But opponents for GOP A.G. nomination are desperate for the 2nd Amendment vote
If you want to be Attorney General of Virginia, you must be a member of the Virginia bar – but it helps to know the law if you are a candidate.
So, one would think.
But unfortunately, opponents of Republican A.G. hopeful, State Delegate Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach (82nd District), are out there on social media spreading the falsehood that he supported “Red Flag” bills on firearms in the House of Delegates, where he has served since 2016.
This seems to be coming primarily from challenge Chuck Smith’s campaign.
I am a gun owner, and just recently joined the National Rifle Assn. But I know how to read legislation, given my 10 years in elected office, where I had to read an array of ordinances and bills.
The bill in question Miyares introduced was HB4031, which would provide that if someone is adjudicated mentally insane they are allowed to turn over their firearm to family and friends INSTEAD of police, and furthermore it is a Class 6 felony to lie to the police about a citizen’s mental health. These are protections previously not afforded to gun owners and still are not today – thanks to the Democrat takeover of the General Assembly in January 2020.
Additionally, his legislation would have made it a FELONY to lie to the police about a gun owners’ mental state. Miyares’ legislation made the attempt to provide greater protections, not weaken them.
And all of this makes sense when you learn why Miyares felt obliged to weigh into this legislation.
A constituent in his District who is a gun collector, who has had some family members experience mental health crises, sought Miyares’ support to ensure that should someone experience mental health issues, their firearms would go to a family member and not the government.
In essence, Miyares took a cue from President Trump and introduced his own bill so Republicans were not just voting ‘no’ on the Democrat bill, which was far worst! Neither the NRA nor the Virginia Citizens Defense League opposed his bill, which did not get out of committee during the July 2019 special session.
What eventually passed once the Democrats took over the General Assembly in January 2020 was HB 674, which gun rights groups opposed and which Miyares voted against multiple times! You can verify his “no” votes on these red flag bills here and here:
Because of these actions, Miyares retained his “A” rating from the NRA, a lifetime rating of 98% from the VCDL and continues to be a leader in opposing those seeking to restrict our gun rights. He has been endorsed by an array of legislators, sheriffs, supervisors and Republican Party leaders and activists, who support the 2nd Amendment, such as Chuck Cunningham, former Political Director, NRA Institute for Legislative Action, GOP National Committeeman Morton Blackwell and Senator Bill DeSteph, 8th District, City of Virginia Beach, who is a gun dealer.
So, if you support the 2nd Amendment, don’t be fooled by desperate attempts by Miyares’ opponents to inflate his 2019 legislation as a red flag law, which it is not. Stretching the truth like this is just a desperate attempt by candidates who really don’t have a chance for the nomination.
Republicans should be wary of this smear campaign – and remember, if you want to be Attorney General, it helps to know the law, which Miyares does!
I have gotten to know Jason well having been involved in Republican politics in Hampton Roads. He is clearly the best Republican to take on whichever Democrat wins their primary June 8.
Being of Cuban background, hearing stories from his mother, a refugee of communism, about the goons of Fidel Castro’s government going house to house to confiscate guns, Miyares would be a great help to the GOP ticket.
Besides being on the front lines in Richmond fighting to stop the Democrats from turning Virginia into a state where criminals are protected more than crime victims, Jason Miyares is a former Virginia Beach prosecutor with a 90% conviction rate. Plus, he is an experienced attorney with a background in commercial and residential real estate and extensive time in the courtroom.
He has a superlative record on 2nd amendment rights and deserves the GOP nomination for Attorney General. Please register to be a delegate and vote for him May 8.
His web site is https://www.jasonmiyares.com/ and you can learn about his legal background at https://hangerlaw.com/firm/jason-miyares/
