RICHMOND, Va. - (WTVR) First gun advocates, who want to see fewer restrictions when it comes to guns, gathered at the bell tower near the Virginia State Capitol.
Then later in the day, those who believe stricter laws need to be in place in Virginia, including several who had children killed during the Virginia Tech shootings four years ago, began to assemble.
Hundreds joined the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, some sporting their handguns on their side.
Many in the crowd believe fewer gun restrictions are needed.
“There are a lot of gun rights that need to be restored to the people, constitutionally our rights weren’t suppose to be infringed in the first place” said VCDL President Philip Van Cleave.
John Young brought his wife and daughters to the rally from Woodbridge in Northern Virginia. “I’m concerned of course about any laws being passed that would restrict gun owner rights,” he said.
J.R. Ferguson from Ivor said he believes it’s important to be at the Capitol and let the legislature see their solidarity. “When they try to undermine that, I’m not going to stand still for it, and I see it as my duty to be here and stand up as a Virginian, a native Virginian.
”A few hours later, at the same spot, those who seek stricter gun laws paused to remember more than 800 Virginians who lost their lives to gun violence last year.
In the crowd, family and friends of those killed and wounded during the Virginia Tech shootings four years ago, like Peter Read, whose daughter was killed in her French class. “Making sure that we don’t allow concealed carry on our college campuses in a way that makes it more dangerous for students and teachers,” he said was his goal.
Colin Goddard, who was severely wounded in the same French class, spoke to the crowd. “I was nearly killed and that day changed my life forever.”
Wallace Adams-Riley, a gun-owner and the director at nearby St Paul’s Episcopal church, said that he believes more laws need to be in place. “It’s not being pro-gun or anti-gun to my mind; it’s about being responsible, it’s about the kind of community that we want to have, the kind of community we want to be.”
Delegates and Senators will discuss 36 bills that host legislation concerning guns during this session of the General Assembly.
The one expected to garner the most attention is the one gun a month bill, which gun advocates would like to see changed, to allow more than one handgun to be purchased in the same month--unlike now, which limits purchases to just one.
To read up on all the proposed bills, just visit http://legis.state.va.us/
