One of Virginia’s largest gun lobbies promises campaign to stop reforms

“We’re gonna pound them like they’ve never been pounded and they need it. Now, some of them get but a lot of them don’t.”

Virginia Civil Defense League leader Philip Van Cleave during a rally in Richmond, promising a phone and email flurry in January in favor of gun owners’ rights when the General Assembly goes into session.

Van Cleave said a Democratic majority promising sweeping gun reform could not match a militia of residents. He also noted that their agenda will not stop with guns.

“You’ll lose your guns and then they’ll go, “Well, you know what, you don’t need to be a Christian. You don’t need churches. You know, you don’t need, and they did this in China, you don’t need to have more than one kid. It’ll go on and on.”

Governor Ralph Northam has asked lawmakers for several weapon-related bills this session including banning all assault rifles.