Don't Look Now, But There Was a Huge Second-Amendment Victory in Virginia Today

Take that, Mini Mike.

Gun ban bill defeated! This morning the VA Senate Judiciary Cmte voted to table HB 961 for 1 year. Three sheriffs were present: myself, Sheriff Vaughn, & Sheriff Millirons. Our 2A patriots sent a message, loud and clear, on these bills. We cannot rest however. Other bills remain. pic.twitter.com/8MXO9hqErg

— Scott Jenkins (@ScottHJenkins) February 17, 2020

Former New York City mayor, former Republican, current presidential candidate, and never a fan of the Bill of Rights, Mike Bloomberg just saw part of his gun-control agenda suffer a major misfire in Virginia this morning.

Virginia House Bill 961 — “a ban under the guise of compromise” — was tabled for a full year by the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Townhall’s Lawrence Keane warned last week that the bill would have banned “the sale of semiautomatic firearms that are commonly used for self-defense, recreational and competitive shooting and hunting, as well as suppressors.” Worse, “standard capacity magazine possession would become a crime” under HD961 — or would have, had it passed. That seemed the likely result just up until minutes ago.

It would be fair to guess that last month’s huge Second Amendment rally weighed on committee members’ minds as they voted to table 961.

The vote is a blow to Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety lobbying effort to strip Virginians of their Second Amendment rights. Laura Vozzella reported on Sunday that Bloomberg and his organizations have “plowed more than $10 million into promoting Virginia Democrats,” but it wasn’t enough to move this particular bill out of committee. Is that a sign that the unearthing of some of Bloomberg’s …indelicate… pronouncements about women and minorities is limiting his juice with members of his own party?

Maybe, if this Valentine’s Day tweet from Virginia Democratic Congressman Donald McEachin is anything to go by:

Michael Bloomberg Appeared To Blame Obama For Racial Division In 2016 | HuffPost. Unbelievable to blame Obama for racial division! President Obama held out the hand of reconciliation only to have it smacked away. You owe President Obama an apology https://t.co/4vPqMK5UoU

— Donald McEachin (@Donald_McEachin) February 15, 2020

This morning’s vote hinged on four Democrats who broke ranks to side with Republicans in opposition to HB961.

Keep in mind that the bill will come back for consideration in 2021. Since that isn’t a presidential election year, it’s a sure thing Democrats hope they’ll be able to move HB961 forward again — but under the radar.

Stay vigilant.