Judge upholds firearms ban for Virginia gun rally, ruling appealed – By Caroline Linton (CBS News) / Jan 17 2020
A Virginia judge ruled Thursday that a firearms ban can stay in place during a planned pro-gun rally on the Capitol grounds in Richmond. The ruling upholding the ban was quickly appealed.
Governor Ralph Northam imposed the ban ahead of Monday’s rally after law enforcement officials said they’d received “credible and serious threats.”
A lawsuit challenging Northam’s decision was filed by Gun Owners of America, Inc. (GOA), Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), and citizens Kenneth VanWyk, Erich Pratt, and John Velleco, who are all planning to attend Monday’s rally, according to CBS Richmond affiliate WTVR. Of the three individuals filing the lawsuit, two are executive members of the GOA, and the third is a member of the VCDL.
The plaintiffs argued the firearms ban violates the First and Second Amendments and that Northam didn’t have the authority to impose it. According to The Associated Press, Judge Joi Taylor said in her ruling the governor has the authority under state law to take action related to the “safety and welfare” of the state. Taylor also cited rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court that the right to bear arms can be subject to limits.
But the AP reports that after Taylor upheld the ban, lawyers for the GOA and VCDL filed an emergency petition asking Virginia’s Supreme Court to review the ruling and immediately issue an order prohibiting enforcement of the ban. It wasn’t immediately clear when the court would hear the appeal.
Taylor’s ruling came just a few hours after the arrest of three suspected white supremacists who were believed to be heading to the Richmond rally.
Continue to article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lobby-day-richmond-virginia-gun-rally-ralph-northam-firearm-ban-backed-by-judge-today-2020-01-16/
