Lobby day is well underway in Richmond, Virginia today. Despite the liberals’ best efforts to paint law-abiding, peaceable Virginians as nazis, white supremacists, and extremists, my sources report that the gatherings are peaceful and respectful, and some legislators on the left are actually willing to listen.

The following photos have all been taken by friends and the short reports are all from folks who are there in person.

I will post updates as they come in.

The crowds began to gather early in the morning, many sporting bright, orange “Guns Save Lives” stickers.

The chilly air didn’t seem to stop the good humor, camaraderie, and determination of Virginians to stand up for their rights.

Despite what some may believe, there are Democrats in Richmond who are willing to listen and discuss issues that concern Second Amendment advocates. My sources report that Chap Petersen has concerns about the Red Flag bill. “At some point I’m gonna piss everybody off,” he told my source. He has concerns about endangering due process, and he opposes the registration and confiscation efforts of his fellow Democrats. “I’m not going to make someone a criminal for something they did legally,” he told my friends.

Others are looking to mitigate the noxious, freedom-limiting legislation introduced by their counterparts. Democratic Senator John Edwards says he and a few of his colleagues are looking to mitigate the Red Flag legislation, so a “pissed off neighbor” can’t just report someone to the police as a danger, resulting in a violation of their rights.

Look, it’s not great, but it shows that several of them at least recognize what a foul, anti-freedom situation their pals in Richmond are looking to create.

I remember going to Richmond a few years ago and discussing gun rights with the delegate from my old district. He was a rabid liberal. He supported “universal background checks,” – forcing private individuals to use an FFL before selling their own property. And he believed in a gun show “loophole.”

But…

He listened. He engaged. He debated. He considered.

I told him that as an immigrant who escaped a tyrannical regime, I found the idea of forcing someone to ask permission to exercise a basic right absolutely repugnant.

I told him that according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the majority of firearms used in crimes do not come from gun shows, but from the black market, theft, straw purchases, etc. In other words, criminals do not bother undergoing a background check.

I told him less than 2 percent of guns used in crimes come from gun shows.

I told him that making tools of self defense cost-prohibitive to people who need them most – poor people, who may live in less safe neighborhoods – by forcing sellers to perform background checks that will likely entail extra costs to the seller, who will then pass them on to the buyer – was unjust.

I told him what politicians call “assault” rifles are semi-automatic guns that are very appropriate for self-defense… Katrina… LA riots… Hurricane Andrew…

He listened and he processed. I could tell he never really sat down face-to-face with a Second Amendment advocate and really discussed facts. He told me that even if it was true that the vast majority of criminals do not get guns legally, “if it only saves one life…”

I explained to him that there is not a shred of evidence showing that the laws he supported save lives. As a matter of fact, firearms crime was already on the decline when the Brady background checks were implemented.

As we were leaving, I practically begged him… as a woman, as an immigrant and as a veteran to give careful consideration to what I told him. He shook my hand, thanked me for my service and promised to think on it. He looked into my eyes. His handshake was firm and honest.

In the end, he probably still supported (and supports) the slimy gun control measures, but I felt it was an honest engagement, and that he took what I said to heart, even if he disagreed with it.

I suppose that’s better than nothing, especially when other leftist lice ran away and refused to even speak with us.

Marxist slime Lee Carter – a former Marine, no less (!!!) – has gone into hiding because the chickenshit claims there are “credible” threats against his life. He’s not in Richmond today, because he doesn’t have the cojones to stand up and face his constituents. I think we can safely call this one an “ex-Marine.”

“I thought I was joining the Marine Corps to help people, and what ended up happening was the government stole five years of my life in service to a foreign policy that’s about maintaining corporate imperial domination of other countries.”

View of the crowd of patriots from Republican Delegate Dave LaRock’s office window.

More later!

PHOTO UPDATE: Some folks handing out these flyers.

As the rally comes to a close, those who were there note that the squawking about violence and unrest was moot. It’s not because extra measures were taken to silence the huge crowds, but rather because the vast majority are decent human beings.

People are begining to clear out as the rally comes to an end. The attendence was massive. There was no violence, disturbance, or really any consternation from what I witnessed. I did not see any racist displays whatsoever. Everyone in attendance was focused on gun rights.

— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) January 20, 2020

Interesting thing. No racism, and everyone was focused on gun rights. Even the Virginia Black Panther Party.

Standing together.

Just one more update with video from the incredible, passionate, eloquent Nick Freitas.

Our Democrat governor made it incredibly difficult for law-abiding citizens to get onto Capitol Grounds to hear the speeches today, so Tina led me to the crowd on Main Street to speak to everyone still gathered out there. #VirginiaRally #2A #VALeg #VA07 pic.twitter.com/RGRuSB1zMq

— Nick Freitas (@NickForVA) January 20, 2020