January 1, 2020
For immediate release

(Springfield, VA) — Gun Owners of America will be attending one of the four statewide hearings to discuss Governor Ralph Northam’s anti-gun budget on Thursday.

“We see in the Governor’s proposed budget that he wants $4 million and 18 new law-enforcement positions to enforce a ban on commonly-owned firearms — which are household guns that are legal all across the country,” said GOA Senior Vice President Erich Pratt.

“Gun owners want to know: Is this money going to be used for the gun confiscation that, in November, the Governor said he was considering,” Pratt asked.

Since then, the Governor has backtracked and said he supports grandfathering the banned guns and registering them. But states like New York and California have shown that registration is just a first, necessary step to enable gun confiscation.

“The Governor is also requesting another $3.5 million to enforce gun control that has NOT been passed by the legislature and is NOT even current law in Virginia,” Pratt continued.

“I’m talking about infringements such as universal registration checks, one gun a month rationing, so-called ‘red flag’ gun confiscation orders (which are void of Due Process and have led to innocent people being gunned down in their home), and much more.”

In light of this, Pratt intends to ask these questions of legislators tomorrow:

“First, why is the Governor requesting millions of dollars to enforce gun control that has NOT been passed by the legislature and is NOT current law in Virginia?

“Second, could the Governor be planning to use that money to enforce his gun control agenda through executive order? And given that possible scenario, would legislators support a budget amendment preventing him from doing that?

“Third, given that one Democrat congressman in this state has talked about using the National Guard to enforce gun control, would legislators support or oppose a budget amendment prohibiting the governor from using the National Guard or police to implement any confiscation or registration of firearms?

“Fourth, would legislators support or oppose any budget amendment attempting to penalize localities that have declared themselves to be Second Amendment sanctuaries?”

GOA spokespeople are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over 2 million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s  Press Center.