Monday was not only Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the United States, but it was also “Lobbying Day” in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In this tradition, citizens from around Old Dominion travel to Richmond, the capital, to lobby their elected officials on any number of issues. After the newly-minted Democratic majority took control of the statehouse, gun rights shot to the top of the Lobbying Day priority list.
Soon, a massive rally was in the works, and many feared the worst. A number of neo-Nazi domestic terror suspects were arrested after their plans to sow chaos in Richmond were revealed, and the addition of Antifa to the mix had blood pressure soaring around the state.
But then something occurred that was simply terrifying…at least for the powers that be. Americans came together around the Second Amendment and, instead of fighting amongst themselves, stood united against tyranny.
A gun-rights rally in Richmond that brought thousands of people from across the country to protest a push by Virginia Democrats for comprehensive gun control ended peacefully without any major incidents.
Threats of violence had escalated in the days leading up to Monday’s demonstration following reports that white supremacists, armed militia and other extremist groups were planning to attend.
Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, had declared a state of emergency late last week and beefed up security around the Capitol.
“Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard,” he said in a statement Monday evening. “Today showed that when people disagree, they can do so peacefully. The issues before us evoke strong emotions, and progress is often difficult. I will continue to listen to the voices of Virginians, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep our commonwealth safe.”
Peace prevailed, and for that, we can all be a little more patriotic tonight.
