Helpful Hints for Virginia Protesters

The Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, just declared a State of Emergency ahead of the Pro-Gun Rally over the holiday weekend. Basically, this has been an escalating situation for awhile now.

If you're already familiar with the state's 2A-related events, you may think back to 2017, when a protest in Charlottesville turned deadly. This upcoming rally has the potential to be a powder keg, exceedingly so because of the tension that caused the Governor to ban all weapons over the weekend.Freedom and democracy works best when reasonable adults discuss their differences and come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. How often does that happen in modern politics though?

We wholeheartedly support Americans using their rights to fan the winds of change for the better. We just want you to be safe and smart about it. It's bad enough when we lose brothers and sisters overseas. It would be unacceptable to lose you here in our home land.  You cannot fight injustice fully from a jail cell or worse, a cemetery.

Some tips if you plan to attend this rally (or any other protests, really):

• Make sure to comply with all laws and regulations, and keep in mind they may be different than where you reside. Furthermore, the laws may change depending on the location and event, as highlighted by this case of State of Emergency banning weapons. Be vigilant and stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
• This may sound like a no brainer, but BE SOBER! You can't look for suspicious behavior and safeguard yourself and others from bad guys if you're high or drunk. If something does happen, you'll want to be able to leap into action and use those combat life saving skills to treat the wounded, verses stumbling into a ditch and throwing up on your brand new Grunt Style shirt. The point is we want to avoid that, so don't provoke the opposition into violence when tempers flare.
• Don't forget to hydrate and check the weather either. Despite being all hopped up on patriot vibes like the founding fathers, a rally can turn lame real quickly if you forget your cold weather gear.
• Finally, bring snacks. Because, snacks.

As the weekend draws near,  the nation will be watching these protests closely. Let’s all hope this matter is resolved quickly, and peacefully.