Will Virginia Become the "Canary in the Coal Mine" on Gun Control?

Yesterday brought unwelcome news for gun owners as a recount in a Tidewater area House of Delegates district flipped a GOP seat to Democrat by one vote.  If this result holds (the incumbent is challenging one ballot) the pro-rights majority in the House of Delegates will be completely wiped out.  It will set up a power sharing agreement that will evenly split committee representation and committee chairmanships.  It could also provide an opening for some gun control legislation to pass the House for the first time since 1993 and set up an opportunity for some bad legislation to wind up on the desk of incoming Governor Ralph Northam.  Bills banning so-called bump stocks and background check related legislation may be able to squeak past the Senate.  While we have a slight pro-rights majority in the Senate, the gun ban lobby will be looking to pick off one or two of the more moderate GOP members on some legislation.  Don't believe talk that "we passed good legislation and defeated bad legislation with a Democrat majority in 1995 when we got Shall Issue carry.  This isn't the same Virginia Democrat party as 1995.  That majority included pro-rights Democrats from southside and southwest Virginia.  Those no longer exist.

Now is the time to join or renew your membership with VSSA.  This is going to be our toughest legislative session in decades.  Tell every gun owner you know to join VSSA and make their voice heard during this legislative session.

I'll be on NRATV.com Cam and Company at 3:40 today to talk more about this development.