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.

JD Vance says he and Joy Behar are ‘best friends now’

Illegal immigrants among 15 charged in $1.4 million Massachusetts benefits fraud crackdown

Lawmakers scramble after Trump derails bid to revive key counterterrorism tool days after FBI thwarts UFC plot

Supreme Court unanimously strikes down gun law used to prosecute Hunter Biden

Jason Whitlock: Gregg Popovich’s ‘Communist’ Politics Gave Spurs Star a ‘Victim’ Mentality

‘I’m Going to Rip Your Teeth Out’: UK Code Enforcement Officer Freaks Out During Mohammed Discussion

Interior Department heralds algae treatment in Reflecting Pool, comparing it to ‘destroyed’ Iranian navy

LDS church celebrates delivering 6.5M meals across all 50 states for America250 anniversary

Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann kept ‘Dexter’-style kill room but wasn’t as smart as he thought: DA

Several Trump-Endorsed Candidates Score Big Primary Wins, One Suffers a Close Loss

Hegseth announces 6-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops ‘at risk’

MLB accused of ‘double standard’ after calling out players’ Bible messages despite backing BLM in 2020

Race Hustlers Are About to Scream About Police Shooting This Little Boy – Don’t Let Them Start in the Middle of the Story

Iran peace deal inspires little celebration as US banks on ‘good behavior’ and ‘understanding’ from Tehran

Florida couple reaches agreement with daughter’s biological parents after alleged IVF mix-up

“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.