‘2A Sanctuary’ movement shows how conservatives can win back Virginia

Throngs of people attending city and county governing bodies vs. sitting home and griping at the TV or posting on FB is heartwarming  

The headline on the web site, Ammoland.com, screeched: “Virginia: Jaw-Dropping Turnouts On Tuesday & 18 New 2A Sanctuaries! 77 Total!”

The photo I posted above from their web site says it all.  Instead of griping at the TV or Facebook, gun owners and 2^nd Amendment advocates are doing what liberals have done for years and with results:

They are showing up before their elected officeholders and pressing their cases.    

The Nov. 5 Richmond takeover Democrats achieved is now being faced with a significant grassroots insurgency in this state – like none I have seen since the 2009-2012 “Tea Party” revolt.

Ammoland reports: “The energy is incredible.  I am chest-thumping proud of all of you who are turning out at these meetings! You are in the fight and you are absolutely making a difference! But we must keep these jaw-dropping turnouts going across the Commonwealth! They are changing the political landscape in Virginia, trust me on this.”

And, I agree.

For someone like myself who served in local office for 10 years and was a grassroots activist and consultant for almost the same amount of time, I appreciate what the 2A folks have been able to accomplish – and I look forward to their next steps when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

But as one reads the media coverage, these gun owners are not just pressing their case before RURAL councils and supervisor boards to declare their communities “Second Amendment Sanctuaries,” but those in “blue” cities like Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News 

According to Ammoland, Democrat-controlled Lynchburg failed to pass their resolution by one vote: 3 to 4.  Fredericksburg’s City Council, also liberal controlled, voted it down, but Ammoland said the turnout from 2A supporters “was not good.”

So, the message here is “The World goes to those who show up!”

The “Virginian Pilot” reported Dec. 11:  

A line of around 1,200 people led from the steps of Chesapeake’s city hall, past the building and into a nearby parking lot. Bright orange “Guns SAVE Lives” stickers adorned the shirts of nearly every person standing in the line and three men stood in front of the building holding Gadsden flags printed with “Don’t Tread on Me.”

Only about 300 people were allowed into the council chambers by city fire marshals. The rest watched from a live feed in the lobby and outside of the building.   

Around fifty people with the same orange “Guns SAVE Lives” stickers filled Norfolk’s City Council chambers Tuesday.

Speakers turned out Tuesday night at meetings in Portsmouth, Newport News and James City County as well.”

The Chesapeake City Council passed the sanctuary resolution unanimously.  

Democratic leaders in Richmond are trying to pooh pooh the movement and are threatening to – get this – take away funds from counties that don’t enforce their gun laws!  Now, isn’t that rich given the fact the president can’t take funds from sanctuary cities that chose to shield illegal aliens from being deported. 

The Pilot argues these resolutions are “largely symbolic, as it would be illegal for local officials to refuse to enforce state laws.”  

But that misses the point.  A local governing body’s resolution can wind up in their “legislative agenda,” which local delegates and state senators use to guide them on which bills to support or oppose.      

And, with a number of these 2A communities like Prince William and Virginia Beach electing Democrats Nov. 5, these resolutions put those delegates and senators on notice how they should vote on the gun issue – at their own political peril.   

So, while I have been negative and down about the prospects for the Republican Party in Virginia given the recent drubbing in state and local elections Nov. 5, the 2A movement gives me some hope.  

I have been very critical of the inability of conservatives to get out of their comfort zones and away from their laptops and get into the face of politicians the way the Left does.  The Left fills local governing bodies with requests for resolutions supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, gun control, removing monuments, taxing plastic grocery bags or banning ICE enforcement.

The Left has been successful in being persistent in its grassroots and protest efforts, so much so you have major conservative-controlled companies like  Chick-fil-A buckling to  LGBTQ activists and agreeing to stop helping Christian charities that oppose homosexuality.    

And, because they are out of power in the White House and U.S. Senate, they have more reason to get out there in the streets and make their voices heard.

Now, we’re out of power in Virginia and the masses of “Deplorables” are coming out of the woodwork to make our voices known.   

 And 2A is not “astroturf” (i.e.. hiring people to fill the hearing rooms).  It is grassroots, but let’s be real – groups like the Virginia Citizens Defense League have the money and manpower to help mobilize your Average Joe and Josephine and guide them on what to do at these hearings and how to follow up.  Those high school students who walked out of class or protested in D.C. for gun restrictions had considerable financial and logistical help, too. Same with the folks who got plastic straws banned around the country. 

The question is – can this 2A effort be replicated on other issues in Virginia?

Will the GOP donors and corporate lobbies who have the money show the desire to help form groups to preserve the Dillon Rule, and “right to work” and stop this latest Ralph Northam boondoggle to spend $733 million in new spending on “climate change”  (not one dime for flood control in Hampton Roads, it seems)?

Or, will the lobbyists and donors continue to throw money into the campaign coffers of Democrat committee chair, dinners and receptions, hoping they can “influence” them their way?

Thanks to VDCL and the 2A folks for showing a path to Keeping Virginia Great vs. the path to California-collectivism.