‘Blue’ Virginia senate bill to ban firearm and martial arts instruction

by Dr. Eowyn

Virginia was considered a “swing” state in presidential elections, but the state became a solid “blue” on November 6, 2019.

With Democrats already holding the state’s three highest offices (governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general), after two years of Republican control in the state House and Senate by single-seat majorities, the voters of Virginia saw fit to give Democrats full control of the state legislature for the first time since 1994. Democrats won at least 21 of 40 seats in the state Senate and 51 seats in the 100-member House of Delegates.

Virginia’s pro-abort Gov. Ralph Northam (D), 60, a pediatric neurologist by occupation and a former U.S. Army medical officer, wasted no time in pushing his gun control agenda. On election night, he declared his plan to reintroduce a package of gun control laws during the next legislative session. See “Elections have consequences: ‘Blue’ Virginia goes whole hog for gun control”.

Northam is now joined by the State Senate.

On November 21, 2019, Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas (D)introduced a bill that seeks to ban “paramilitary activities” by criminalizing:

1. Instruction and training in using firearms.
2. Instruction and training in any “technique capable of causing injury or death to persons“, which can be construed to mean boxing, fencing, and the martial arts.
3. Assembling with others to target shoot in a gun range.
4. Assembling with others to perform “technique capable of causing injury or death to persons“, which can be construed to mean being in a boxing or martial arts studio.
5. Marching or parading while carrying a firearm.

The bill is SB 64: Paramilitary activities; penalty. Here is the full text of SB 64 (I provided the bold in red):

SENATE BILL NO. 64Offered January 8, 2020Prefiled November 21, 2019A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to paramilitary activities; penalty.———-Patron– Lucas———-Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice———-Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:1. That § 18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-433.2. Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty.

A person shall be is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he:

1. Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or

2. Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or

3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.

2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 854 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

On November 6, Louise Lucas was reelected with 93.1% of the vote, with no opposition from Virginia’s Republican Party.

H/t CSM

~Eowyn