Virginia’s Capitol flooded with gun rights activists as Second Amendment rally is underway

RICHMOND, Va. — Thousands of Second Amendment supporters carrying long firearms and wearing stickers reading “Guns Save Lives” descended upon Virginia’s Capitol in Richmond Monday for a widely publicized rally to protest a recent push by state Democrats for comprehensive gun control.

The rally comes as the city has been on high alert for days following threats of violence, leading to road closures as well as a ban on firearms in the Capitol and on its grounds. Yet as of midday Monday, the demonstrations were peaceful.

“If they can come for your guns in Virginia, they can come for them in West Virginia,” demonstrator Annette Parker told Fox News, noting that she drove six hours to get to the event.

Demonstrators are seen during a pro-gun rally, Monday in Richmond, Va. (AP)

Demonstrators are seen during a pro-gun rally, Monday in Richmond, Va. (AP)

The throngs who gathered in Richmond Monday were heard in large groups reciting the Second Amendment in unison, while others broke out in chants of “we will not comply!”

SECURITY MEASURES HEIGHTENED AS RALLY EXPECTED TO DRAW BIG TURNOUT

When one speaker asked the crowd if they were ready for gun control, the crowd yelled back, ”No!”

Other speakers, like Republican Delegate John McGuire III, used the event to drum up support for President Trump, who tweeted earlier this morning that the “Democrat Party in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia are working hard to take away your 2nd Amendment rights.”

“Let me hear if you’re sick and tired of Republicans who do not support President Trump,” McGuire said, revving up those in attendance.

Virginia State troopers stand near a security checkpoint at the Capitol grounds in Richmond. (AP)

Virginia State troopers stand near a security checkpoint at the Capitol grounds in Richmond. (AP)

The president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League – the nonprofit organizer of the rally – told Fox News that it wasn’t the pro-gun groups who had been stoking fear of potential violence at the event.

“It’s the Democrats,” Philip Van Cleave said. “It’s almost like they want something to happen. It sounds crazy, but they keep doing it and you have to start wondering if that’s intentional.”

Stacks of chain-link fencing, white tents and rows of metal detectors were in place early Monday morning as some demonstrators began making their way inside the Capitol grounds. But many instead decided to stand outside the security perimeter with their guns.

Others were seen carrying American and Gadsden flags, while some were passing around petitions demanding the ouster of Gov. Ralph Northam, the state’s Democrat leader.

VIRGINIA BRACES FOR RALLY AS WORRIES OVER VIOLENCE, HATE GROUPS AND MILITIAS GROW

Members associated with the Light Foot Militia, some of whom were banned from Charlottesville, Va., following the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally, were expected to attend Monday’s protest. Richard Spencer, a prominent white nationalist, has indicated he might make an appearance.

Last week, three gun control-related bills advanced in Virginia’s General Assembly, setting the stage for a contentious showdown between gun rights advocates and the Democratic lawmakers, who campaigned on bringing changes to the state following last year’s mass shooting at a Virginia Beach municipal complex.

The bills that sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee propose to require background checks on all firearms purchases; allow law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from people deemed to be a risk to themselves or others; limit handgun purchases to one a month; and let localities decide on whether to ban weapons from certain events. To become law, the bills would have to pass the full Senate and the House of Delegates before going to the governor for his signature.

Demonstrators stand outside a security zone before a pro-gun rally in Richmond, Va.

Demonstrators stand outside a security zone before a pro-gun rally in Richmond, Va.

In a symbolic sign of defiance, more than 100 municipalities in Virginia have designated themselves as a safe haven or sanctuary for the Second Amendment. Lawmakers and authorities in those areas have said they will refuse to enforce new gun control laws the Virginia Legislature passes.

NORTHAM’S VIRGINIA CAPITOL WEAPONS BAN UPHELD BY JUDGE AHEAD OF PRO-GUN RALLY

The state’s only self-proclaimed socialist Democrat, Lee Carter, has said he will be heading to an “undisclosed location” to work Monday instead of the Capitol.

“People were threatening to murder me and murder my family over something I’m not even doing,” Carter told multiple media outlets. “These threats are more hateful and more numerous than anything I’ve seen before. I mean, I’m the only socialist elected to a legislature in the South, so I do occasionally get waves of death threats — about every two three months it’ll happen — but this one is far larger and far more serious than anything I’ve seen before by orders of magnitude.”

Carter said he has reported the threats to the Virginia Capitol Police.

Second Amendment supporters gather on Bank Street outside the Virginia state capitol on Monday. (AP/The Virginian-Pilot)

Second Amendment supporters gather on Bank Street outside the Virginia state capitol on Monday. (AP/The Virginian-Pilot)

But some demonstrators in Richmond tell Fox News he should make an appearance.

“I think it’s ridiculous a former Marine would stay at home,” said Angela Darton of Fairfax County. “If he’s so anti-Second Amendment, you’d think he’d make an effort to be here.”

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Monday’s rally is part of Lobby Day, an annual event in Virginia where advocates of a variety of causes descend on Richmond’s Capitol Square to plead their cases to legislators. Gun rights advocates have shown up in past years but the turnout Monday has grown astronomically.

The rally Monday also comes about two and a half years after a deadly incident in Charlottesville, in which hundreds of white nationalists and their supporters gathered about 70 miles from Richmond to demonstrate over plans to remove a Confederate statue. They were met by counterprotesters and violence quickly erupted. At one point, a vehicle drove into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing one and injuring more than a dozen others.

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