Police Chief Under Fire For Handling Of Open Carry Protest

One of new gun control laws passed in Virginia this year allows for localities to ban the lawful carrying of firearms in government buildings and at (or near) permitted events. Several of the state’s biggest cities have already taken advantage of the new law and have imposed their own carry restrictions, which in turn has lead to a few peaceful protests by Second Amendment activists around the state.

In Newport News, police chief Steve Drew is drawing criticism from Black Lives Matter and police-reform activists for allegedly being too friendly with the organizers of a recent protest outside of the city’s police headquarters. Among Drew’s biggest secular sins is the fact that he exchanged beverages with 20-year old Kenneth “Mike” Dunn, the self-described Boogaloo Boy who set up the protest.

“Know this, I support your right to free speech,” Drew told Dunn as the men shook hands and clicked their plastic bottles.