Virginia rally: Thousands carry assault rifles, 'anti-aircraft' guns to protest against firearm laws
The streets of Richmond, Virginia, witnessed tense moments on Monday as pro-gun rights citizens came out to speak for their right to bear arms against the state authorities’ effort towards legally controlling weapons. The state is set to enact gun-control laws later this year and this has irked pro-gun voices.
The situation worsened after Virginia’s Democratic Governor Ralph Northam issued a ban on a list of weapons on Capitol Grounds to prevent a Charlottesville-like situation that happened in August 2017 in which lives were lost. But there were people outside the perimeter of the rally area and scope of the ban who wanted to say that they are not okay with surrendering their gun rights. The protesters included, besides army veterans, home-making mothers, attorneys, Democrats as well as Republicans and they believed the gun-controlling acts launched an attack on the Constitution itself.
Many of the protesters even came with their weapons, including AR-15s, long- and hand-guns, and even guns capable of shooting down planes like the Barrett M82. The protesters were even seen wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests, resembling soldiers, and chanted “we will not comply”.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, 7,000 people were present at the rally site while another 15,000 were on the streets, as per official records. Even President Donald Trump played his part by tweeting on Monday, “The Democrat Party in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia are working hard to take away your 2nd Amendment rights.” He then asked people not to allow it to happen and linked the episode with the upcoming election this year, saying, “Don’t let it happen, VOTE REPUBLICAN in 2020!” In another tweet, he brought the focus back on the gun debate and made clear his own pro-Second Amendment stand.
The rally was organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old woman named Mikaela E Beschler was arrested during the protest for not removing her mask which had been banned at the rally.
Local sheriffs said that they will not even enforce the changes if the governor of Virginia made them.
Protesters pick trash after rally
The day had more drama in store. As they left the protest rally, the pro-gun demonstrators picked up garbage off the streets and collected them in a bag to announce that it was a birthday present for Northam. Footage of the protesters cleaning up the trash after the rally became viral on social media. “Pick up the trash, everybody, put it right here in this bag,” one of the protesters could be heard saying in one video while he held a large plastic trash bag. “It's a birthday present for Ralph Northam, all right? Put it right here.” Northam’s birthday is though on September 13.