In attempting to make a move to look more appealing to the Democratic Party for 'fighting gun violence', Gov. McAuliffe has only (again and always) made it difficult for law abiding citizens to carry out their day to day business. Make no mistake, this is a feel-good measure only. It will have no efficacy in stopping terrorists or criminals.

In his rush to post this executive action, the Governor has circumvented the authority of the General Assembly and overstepped his bounds. He has no authority to decree that state agencies are no-carry zones. This is a restriction that must be passed through the state General Assembly. While it may be initially enforcable, this will not stand up to any sort of appeal or judicial review. There may also be uninended consequences; the wording of the executive action is entirely too vague.

As written, this not only applies to the carriage of firearms by regular citizens inside state agencies, but also off-duty police officers! The very people that are supposed to be fighting this sort of violence have been rendered impotent. Also, there may be issues on where the prohibition extends. DMV and VDOT-run highway rest stops are assuredly included, but what about parking lots of said agencies? What about VDOT-controlled highways? Depending on interpretation, this could be a de facto ban on citizens (AND OFF-DUTY POLICE) carrying their weapons ANYWHERE the state has sway.

I request that the comment period for this issue be extended so that the people that this affects can voice their concern and displeasure for the Governor taking unilateral action that he has no authority to do.