Gov. Northam Calls for Special Session to Act on Gun Violence

Shortly after 4 p.m. on May 31, gunfire erupted in Virginia Beach city public works building 2, next to City Hall just before workers left for the weekend. The shooting became the deadliest attack since the November 2018 shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill in California, with 12 people killed.

Soon after, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) called lawmakers back to Richmond for a special session of the General Assembly to take up a package of gun-control bills. He adamantly proposed sweeping changes, including universal background checks and expanding local authority to regulate firearms.

“We must do more than give our thoughts and prayers,” Northam said Tuesday, indicating that he will schedule the session for late June. “We must give Virginians the action they deserve.”

The governor was joined by Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) and Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) at a news conference with other Democratic lawmakers. Northam went as far as challenging Republicans to find common ground so progress can be made to prevent gun violence.

“Let Virginia show the nation that we can respond to tragedy with decisive action,” Northam said.

“As an Army doctor, I have seen firsthand what a bullet does to a body,” he said. Northam’s voice was shaking. “And I saw it again this weekend… It is wrong, it is outrageous, it is unforgivable to turn our municipal centers, our schools, our churches, synagogues and mosques into battlefields… That’s what our society has come to because we have failed to act on gun violence.”

While many agree that progress must be made when it comes to gun control, not all are convinced that a special session will produce results. Sen. William R. DeSteph Jr. (R-Virginia Beach), for example, suggested that producing anything during the session might be difficult. Others feel that Northam might be trying to distract from scandals including both Northam and Herring that have been circulating through the news.

“We should not detract from our period of grief by politicizing this tragedy with a debate on gun control,” DeSteph said in a written statement. “We are still planning funerals. That should be our focus.”

Affects of Gun Violence Felt by All

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Author Bio:Electronic payments expert Blair Thomas is the co-founder of high risk payment processing company eMerchantBroker. He’s just as passionate about his business as he is with traveling and spending time with his dog Cooper.