Northam Wisely to Ban Guns from Virginia Capitol Grounds

In my view, gun fanatics who parade around with the open display of guns do so for two principal reasons: (i) to compensate for deep feelings of sexual inadequacy, and (ii) to intimidate others, especially those who oppose the open display of weaponry in public places. Recognizing this latter motivation, Gov. Ralph Northam is about to ban guns from the Virginia Capitol grounds as the legislative session proceeds and in advance of an expected gathering of gun fanatics who oppose common sense gun control measures that a significant majority of Virginians want enacted.  There is zero legitimate reason that legislators and others should feel threatened and intimidated by gun gun fanatics around the Capitol - or any public place. A piece in the Washington Post looks at Northam's common sense move and the likely shrieks and whines of the gun nuts and white supremacists (in my mind, the two are typically one and the same).  Here are story excerpts: 

Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday will announce at least a temporary ban on firearms on the grounds of the state Capitol, two people briefed on his plans said late Tuesday.

The move comes just days after newly empowered Democrats banned guns from the Capitol building and an adjacent legislative office building. And it comes just ahead of a gun rights rally planned for Monday, which organizers say will draw tens of thousands to Capitol Square.

The rally has drawn interest from militias and extremist groups across the country, raising security concerns in Richmond.

Security has been unusually tight during the General Assembly session that kicked off last week, as Democrats — who won control of the House of Delegates and state Senate in elections in November — consider far-reaching gun-control legislation. . . . . Crews have been erecting steel crowd-control barricades around the manicured Capitol grounds in recent days.

The teenagers who normally work in the House and Senate as pages were given the day off Monday, the first business day after a joint House-Senate committee on Friday banned weapons from the Capitol and legislative office building. The ban is not subject to review by the full legislature.

Hundreds of gun rights activists flocked to the Capitol that day to protest the ban and to testify against the first gun-control bills to make it to a Senate committee that morning.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four bills to the full Senate. The measures would require background checks on all firearms purchases, allow law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others, let localities ban weapons from certain events and government buildings, and cap handgun purchases at one per month.

There were no incidents Monday, but law enforcement officials remain concerned about the rally planned for next week. That event is being organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, one of many grass-roots groups that turn out every Jan. 20 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day — for what is a traditional day of citizen lobbying at the state Capitol.

Democrats won their majorities in the November elections, ending a 26-year stretch when Republicans were able to quash any proposed restrictions on guns.

Gun control took on greater prominence in the fall elections following a deadly mass shooting in a Virginia Beach in May and after the GOP-controlled legislature swiftly adjourned a special session that Northam had called in the aftermath.

Kudos to Northam.  Hopefully, (i) the ban of guns on the Capitol grounds becomes permanent, and  (ii) the four bills reported out to the Virginia Senate sail through to quick passage.