Lobby Day in Richmond Highlights Divide Over Gun Policy in Virginia

Lobby Day at Virginia’s state Capitol, traditionally a significant gathering for Second Amendment supporters, drew a much smaller crowd on Monday than in past years. The annual event, organized by gun rights groups like the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), saw notably fewer attendees compared to its high-water mark in 2020.

Armed Second Amendment supporters Markus Khan (center) and Daniel Jenkins (right) outside the Virginia state Capitol on Lobby Day, Jan. 20, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

That year, more than 22,000 gun rights advocates, many openly carrying firearms, descended on Richmond to protest gun control measures proposed by a newly Democratic-controlled legislature. On Monday, however, the turnout paled in comparison, with less than 100 demonstrators braving frigid temperatures.

Some in the crowd attributed the sparse attendance to the cold weather and a competing event: many advocates traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“I was planning to go D.C. today, but when they moved the inauguration inside, I decided to come here instead and show my support,” said Chesterfield County resident Markus Khan.

VCDL Treasurer Patricia Webb addressed the diminished crowd, urging supporters to remain active in defending their rights.

“I want to hear the excuses of all the people that didn’t show up today because there is no excuse for not defending the future of our country and leaving a legacy for our kids, our grandkids, and our great grandkids,” Webb said. “It’s important to stay engaged in the process.”

The lower attendance also reflects a shift in the political landscape since four years ago, when Virginia’s gun rights movement mobilized heavily in response to proposed legislation expanding background checks and limiting firearm purchases. Despite setbacks in the legislature, Webb emphasized the need for vigilance.

“It’s not just about showing up once, it’s about being consistent,” she said, encouraging gun rights advocates to continue pressuring lawmakers.

Attendees at the Lobby Day rally at the Virginia state Capitol in Richmond show their support for Second Amendment rights on Jan. 20, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Brandon Mooney, a gun rights activist who traveled from Idaho to attend, commended those who braved the cold to rally at the state Capitol but urged the crowd to push for broader engagement.

“I want to applaud every single person here that actually took the time to come out and fight for your rights,” Mooney said. “This is something that’s monumental to actually get ahead.”

Mooney expressed concern over growing apathy within the gun rights movement, particularly among those who feel complacent after recent political victories. “There’s a lot of people out there that just don’t care. They’re like, well, we got Youngkin in, so we’re good. We got Trump now. No, we’re done with that,” he said.

Recalling the massive turnout at the 2020 Lobby Day, Mooney urged supporters to recapture that energy.

“Who was here for 2020? I loved the energy back then, it was absolutely awesome. We need to get involved and stop the apathy,” he said, challenging locals to step up. “If I can make it out from North Idaho, then there’s no excuse why you guys can’t have more people here.”

Khan, the Second Amendment activist from Chesterfield County, lamented how the increasingly partisan political climate has stifled compromise on Second Amendment legislation. “We used to have more bipartisanship on the issue,” Khan said. “At least we could get a tie vote with someone from the other side coming in. We just haven’t seen that anymore.”

Khan acknowledged the deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats.

“I understand where that’s coming from. There’s a reason for that division, for that partisanship,” he said. “Tensions are really high. We have polarizing figures leaving, polarizing figures coming in. And I’m not sure if that’s gonna change any time soon.”

Virginia Democrats have once again introduced a wave of gun control measures this year, reflecting their continued push for stricter firearm regulations in the wake of ongoing gun violence.

With both chambers of the legislature under Democratic control, these proposals, which include measures like limits on high-capacity magazines and the prohibition of assault weapons, are expected to pass with relative ease. However, the fate of these bills appears bleak once they reach the desk of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin — unless Democrats muster up enough votes to override a veto.

Mike Fox, the Virginia chapter leader of Moms Demand Action, nonprofit group pushing for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence, framed Lobby Day as evidence of the ongoing battle over gun policy in the state.

He emphasized that gun safety is not only sound policy but also resonates with voters. “We have proved in Virginia that gun safety is both good policy and good politics,” Fox said.

Reflecting on the group’s efforts during the 2023 election cycle, he highlighted their success in flipping the House of Delegates and maintaining a gun sense majority in the Senate. “We demonstrated a message to our lawmakers that if they don’t put our safety first, we will replace them with lawmakers who will,” Fox said.

But on Monday, VCDL President Philip Van Cleave called out what he described as glaring contradictions in some of the gun control measures introduced by Democrats this year. He argued that the proposals are not only impractical but seem designed to discourage lawful gun ownership and carrying.

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, at the Lobby Day rally at the state Capitol in Richmond, Jan. 20, 2025 (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

“One bill says that if you don’t have a permit, your gun in the car has to be visible at all times, whether you’re in the car or out of the car,” Van Cleave explained. “The gun has to be visible. See, you have to leave it on the seat or on the dashboard, sort of attracting criminals, I suppose.”

He contrasted this with another proposed law that penalizes visible firearms in parked cars. “The other bill says if you leave a handgun that’s visible, the police can tow your car and write you a ticket for $500,” Van Cleave said.

“So you’re pulling up to a rest stop thinking, ‘Oh, I have to leave my gun in plain view.’ Then you go into the restroom, a state trooper passes by, sees your gun, tows your car, and writes you a ticket. If you don’t put your gun in plain view, then you’re in violation of the first law.”

Van Cleave described the proposals as emblematic of what he sees as “the insanity of gun control” and accused lawmakers of creating arbitrary rules that place lawful gun owners in impossible situations. “It’s all meant to discourage us from carrying,” he said.

The two measures Van Cleave referenced were introduced by separate lawmakers, a common occurrence in legislative sessions. In such cases, conflicting or overlapping bills are often amended during committee discussions or floor debates to address inconsistencies and avoid unintended consequences.

Del. Eric Zehr, R-Campbell, who was first elected to the legislature in 2023, echoed Van Cleave’s remarks.

“This is my second year in Richmond and I am still trying to wrap my mind around the thought process that goes on here that says that guns somehow hurt people,” Zehr said.

Zehr emphasized the lifesaving role of firearms and invoked “the wisdom of the nation’s founders” in framing the Second Amendment. “We know that guns save lives. Our founding fathers knew also that guns save lives,” he said, adding that the Second Amendment serves as a critical safeguard against the abuse of power.

Henrico County resident Daniel Jenkins, standing just outside the state Capitol grounds where firearms are prohibited, expressed his frustration with the entrenched partisanship in American politics. Jenkins, who was armed, said he is tired of the constant political gridlock that stalls meaningful progress on issues like gun rights.

“I would actually like to see some progress,” Jenkins said. “I hate the fact that we’re such a partisan country that we get to the point where you have one side to control this, and one controls the other side. We never gain or lose anything.”

by Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

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