Leadership in the Virginia House of Delegates took an ax to legislation that would have defended Americans’ gun rights against unlawful federal intrusion, killing three bills to support the Second Amendment without so much as a vote.
HOUSE BILL 49
HB49 would have been an an interesting first step toward protecting the right to keep and bear arms from federal infringement by defining it in statute as an individual right unconnected with the militia. HB49 could have removed a hurdle preventing other comprehensive measures to preserve the Second Amendment. They can’t say “that’s not what the Second Amendment means” when it is clearly codified in state law. Passage of HB49 would have supported every future Virginia bill addressing the right to keep and bear arms.
The legislation was ultimately killed by the House Constitutional Law subcommittee. They chose to strike it from the docket via a voice vote without so much as a hearing. Del. David Albo (R-42) was the subcommittee chair responsible for this abrogation of Constitutional fidelity, and he was joined by Del. Terry Kilgore (R-1), Del. Manoli Loupassi (R-68), Del. Greg Habeeb (R-8), Del. Charniele Herring (D-46), and Del. Monty Mason (D-93),
HOUSE BILL 83
HB83 would prohibit state cooperation with the enforcement of any future federal laws, regulations, or executive orders relating to firearms, ammunition or firearms components, effectively nullifying any such acts in practice within the state. The legislation would have banned state cooperation with enforcement of any future federal gun control laws or executive orders, along with state participation an any federal gun registry program.
Unfortunately, the bill never even received a vote in the full House. It passed in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee by a voice vote, but ultimately failed in the House Appropriations Committee. Del. Chris Jones (R-76) was the committee chairman responsible for killing this legislation before it could even receive a hearing in that committee.
HOUSE BILL 1217
HB1217 would have protected Virginians gun rights from unlawful federal gun control executed via executive order. It stated that “the Department of State Police shall not cooperate with a federal agency through the furnishing of police services for the purpose of enforcing an executive action or order related to firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof that has not been made law by an act of Congress.”
Once again, Republican leadership in the House Appropriations Committee killed a bill to preserve the Second Amendment. Yet again, Del. Chris Jones (R-76) refused to give this bill a fair hearing or a vote in his committee. It died without any debate or discussion.
OVERVIEW
While these facts may be dismaying for Virginians, the situation is far from hopeless. Across the country, many legislators have lost elections after betraying the will of the voters. If activists work hard and are effective at getting the word out, oath-breaking behavior from legislators can reap very serious consequences.
Vigilance is what created the modern nullification movement around the country, and it has resulted in many important bills to defend gun rights being introduced throughout the union. In states that successfully passed gun control nullification bills, it was usually the result of a multi-year process.
So do not fret, Virginians! Nullification is on its way, but only if you hunker down and refuse to give up – and hold the guilty politicians accountable.
