Republicans have taken up their defensive positions. Democrats have armed themselves with runners and volunteers foundations and election money.
Virginia with its election coming up next month and the blue and red battle lines drawn along a razor-thin Republican majority is the litmus test for how gun control will shape the 2020 election and the federal laws that may or may not come with it. Republications currently hold a one-seat lead in the House of Delegates at the state Senate with one vacancy in each chamber. A reflection of the nations larger image Virginias electorate has been slowly shifting blue. Democrats are seizing the momentum by amplifying the gun control debate considering new support. Republicans are scrambling to respond in a way that protects the Second Amendment while keeping coveted House seats.
Public Interest in Gun Control is Higher Than Ever
Seventy-five percent of Virginians say guns are a very important" topic in the election more than education healthcare or the current administration. That bloc of voter interest is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans setting the stage for an invested battle at the ballot boxes. The potential for the states election to swing red in light of the gun control push is certainly a likely outcome: The state still comprises largely conservative voters who tend to support gun rights. One voter Dave Chavez who shoots skeet every week with friends at a local range is against the push.
Guns are just a tool and if used properly they dont commit crimes" he said. People commit crimes." That narration was largely agreeable among the Virginia voter base though the state is changing. Northern suburbs are beginning to turn blue and gun control activist groups like Moms Demand Action are seizing opportunity. We are for an assault weapons ban" said volunteer Veronica Bartlett. We also want to figure out how we can do that in a way that is most effective." The group is a subsect of Everytown for Gun Safety which has pledged a record $2.5 million to advance gun laws in Virginias elections. Thats ten times more than what the NRA contributed this election cycle just $200000 was provided by the organization to Republicans in September.
Virginia Republicans are Feeling the Heat
Spurred by the growing calls for more gun control in the state Democrats are throwing caution to the wind and emphasizing the need to pass gun laws which some Republicans feeling the heat of the election and the changing voter base are reluctantly agreeing to consider. Republican Delegate Tim Hugo of the 40th district who is the sole Fairfax County Republicans in the house of Delegates is backing a red flag law even though he previously opposed it. Randy Minchew another delegate trying to recover the seat he lost to Democrat Wendy Gooditis in the 20th District is a lifelong NRA Member actively supporting stronger gun laws. Another Republican candidate in Richmond Mary Margaret Kastelberg openly supports both red flag laws and a mandatory universal background check initiative.
Conservative voters are noticing too. Gabriella Hoffman is a media consultant rare Republican in liberal Alexandria. Shes an NRA member and carries concealed. She concedes that Democrats are getting the message across and she wonders why Republicans arent turning up the heat. It pains me to save this but I dont really see much … gun stuff even conservative issues advertised much" she said. And I wish that they would."
Virginia is Echoing the Federal Gun Debate
As a litmus test Virginia is reinforcing the likelihood that the nations general gun debate is headed toward a battle over three primary forms of legislation: Calls for universal background checks; a demand for a partial or total assault weapons ban; and an expansion of Red Flag laws to confiscate firearms from existing owners who others may consider a threat to public safety. Following a mass shooting in May Gov. Ralph Northam held a special General Assembly session to propose a slew of new gun control measures: Universal background checks a ban on assault weapons bump stocks and high-capacity magazines and a limit on purchasing one handgun per month. Republicans quickly voted to adjourn the session until after the November elections. Northam and anti-gun groups like Moms Demand Action arent the only voices speaking out for this type of gun control in Virginia. One of Virginias own Police Chiefs last month declared to the Democrat-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee that all weapons with the potential to take a human life should be banned.
Dr. RaShall Brackney Chief of the Charlottesville Police Department remarked: I believe any weapon that can be used to hunt individuals should be banned." Greg Steube a Florida Republican on the Committee wanted clarification and asked Brackney Okay so you then stand for the proposition to ban any type of firearm because any firearm can be used and misused to kill people." RaShall and Democratic Committee members continued with this theme arguing that assault weapons" like the AR-15 are battlefield weapons with no places on Americas streets." Some Committee members previously claimed that the modern sporting rifle is dangerous because it can be built at home with a receiver blank a practice also under legal scrutiny though long held to be legal by the Gun Control Act. Whether bought or built the consensus was the same: A total gun ban is what they desire.
Its not the gun that pulls the trigger. Its the people."
This is the response Republicans are beginning to formulate as they find a way to recognize gun violence without proposing legislation that harms the Second Amendment. That response is being tested out in the voting districts of Virginia right now. One Democrat newcomer Missy Cotter Smasal is challenging one Republican incumbent Bill DeSteph. This one-on-one battle between red and blue furthers the parallel between Virginia and the national debate. Smasal is campaigning hard on gun control and calling out her opponent directly. She began airing a TV ad that narrates the events of the Virginia Beach shooting before launching an attack on DeSteph.
He blocked the Senate from even voting on gun safety laws" she says in the ad. He has a chance to make a difference but he refuses to do it." DeSteph was quick to fire back with his own ad. Missy Cotter Smasal is using our local tragedy for her political gain. Its shameful" the narrator says. A veteran Bill DeSteph is the only candidate who will defend our Second Amendment rights." Like other Republicans across the nation DeSteph is quick to admit that gun violence is a national issue except the proposals and draconian gun control Democrats want will do nothing to stop the violence. Instead DeSteph reiterates what many top Republicans have been saying: This isnt a gun control issue this is a mental health issue."
Whats gonna work the best?" he said. It is more discipline in schools? Is it more fathers in the families? I dont know. I dont think theres one type of thing that will work here." DeStephs remarks align with that of leading conservatives in the Trump administration and the Senate. Following last years shooting in Santa Fe TX. Gov. Greg Abbott made mental health one of his key reform components. He signed legislation increasing mental health training for teachers. Bottom line is mental health is a large contributor to any type of violence or shooting violence and the state of Texas this past session passed a lot of legislation and provided funding for the state to better address that challenge" Abbot said.
Trump himself has called for greatly expanding funding and initiatives for mental health. Republican lawmakers nationwide have pushed to expand mental health treatment with 5732 bills that mention mental health in some form. These are people that are very very seriously mentally ill" Trump said speaking of mass shooting suspects. Its not the gun that pulls the trigger its the people." With Democratic hopefuls feverishly introducing their own gun bills to woo voters next November how will the election and the state of gun rights in America look next year? One need only follow whats happening in Virginia this November.
Republicans have taken up their defensive positions. Democrats have armed themselves with runners and volunteers foundations and election money.
Virginia with its election coming up next month and the blue and red battle lines drawn along a razor-thin Republican majority is the litmus test for how gun control will shape the 2020 election and the federal laws that may or may not come with it. Republications currently hold a one-seat lead in the House of Delegates at the state Senate with one vacancy in each chamber. A reflection of the nations larger image Virginias electorate has been slowly shifting blue. Democrats are seizing the momentum by amplifying the gun control debate considering new support. Republicans are scrambling to respond in a way that protects the Second Amendment while keeping coveted House seats.
Public Interest in Gun Control is Higher Than Ever
Seventy-five percent of Virginians say guns are a very important" topic in the election more than education healthcare or the current administration. That bloc of voter interest is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans setting the stage for an invested battle at the ballot boxes. The potential for the states election to swing red in light of the gun control push is certainly a likely outcome: The state still comprises largely conservative voters who tend to support gun rights. One voter Dave Chavez who shoots skeet every week with friends at a local range is against the push.
Guns are just a tool and if used properly they dont commit crimes" he said. People commit crimes." That narration was largely agreeable among the Virginia voter base though the state is changing. Northern suburbs are beginning to turn blue and gun control activist groups like Moms Demand Action are seizing opportunity. We are for an assault weapons ban" said volunteer Veronica Bartlett. We also want to figure out how we can do that in a way that is most effective." The group is a subsect of Everytown for Gun Safety which has pledged a record $2.5 million to advance gun laws in Virginias elections. Thats ten times more than what the NRA contributed this election cycle just $200000 was provided by the organization to Republicans in September.
Virginia Republicans are Feeling the Heat
Spurred by the growing calls for more gun control in the state Democrats are throwing caution to the wind and emphasizing the need to pass gun laws which some Republicans feeling the heat of the election and the changing voter base are reluctantly agreeing to consider. Republican Delegate Tim Hugo of the 40th district who is the sole Fairfax County Republicans in the house of Delegates is backing a red flag law even though he previously opposed it. Randy Minchew another delegate trying to recover the seat he lost to Democrat Wendy Gooditis in the 20th District is a lifelong NRA Member actively supporting stronger gun laws. Another Republican candidate in Richmond Mary Margaret Kastelberg openly supports both red flag laws and a mandatory universal background check initiative.
Conservative voters are noticing too. Gabriella Hoffman is a media consultant rare Republican in liberal Alexandria. Shes an NRA member and carries concealed. She concedes that Democrats are getting the message across and she wonders why Republicans arent turning up the heat. It pains me to save this but I dont really see much … gun stuff even conservative issues advertised much" she said. And I wish that they would."
Virginia is Echoing the Federal Gun Debate
As a litmus test Virginia is reinforcing the likelihood that the nations general gun debate is headed toward a battle over three primary forms of legislation: Calls for universal background checks; a demand for a partial or total assault weapons ban; and an expansion of Red Flag laws to confiscate firearms from existing owners who others may consider a threat to public safety. Following a mass shooting in May Gov. Ralph Northam held a special General Assembly session to propose a slew of new gun control measures: Universal background checks a ban on assault weapons bump stocks and high-capacity magazines and a limit on purchasing one handgun per month. Republicans quickly voted to adjourn the session until after the November elections. Northam and anti-gun groups like Moms Demand Action arent the only voices speaking out for this type of gun control in Virginia. One of Virginias own Police Chiefs last month declared to the Democrat-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee that all weapons with the potential to take a human life should be banned.
Dr. RaShall Brackney Chief of the Charlottesville Police Department remarked: I believe any weapon that can be used to hunt individuals should be banned." Greg Steube a Florida Republican on the Committee wanted clarification and asked Brackney Okay so you then stand for the proposition to ban any type of firearm because any firearm can be used and misused to kill people." RaShall and Democratic Committee members continued with this theme arguing that assault weapons" like the AR-15 are battlefield weapons with no places on Americas streets." Some Committee members previously claimed that the modern sporting rifle is dangerous because it can be built at home with a receiver blank a practice also under legal scrutiny though long held to be legal by the Gun Control Act. Whether bought or built the consensus was the same: A total gun ban is what they desire.
Its not the gun that pulls the trigger. Its the people."
This is the response Republicans are beginning to formulate as they find a way to recognize gun violence without proposing legislation that harms the Second Amendment. That response is being tested out in the voting districts of Virginia right now. One Democrat newcomer Missy Cotter Smasal is challenging one Republican incumbent Bill DeSteph. This one-on-one battle between red and blue furthers the parallel between Virginia and the national debate. Smasal is campaigning hard on gun control and calling out her opponent directly. She began airing a TV ad that narrates the events of the Virginia Beach shooting before launching an attack on DeSteph.
He blocked the Senate from even voting on gun safety laws" she says in the ad. He has a chance to make a difference but he refuses to do it." DeSteph was quick to fire back with his own ad. Missy Cotter Smasal is using our local tragedy for her political gain. Its shameful" the narrator says. A veteran Bill DeSteph is the only candidate who will defend our Second Amendment rights." Like other Republicans across the nation DeSteph is quick to admit that gun violence is a national issue except the proposals and draconian gun control Democrats want will do nothing to stop the violence. Instead DeSteph reiterates what many top Republicans have been saying: This isnt a gun control issue this is a mental health issue."
Whats gonna work the best?" he said. It is more discipline in schools? Is it more fathers in the families? I dont know. I dont think theres one type of thing that will work here." DeStephs remarks align with that of leading conservatives in the Trump administration and the Senate. Following last years shooting in Santa Fe TX. Gov. Greg Abbott made mental health one of his key reform components. He signed legislation increasing mental health training for teachers. Bottom line is mental health is a large contributor to any type of violence or shooting violence and the state of Texas this past session passed a lot of legislation and provided funding for the state to better address that challenge" Abbot said.
Trump himself has called for greatly expanding funding and initiatives for mental health. Republican lawmakers nationwide have pushed to expand mental health treatment with 5732 bills that mention mental health in some form. These are people that are very very seriously mentally ill" Trump said speaking of mass shooting suspects. Its not the gun that pulls the trigger its the people." With Democratic hopefuls feverishly introducing their own gun bills to woo voters next November how will the election and the state of gun rights in America look next year? One need only follow whats happening in Virginia this November.