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The Governor has an “emergency” state-agency gun ban in place. That emergency ban runs out in 18 months. What will follow it, is a permanent gun ban.

The permanent gun ban is being done following the normal method - it is listed in the Regulatory Town Hall and is required to get comments from the public for about six weeks. I am told by someone who would know that if we can provide an overwhelming number of comments providing good reasons for the regulation not to be implemented, we stand a chance of stopping the regulation if the press picks up on the issue and runs with it.

Simply urging the Governor to drop the idea is a waste of time, as he has already made up his mind. We want to get the attention of the press and others.

As a bonus, with a huge negative response, the Governor cannot point to the Regulatory Town Hall and say that no one responded because they agree with what he is doing!

Unlike letters and email sent to the Governor, which he can hide from disclosure by placing them in his “Governor’s working papers,” your comments in the Regulatory Town Hall are public and visible to all.

Another important note. If at least 25 of us also request that the comment period be extended, it will get another 30 days added to the cut-off date (currently January 27th).

Here is the link where you can enter your comments:

http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/Comments.cfm?StageID=7379

Click “Enter a comment”

Fill in your name, email address.

Suggested Subject/Title: Something like “This regulation is dangerous to public safety,” or “Why deny Virginia citizens right to self-defense?” or “Government buildings are targets of terrorism, why make it easier for terrorists to succeed?” (Whatever title you decide on, make sure it is clear by just reading the title that you oppose the regulation. Don’t depend on someone reading your message to figure out your position.)

Suggested message:

This proposed regulation will have the opposite of the intended affect by playing into the hands of terrorists, violent criminals, and the criminally insane. We have had no shootings in state agencies and this prohibition on those with a concealed handgun permit, some of whom have active and ongoing threats to their lives, is entirely without any justification and needlessly and recklessly endangers innocent lives.

Disarming good citizens (who are the only ones likely to obey the prohibition) does not make them safer. 

Importantly the Governor has no authority for this regulation. If the General Assembly wanted the Governor to have such power, they would have granted it to him explicitly, as is required constitutionally.

This proposed regulation is a solution for which there is no problem. It endangers state employees, law abiding citizens, and the innocent by making state buildings a safe zone for terrorists, criminals, and the criminally insane to conduct their evil and savage actions.

This regulations should not be approved and the emergency regulation withdrawn.