RICHMOND, Va. — Numerous gun-rights activists gathered at Virginia’s capital city on Monday to protest plans by the state’s Democratic leadership to pass gun-control legislation.
Many of these activists showed up hours before the 11 AM rally was set to begin, wearing camouflage and waving flags with messages of support for President Donald Trump.
Virginia Police planned a huge police presence and limited access to Capitol Square to only one entrance and have warned attendees they may have to wait hours to get past a security checkpoint screening.
Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a temporary state of emergency days ahead of the rally, banning all weapons, including guns, from the event on Capitol Square.
Virginia Democrats are backing bills limiting handgun purchases to once a month, allowing localities to ban guns in public buildings and other areas, a red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed dangerous to themselves or the community, and implementing universal background checks on gun purchases.