On Point (NPR) on VA Gun Bans

[Watchdog]

This special legislative session never posed any serious threat to Virginia gun owners and their Second Amendment rights.

Just as I said in the other thread about it, this was just a grandstanding knee jerk reaction by Virginia's governor to make people think he's actually doing something. Or capable of doing something. This whole thing has been one of those all-hat-and-no-cattle scenarios from the very beginning.

I'm pretty sure that with the balance of power in the Virginia legislature being what it is, the governor knew well in advance that this was just going to be a dog and pony show. Some legislators had already told the governor it was going to be a waste of everyone's time.

The special session lasted barely two hours before it was voted to adjourn until November.

Quoting from one news source (bold print is mine):

"Northam joined Democratic lawmakers in the criticism. 'I called legislators back to Richmond for this special session so we could take immediate action to address the gun violence emergency that takes more than a thousand Virginians’ lives each year...It is shameful and disappointing that Republicans in the General Assembly refuse to do their jobs...I expected better of them,' he said."

They "refused to do their jobs." No, governor...they did do their job, and they did it the way the people who elected them wanted them to do it.

 

[mike from st pete]

What is the chance of the governor getting his Pen&Phone out and doing the executive order thing?

 

[Watchdog]

What is the chance of the governor getting his Pen&Phone out and doing the executive order thing?

Well, that's kinda one of those "what if" scenarios, purely speculative in nature. Just my opinion, you understand.

See, Governor Northam proposed the special session just four days after the mass shooting on May 31. He, his staff, and what few legislative friends he has in the legislature spent over a month trying to drum up support for his cockamamie bills or initiatives or whatever he was calling them. They didn't even come close.

Okay. Let's speculate a bit more just for fun. The governor does have the power to issue an executive order under any of several categories. He could even just throw it in under the "Other Emergencies" section.

Problem is, though, in Virginia a governor's executive order is subject to legislative review. Uh-oh.

Considering the legislative butt-whuppin' Northam got yesterday in his special session, I'd be really surprised if he's in a big hurry to try and buck the legislative powers lined up against him anytime soon. He'll wait until after November, and most likely until after the first of the year. Plus the legislative session will close. Legislators won't be interested in taking up so many new bills about such an iffy subject during the holiday season.

Again, all this is my opinion. My speculation.

 

[stansdds]

Former governor Terry McAuliffe did issue an executive order making all state buildings and any building leased by the state gun-free zones, the only exception being law enforcement officers. The General Assembly did reconvene, but there were insufficient votes to override his executive order, so it became law. This, I fear, did set a precedent and I do wonder if Governor Northam will issue executive orders enacting all the desires of the Democrats.


The question is, should this happen, would it stand up to constitutional scrutiny? The General Assembly certainly does not have enough votes to overturn anything he does, so they cannot be counted upon. I also wonder if such an action would wake up the slumbering conservatives of Virginia and get them out to the polls.

 

[ladder13]

The NRA and Virginia Citizens Defense League were out in force yesterday in Richmond. I hope the Virginia members on here made your voice and wishes heard.

Were they out before the adjournment?

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

1 a month

It was repealed in 2012 in Virginia, so yes, it can be repealed
Squeaky wheel gets the grease, be loud

Yes, and the 15 years or so, whenever it was in effect it did nothing--

 

[WR Moore]

Just to clear the air, Project Exile used the Federal Law making possession of a firearm by a felon a Federal offense to stick felons in jail. Besides having to do the whole term (with possible multiple counts running consecutively) the sentence would be served in a Federal Jail, not the local pokey. The project was terminated after making significant impact on violence in Richmond.