# Thread for Richmond Gun Rally Mon. Jan. 20 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598 "2020-01-18T02:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/21 "2020-01-19T03:34:07Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s Lobby Day in Virginia, when Virginians traditionally go to Richmond to lobby their legislators. That’s interesting, I did not know that. What other groups are lobbying that day, do you know? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/22 "2020-01-19T03:41:01Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That’s interesting, I did not know that. What other groups are lobbying that day, do you know? No, I haven’t seen a list of events. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/23 "2020-01-19T04:43:48Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s Lobby Day in Virginia, when Virginians traditionally go to Richmond to lobby their legislators. That weekend also coincides with Lee-Jackson Day. It is no longer an official holiday, but it used to be a Virginian holiday to celebrate Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson and pinned to MLK weekend. Some people (you can imagine the type) still celebrate it. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/24 "2020-01-19T04:49:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > They probably wanted to schedule the rally on a holiday so they could all take a day off from their jobs. > > No…wait…none of these losers has a job. They probably all (or mostly) live as far off the grid as possible. This is one rally where I wouldn’t mind seeing the Phelps family do a protest. (Do they still do that?) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/25 "2020-01-19T08:57:15Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > They probably all (or mostly) live as far off the grid as possible… Not really. One of the reasons those guys in Georgia were plotting to kill a couple was because the couple kept outing white nationalists and they keep getting fired from their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/26 "2020-01-19T17:39:14Z")
Following [article](https://ca.yahoo.com/news/fbi-arrests-reveal-shocking-details-064756332.html) goes into chilling detail on what the suspects planned. (make sure to click on “story continues” at bottom of link) ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/27 "2020-01-19T17:58:02Z")
From the article: > [@](#): > > The arrests came just one day after three alleged members of The Base were arrested in Delaware and Maryland — including 27-year-old Patrik Mathews. The Manitoba man had been missing for nearly five months, ever since he was accused of recruiting for a global neo-Nazi group, while at the same time serving in Canada’s army reserves. > > Mathews is believed to be connected to the group arrested in Georgia, based on an affidavit used to secure the arrest warrants, which was released by the Floyd County police. > > It describes an unnamed member of The Base who “crossed into the United States illegally.” Apparently, Canada is not sending us their best people. Can we build a wall? ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/28 "2020-01-19T23:09:16Z")
Great, now they’re [breathing down the cops’ necks.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/19/politics/virginia-gun-rights-rally-richmond-violence/index.html) > [@](#): > > There have been threats on law enforcement posted on their official social media sites in the last 24 hours, according to an official with the Virginia State Police. The threats have appeared on social media pages of the Richmond Police Department as well as the Virginia State Police. > The threats, which are considered credible by law enforcement, come from mainstream channels and alternative dark web ones used by violent groups and white nationalists from outside of Virginia, according to Northam. The governor added “the conversations are fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.” ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/29 "2020-01-19T23:25:35Z")
I find myself thinking about a big ole Nazi type rally a while back that involved those of politically extreme views and Tiki torches. A number of these individuals wound up being photographed, videoed, filmed, and suchlike, and as a result suffered unpleasant consequences… lost jobs, social ostracism, and suchlike. I wonder if any of them will wear masks this time? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/30 "2020-01-19T23:37:17Z")
> [@Master\_Wang-Ka](#): > > I find myself thinking about a big ole Nazi type rally a while back that involved those of politically extreme views and Tiki torches. > > A number of these individuals wound up being photographed, videoed, filmed, and suchlike, and as a result suffered unpleasant consequences… lost jobs, social ostracism, and suchlike. > > I wonder if any of them will wear masks this time? Dunno, but apparently the conspiracy to commit murder dudes were doing so because the planned victims had a habit of video taping white supremacist rallies, figuring out who the participants were, and outing them, leading to many of the idiots getting fired. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/31 "2020-01-19T23:40:00Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Dunno, but apparently the conspiracy to commit murder dudes were doing so because the planned victims had a habit of video taping white supremacist rallies, figuring out who the participants were, and outing them, leading to many of the idiots getting fired. That seems counterintuitive. If they don’t want attention, why are they holding a rally? Are they not expecting the news media to be there? Photographers? Videographers? Cameramen? Or is everyone just supposed to be awed and frightened and then go home? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/32 "2020-01-20T00:02:12Z")
Maybe not so racist after all: [Antifa Group Marches with 2nd Amendment Protestors](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/antifa-group-to-march-with-pro-gun-protesters-at-virginia-rally/) > [@](#): > > While Antifa groups are most famous for sometimes-violent protests against right-wing groups, the Richmond-based Antifa Seven Hills is joining 2nd Amendment supporters in support of gun rights. > > “I think it’s been pretty important for us to focus on the fact that gun control in America has a legacy of racist enforcement,” Seven Hills spokesperson James told Vice, requesting that his last name be withheld from publication. “Like taking guns away from black people, because black people were perceived as a threat to property and the sanctity of the state.” Lots of black people have noticed the historically racist intent of many gun laws. From prohibition against blacks owning guns post-reconstruction to ‘Saturday Night Special’ laws that kept guns out of the hands of poor black people while allowing rich white people to keep their expensive guns, there has often been racist intent in gun laws. And smart people notice that it’s oppressed minorities who need the right to self-defense the most. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/33 "2020-01-20T00:18:26Z")
Trump is desperate for a big story that will distract from his impeachment trial—and perhaps more importantly, from the impressive stream of new information about his ‘let’s keep this secret’ activities and those of his henchmen. Being so desperate for a big distraction, he is bound to have communicated this priority to many in his circle. In coming hours he may become ever more explicit about this desire, to his Twitter followers. Someone is going to want to provide him with what he craves so anxiously. I fear significant violence tomorrow, which is likely to include loss of life. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/34 "2020-01-20T00:35:51Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Trump is desperate for a big story that will distract from his impeachment trial—and perhaps more importantly, from the impressive stream of new information about his ‘let’s keep this secret’ activities and those of his henchmen. > > Being so desperate for a big distraction, he is bound to have communicated this priority to many in his circle. In coming hours he may become ever more explicit about this desire, to his Twitter followers. Someone is going to want to provide him with what he craves so anxiously. > > I fear significant violence tomorrow, which is likely to include loss of life. Don’t know that you’re wrong. But the stink clung to him from the LAST rally, as well as his “very fine people on both sides” quote. Don’t know that this one will be any different, aside from making it clear that the lives of his believers and unbelievers alike are disposable to him as long as his purposes are served. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/35 "2020-01-20T01:01:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Maybe not so racist after all: > > [Antifa Group Marches with 2nd Amendment Protestors](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/antifa-group-to-march-with-pro-gun-protesters-at-virginia-rally/) > > Lots of black people have noticed the historically racist intent of many gun laws. From prohibition against blacks owning guns post-reconstruction to ‘Saturday Night Special’ laws that kept guns out of the hands of poor black people while allowing rich white people to keep their expensive guns, there has often been racist intent in gun laws. > > And smart people notice that it’s oppressed minorities who need the right to self-defense the most. White supremacists, antifa, and minorities all marching at a gun rally. I cannot see any way this could go badly. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/36 "2020-01-20T01:03:36Z")
Purpose, singular, that being he is the recipient of abject flattery. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/37 "2020-01-20T01:07:55Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Maybe not so racist after all: > > [Antifa Group Marches with 2nd Amendment Protestors](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/antifa-group-to-march-with-pro-gun-protesters-at-virginia-rally/) > > Lots of black people have noticed the historically racist intent of many gun laws. From prohibition against blacks owning guns post-reconstruction to ‘Saturday Night Special’ laws that kept guns out of the hands of poor black people while allowing rich white people to keep their expensive guns, there has often been racist intent in gun laws. > > And smart people notice that it’s oppressed minorities who need the right to self-defense the most. Your link provides no evidence that black people will be marching with these Charlottesville Nazi-types. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/38 "2020-01-20T01:43:18Z")
[Antifa activists advise supporters to stay away from the rally, citing serious safety concerns](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/19/virginia-gun-rally-anti-fascist-counter-protest) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/39 "2020-01-20T02:25:46Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Maybe not so racist after all: > > [Antifa Group Marches with 2nd Amendment Protestors](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/antifa-group-to-march-with-pro-gun-protesters-at-virginia-rally/). If Antifa Seven Hills trumpet the following (in boldface) in their [website](https://antifasevenhills.noblogs.org/)… > [@](#): > > We do not want to provide nazi cops with paid vacation. But one less pig on the streets is one less murderer patrolling around flashing their badge and gun. …then _plonk_ they kinda get the dunk tank with the other assholes. Gee, so reassuring that this _slightest fucking sliver_\* of this probable debacle, tomorrow, will be technically “not so racist”, in some quite likely misguidedly firearm-fuelled manner, I’ll _beh-eh-eh-et_. Granted, I obviously hope to turn out to be completely dead wrong in this view, and that even _this_ somewhat :dubious: niche, here, (if it really _does_ materlize) will comport themselves in a civil manner tomorrow, but, you know what? Doubt it! \*No - no idea, at all, what their exact numbers will be, but safe to say that (after it all comes out in the wash Tue. morn.) that there’s no gaurantee, at all, that they’ll be big players, there. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598/40 "2020-01-20T02:47:56Z")
[Seven Hills Antifa responds](https://antifa7hills.blackblogs.org/): > [@](#): > > There has been some understandable confusion and concern raised by an article published by Vice News yesterday. We are releasing this statement now to clarify our intentions for the interview. > > We have spent the past day attempting to get the author and editors to amend the article to more accurately reflect what was discussed. They took great liberties in the piece that do not accurately portray our intentions. Their response has been poor and shows a lack of understanding or care for the seriousness of what is at hand. > > Many folks have read this article, or possibly just the headline, and come to the conclusion that we are choosing to march with Neo-Nazis and Klansmen on Monday. This was and never will be the case. We are forever in opposition to these groups. > > It is our group’s stated mission to keep these groups from having footholds in Richmond and beyond. There are many racists and fascists planning on attending “2A lobby day rally” on January 20th, at a steadily increasing rate since this bill emerged in November. We anticipated their efforts to recruit from the 2A movement, as has already been happening, and saw this as an important point to intervene since we oppose this legislation. We recognize how many in the movement, especially due to the projections of law enforcement, bear extreme prejudice towards Richmond and its residents, in the equation of “Democratic strongholds.” We understand the many racist, homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic remarks that abound in the river of online comments on these issues. Reading through and digesting these conversations is a reality of the work we engage in. We see it as our place to endure this, to be able to peer further into the void. In no way does this mean we seek to make alliances with those who wish violence and terror upon those most vulnerable. I know it’s a body-blow to even imagine that National Review might misrepresent both Antifa and a bunch of white supremacists in order to prop up a gun rights rally, but I trust you’ll be able to recover in time, Sam. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thread-for-richmond-gun-rally-mon-jan-20/846598.md?page=3)