes.

 

[TTSH]

The only glimmer of hope for a different outcome here is that we also have the second amendment written into our state constitution. From what I understand that is the the initial basis that would be used in any legal proceedings. Of course there is nothing to challenge in court until the laws are passed.There are supposedly a few dems on the fence about a law to ban/register firearms that are currently legally owned. I feel sure they will fall into line when the time comes.

Well, we have a "right to keep and bear arms" in the Massachusetts constitution as well. It hasn't helped a bit. Our overlords and the courts simply ignore it.

 

[fordson]

Well, we have a "right to keep and bear arms" in the Massachusetts constitution as well. It hasn't helped a bit. Our overlords and the courts simply ignore it.

Their interpretation ....... you have the right to keep and bear arms..... only the State, aided by the courts, tells you which arms to keep and how to bear them.
Amazing........ and discouraging at the same time.

 

[loknload]

I think another key phrase that is overlooked is Shall not be infringed...

 

[stansdds]

I think another key phrase that is overlooked is Shall not be infringed...

Sadly, I do not think this is taught in public education systems, at least as it pertains to the rights of the individual. It has been taught as the right of the militia, defined by the left as law enforcement and national guard, to have firearms.

 

[delcrossv]

Sadly, I do not think this is taught in public education systems, at least as it pertains to the rights of the individual. It has been taught as the right of the militia, defined by the left as law enforcement and national guard, to have firearms.

Guess these publishers never read Heller.