Monday’s pro Second Amendment rally in Richmond will surely attract left provocateurs bent on inciting violence. And why not? They know that Governor Northam and compliant media will blame any physical confrontations on gun rights advocates, making them the villains and obscuring their message.

Ostensibly to keep public order but more likely to foment trouble (as detailed in James G. Robertson’s article here), Northam took the constitutionally suspect step of banning lawful carry in an area around the Capitol’s grounds. As of this writing, the order stands.

Virginia State Capitol (Photo credit: Ron Cogswell)

On the subject of keeping the peace, there’s something else the Governor and local authorities could do but haven’t, as far as I know: declare they will rigorously enforce the following section of Virginia’s code on masking:

§ 18.2-422. Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exception It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. [Exceptions include holiday masks, protective masks used by tradespeople, medical personnel, etc.] The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.

The risk of violence would be greatly reduced if Northam or police authorities cited the statute and declared that wearing a mask in or around the demonstration would be grounds for arrest. That would eliminate the cloak of anonymity used by the left’s shock troops to avoid responsibility for their actions.

So, why isn’t this message being proclaimed? Have police been told to ignore the law and stand down on masks? If so, why? Inquiring minds want to know.

Steve Grammatico is the author of You Hear Me, Barack? PC-Free Conservative Satire. He blogs at http://youhearmebarack.blogspot.com/.