Paula Nachman column: Virginians committed to the right to keep and bear arms

Don’t be fooled by the fake news promoted by the gun control lobby. Virginians did not embrace the gun control agenda in the recent elections. Virginians remain committed to the right to keep and bear arms. We have seen firsthand that the most effective way to prevent gun violence is to enforce the laws already on the books. Criminalizing gun ownership by law-abiding citizens endangers us all.

In the clamor to claim victory in Virginia’s midterm elections, gun control advocates have conveniently ignored the fact that in the one race that determined the balance of power in the Virginia House of Delegates, the NRA-endorsed candidate won handily. The National Rifle Association mobilized its powerful grassroots operation in the House District 8 special election, making the race a referendum on gun rights. As a result of that victory, majorities in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate support the Second Amendment. Gun control advocates are pushing a false narrative that Virginians embrace their failed gun control schemes. 

The truth is that Virginians support the right to keep and bear arms. They know that more gun control laws will not make us any safer, and will only make it harder for the honest, hardworking Virginians to protect and defend themselves.

This strong support for our fundamental right to protect and defend ourselves is not isolated to Virginia. Nationwide, 85 percent of the NRA-endorsed candidates won at the state level. In federal races, 80 percent of the NRA’s candidates won.