Looming Battle: Gov. Northam Orders All Northern VA Indoor Shooting Ranges to Remain Closed
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam reverses his previous decision to reopen indoor shooting ranges, which is against the court ruling, which declared the ban as unconstitutional.
Gov. Northam signed another executive order directing all indoor shooting ranges in Northern Virginia to remain closed until the end of May. Northam said the decision was a result of pressure from local officials in the suburbs of Washington, DC. He added that Northern Virginia was not yet ready for easing of restrictions compared to the rest of Virginia.
Judge F. Patrick Yeatts ruled that Gov. Northam lacked the authority to close down the indoor shooting ranges and that the court cannot allow “an expansive interpretation of the Governor's authority.”
"The governor appears to argue that, when he declares a state of emergency, he can ignore any law that limits his power, even laws designed to limit his power during a state of emergency," Judge Yeatts wrote.
The new order will likely elicit a new legal battle. Four gun rights groups are consulting with their lawyers on launching a new lawsuit against Northam. The second amendment proponents are highly confident that a subsequent challenge to Northam’s order will be as successful as the first. Although the ruling was applied to Lynchburg Range & Training LLC, Judge Yeatts said the ruling would act as a blueprint for subsequent challenges.
Virginia Citizens Defense League president, Philip Van Cleave, compared Gov. Northam with a “puppet on a string dancing around the room.” He said Northam was very inconsistent, making it difficult to predict which direction he would take. He said the new order would definitely be met with a legal challenge.
In reality, Gov. Northam does not respect the constitution and is unashamed of blatantly violating it. Like most tyrants, Gov. Northam has no qualms about violating the court order with the judge’s signature barely dry. Politicians like Gov. Northam are the reason the United States needs the Second Amendment, now more than ever.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing universal background checks in our state, and if left unchecked, it will not be long until we see bills like this getting traction in Austin. Texas is embarrassingly ranked 29th for gun rights, and with the help of the political elites in Austin, we will surely rank among New York, California, and Illinois if left to their own devices. Please join our fight today, and help us restore Texas' place as the standard for the U.S.
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