VIDEO THREAD: Armed gun owners in Virginia showed up outside the State Capitol in Richmond this afternoon to rally against new gun control measures awaiting signature from Governor Spanberger such as bans on the sale of "assault weapons" and large capacity magazines in the state.
2) Under the anticipated Virginia law, sale of 30-round magazines would be illegal beginning this summer.
Magpul donated boxes of 30-round AR-15 magazines which were distributed to the crowd for free, whose possession would theoretically be grandfathered in.
3) Police confronted a man over having a suppressor on his rifle, which they apparently isn't allowed per a new ordinance in Richmonf.
"F***ing a**holes. F*** them. Tyrants," he explained, without complying. "They can go f*** themselves. This is my American right right here."
4) "Batman can't be everywhere, Batman's not even real, that's why it's important we have guns in law abiding citizens' hands," explained a man dressed as Batman. "To protect themselves, because I can't be there."
When @GoadGatsby asked about Batman's parents being killed by guns, Batman countered that "it doesn't matter. If they had guns, maybe they could have defended themselves."
5) There were no ostensible counter-protests to the pro-gun event in Richmond, but one man biked back and forth on the street having an argument withe them whose premise wasn't entirely clear.
"I think he was protesting the war in Iran," someone said.
"This is not that rally," another added.
@GoadGatsby 6) Gun rights supporters also gathered on the Virginia Capitol grounds, where carrying firearms is prohibited.
They prayed and spoke, including an appearance by Virginia U.S. Congressman John McGuire.
@GoadGatsby 7) The gun-free zone outside the Virginia State Capitol wasn't entirely gun-free.
Virginia Kekoas militia member call-sign Peezy snuck into the Capitol grounds with a "Boogaloo" flag and a handgun on his chest.
"Oh no, spank me," he joked when I asked "what have you done?"
8) Members of the American Communist Party also showed up to the pro-gun event.
"Communist Party supports the working class," they explained. "This [gun control] is going to harm the working class of course, the vast majority of Americans."
"Nothing more to it!"
9) "Do you like my high-powered assault processional cross with a high-capacity cross?" asked an apparent clergyman at the gun rally.
"Most Christians support the right to defend themselves, the right to bear arms because in order to have religious liberty, you've gotta be able to defend it somehow."
10) U.S. Congressman John McGuire met with militia members and gun owners as he left the gun rally.
He told them about his "Shall Not Be Infringed Act" and joked "I don't know what part of shall not be infringed they don't understand!"
11) Virginia Kekoas militia member Sasquatch described a new website project to unify the efforts of militia groups in Virginia and help connect prospective members to local groups.
I asked how this wouldn't turn into a tool of the FBI.
12) Here is my 4K documentary footage of today's armed rally and 30-round magazine distribution event outside the Virginia State Capitol.
As always, all footage is available to license.
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