Virginia Declares State of Emergency After Armed Militias Threaten to Storm the Capitol

The governor said law enforcement had intercepted “extremist rhetoric” similar to the lead-up to Charlottesville days before pro-gun activists are holding a rally.

In response to what he described as “credible intelligence” of threats of violence at an upcoming gun rights rally in Richmond, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency and will temporarily ban individuals from carrying firearms on Capitol grounds.

The governor said at a press conference Wednesday that authorities believe “armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol” during the January 20 rally.

He also said that law enforcement had intercepted threats and “extremist rhetoric” similar to what was observed prior to the violent Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. “We will not allow that mayhem and violence to happen here,” he said.

The decision to ban all weapons, including firearms, won’t sit well with the thousands of gun lovers who are expected to descend on Richmond to participate in what was billed as an open-carry affair and an opportunity to flex Second Amendment rights.

Man charged with killing off-duty Chicago police officer denied pretrial release

Dean Phillips becomes first House Democrat to call on Rep. Cuellar to resign after indictment

Travis Kelce Annoyed by Fans who Keep Sending ‘Random’ Stuff to His House – ‘It’s Not Getting to Me’

Bidenomics: Americans ‘Magic Number’ for Retirement Up 50% Since Biden Took Office

Elite Universities Are Now Getting Hit with Yet Another Problem: Furious Parents

Football Hall of Famer Booted from Network, Show Shut Down After More Than 20 Years on the Air

Biden admin’s DOE investigating Emory University for alleged anti-Muslim discrimination

Border Patrol sector stops hundreds of Chinese illegal immigrants in just two days as numbers soar

Famous Hollywood Director Working on Film About How Lack of Facebook Censorship Caused Jan 6

Fox News Politics: Mr. Broke It

AZ Supreme Court Unanimously Overturns Sanctions Against GOP for Bringing 2020 Election Suit

Prosecutors repeatedly reference Trump’s Access Hollywood scandal after judge ruled tape itself ‘prejudicial’

Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, other Biden allies awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

‘Damning’ report details Biden admin’s Big Tech ‘censorship’ push

New ruling reveals fate of middle school girls banned for protesting trans competitor

“No weapons will be allowed on Capitol grounds,” said Northam, a Democrat. “Everything from sticks and bats to chains and projectiles…. The list also includes firearms. It makes no sense to ban every other weapon but allow firearms when intelligence shows that armed militia groups plan to storm the Capitol.”

On the Facebook page for the rally, several attendees are already saying they won’t comply and leave their weapons at home — even though Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has vowed a hard line on rule-breakers. “Violations of the law will not be tolerated,” Stoney said.

The January 20 event, dubbed “Lobby Day,” was organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-Second Amendment nonprofit, in response to new gun control legislation introduced by the Democrat state Legislature. Northam acknowledged that the organizers had been planning the rally for some time. “I believe them when they say this is a peaceful event — that’s what democracy is,” said Northam. “Unfortunately, they have unleashed something much larger, something they may not be able to control.”

Upwards of 5,000 people said on the Facebook page that they plan to attend. Event organizers have warned the state that as many as 100,000 could show up.

A website for the rally shows that at least 60 buses are scheduled to transport attendees into Richmond on Monday. And there’s word that carpools are being organized. What’s more, armed militia groups are also planning to attend, and some have even described the event as a “boogaloo” — a term that the far right uses to describe a second civil war.