Spotsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney G. Ryan Mehaffey just did something that used to be called "doing your job" — he publicly announced he will not enforce Governor Abigail Spanberger's shiny new gun bans because they are, and I quote, unconstitutional. In a state where Democrats just rammed through two major firearms restrictions, at least one prosecutor still remembers which document he swore an oath to.
Imagine that. A government official who actually read the Constitution before deciding whether to enforce a law. Somebody alert the media. Oh wait — they're too busy crying about "gun violence" to notice that the real violence is being done to the Bill of Rights.
Mehaffey didn't mince words. He declared that both the Assault Weapons Ban (SB 749/HB 217) and the Public Carry Ban (SB 727/HB 1524) are "undoubtedly inconsistent with the historical tradition of Virginia." He went further, pointing out that "Heller secures the right of Virginians to keep and bear the most popular rifle in America, the AR-15." Not a hunting rifle. Not a musket. The AR-15. The one Democrats have nightmares about.
And Mehaffey isn't alone. Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger L. Harris is standing right beside him. So is Andrew "Drew" Mullins, who posted on social media: "We will not comply with Governor Spanberger's infringement on our unalienable Constitutional Rights." That's not a suggestion, Governor. That's a promise.
The big guns — pun absolutely intended — are lining up too. John Commerford, Executive Director of the NRA-Institute for Legislative Action, said "The NRA will not sit idly by while progressive politicians strip the rights of law-abiding citizens." Meanwhile, Adam Kraut, Executive Director of the Second Amendment Foundation, dropped this gem: "It's wild that lawmakers who each take an oath to uphold the Constitution insist on passing bills purposefully designed to gut it."
Wild indeed, Adam. But not surprising. This is what Democrats do. They pass laws they know are unconstitutional, hope nobody challenges them for a few years, and then act shocked — shocked! — when a court slaps them down. Governor Spanberger signed SB 749, SB 727, and their companion House bills HB 217 and HB 1524 knowing full well that the Supreme Court's Heller decision exists. She just doesn't care.
Here's what the left doesn't understand about Virginia — or any state where people still take the Second Amendment seriously. You can pass all the laws you want from Richmond. But if the prosecutors won't prosecute and the sheriffs won't enforce, your fancy legislation is just expensive toilet paper.
This is exactly how federalism is supposed to work. Local officials pushing back against state overreach. The founders didn't design a system where one governor could wave a pen and disarm an entire commonwealth. They designed a system with checks, balances, and men like G. Ryan Mehaffey who aren't afraid to use them.
As reported by 100PercentFedUp.com, this is a growing movement. Prosecutors and sheriffs across Virginia are drawing lines in the sand. And every single one of them has the Constitution on their side.
Governor Spanberger can stomp her feet all she wants. Come and take it.