By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
As the July 1 effective date looms for Virginia’s restrictive new gun control law, another county prosecutor has announced she will not enforce the law because key provisions violate the constitution.
Patrick County Commonwealth’s Attorney Dayna Kentrick Bobbitt issued a statement last week announcing her decision. She is joined by Sheriff Dan Smith, who issued his own statement, according to the Martinsville Bulletin.
Earlier, four other Commonwealth’s attorneys had issued such declarations, as reported by TGM.
The law taking effect July 1 will prohibit the sale, manufacture, importation, purchase or transfer of so-called “assault firearms.” The new law, signed last month by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, allows current owners of the firearms and magazines to retain their property, but there are some concerns that next year the Assembly will return and adopt a stricter ban, as just occurred in Rhode Island.
WVEC News is reporting how supporters of the gun ban are claiming it is “intended to reduce gun violence by limiting access to firearms and accessories commonly associated with mass shootings.”
But will that really be the case? And is the gun ban unconstitutional in the first place?
Bobbitt reportedly sent a letter to Patrick County residents explaining her “serious concerns” about the legislation, which is already being challenged in several state and federal lawsuits, filed by practically every major gun rights organization on the map.
Bobbitt explained in the letter how she took an oath to uphold the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions, and that her duty is not to “follow the changing tides of politics.”
Meanwhile, Sheriff Smith wrote, “Your Constitutional right to keep and bear arms will never be infringed upon by me or any member of my staff.”
Commonwealth Attorneys Phillip Blevins Jr. (Smyth County), Rob Cerullo (Powhatan County), Justin L. Griffin (Pulaski County), and Ryan Mehaffey (Spotsylvania County) are already on record refusing to enforce the new law, and according to report at the Washington Times, Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Kilgore of Scott County “made similar remarks.”
Spanberger and Democrats in the legislature may have reached too far in their effort to restrict gun ownership in the Old Dominion. Those lawmakers will be up for re-election in November 2027.
