Virginia battles ahead...

[Jessie]

It seems that it would be a very difficult intent to prove.

 

[stansdds]

That's just it, what will be the threshold for intent? Standing outside of someone's house and pointing a firearm? Ok, that's intent. Or is it a political rally and two people show up with handguns in open carry holsters? Just like the woman who was arrested at the VCDL Lobby Day rally for wearing a mask. She was later released and the charge was dropped because there was no proof of intent. It was a particularly cold day and lots of people were wearing scarfs and such over their mouths and noses.

 

[runscott]

"intent to intimidate" may be up for interpretation in a legal sense, but it's common sense that you shouldn't open carry with the intent to intimidate.

If guns rights supporters like us can't understand common sense and carry our guns with common sense in mind, then we are playing right into the hands of these people.

 

[Watchdog]

I guess folks can keep on debating moot points of law, what is or might be or what might not be legal or illegal or whatever, for all the good that's going to do.

In the meantime, Virginia's legislative session adjourned on March 7, and won't reconvene until April 22.

As others have mentioned, bills about background checks, the one-gun-a-month bill, and several others have gone to Governor Northam for his signature.

He has until April 6 to sign them into law, and the laws will become effective on July 1, 2020.

Is anyone naïve enough to think he won't sign them? All the rallies and Lobby Day and "sanctuary" resolutions have rolled off Northam like water off a duck's back. The man could not care less about Virginia gun owners' Second Amendment rights. He's had this agenda from day one, and this term in office is the only chance he'll have to advance it.

Referring to the title of this thread, "Virginia battles ahead...", about the only battles I see happening will be within the legislature, itself, as members battle with each other over wording and amendments of every new anti-gun bill that's introduced. And like these most recent bills awaiting Northam's signature, most of them will end up on Northam's desk in one form or another.

Don't be surprised if a proposed AR ban rears its ugly head again in the next legislative session. Ditto for high cap magazines. And any proposed AR ban will undoubtedly include some sort of grandfather clause which will require registration of currently owned AR-style rifles. AR owners will have two choices: Tell the state who you are, where you are, and what you have, or turn them in.

The next real battles for Virginia's gun owners will be at the polls.

 

[stansdds]

Next year will bring more battles, for certain. I expect next year we will see another gun ban bill, magazine ban bill, maybe an ammo restriction bill, and even a limit on CCW permit issuance and renewals. Since Northam really wanted his assault weapons/magazine ban and did not get it, I would not be surprised to see him enact executive action to restrict such things.

 

[Recusant]

Northam is probably waiting for the next major shooting incident to enact executive action to do what the General Assembly didn't.

 

[mike from st pete]

Say a break-in expert finds a gun or two while stealing jewelry &c, sells said stolen gun to a drug dealer, does the UBC law include penalty for NOT doing a background check?

 

[delcrossv]

Don't be surprised if a proposed AR ban rears its ugly head again in the next legislative session. Ditto for high cap magazines. And any proposed AR ban will undoubtedly include some sort of grandfather clause which will require registration of currently owned AR-style rifles. AR owners will have two compliant choices: Tell the state who you are, where you are, and what you have, or turn them in.

.

FIFY. There's always the 3rd choice.

Actually the most popular one one in states that have instituted registration schemes.

The only long term solution is vote them out and repeal everything Northam had signed. No legacy for him- except resurrecting a healthy distrust of politicians.

 

[stansdds]

Say a break-in expert finds a gun or two while stealing jewelry &c, sells said stolen gun to a drug dealer, does the UBC law include penalty for NOT doing a background check?

I guess if one could prove beyond reasonable doubt that the firearm had been sold, then perhaps it could be an extra charge against the criminals. It will be interesting to see if such a situation is prosecuted.

 

[stansdds]

FIFY. There's always the 3rd choice.

Actually the most popular one one in states that have instituted registration schemes.

The only long term solution is vote them out and repeal everything Northam had signed. No legacy for him- except resurrecting a healthy distrust of politicians.

We can start voting them out in about a year and half, but since senators serve a four year term, we are going to be stuck with a good number of anti-gun senators for another 3 and one half years. Elections have consequences.