Virginia lawmakers aren’t even trying to hide their agenda anymore. No more training. No more protection. They’re trying to make us into easy targets.

First it was an “assault weapons” ban. Then it was about confiscation. Then they went after self-defense businesses, gun stores and even tried controlling ammunition.

And after a bill was written that would aim to close any indoor shooting range that wasn’t in a building owned or leased by the state, another new piece of legislation looks to shut down outdoor ranges as well.

The newest bill, called SB 353, was introduced this week.

The potential law “prohibits the operation of an outdoor shooting range, defined in the bill, within 500 yards of any property zoned for residential use.”

That’s for basically every type of target shooting, including “use of rifles, shotguns, pistols, silhouettes, skeet, trap, black powder, or any other similar sport shooting.”

Anyone in violation of the law could face up to a $100,000 civil penalty, with potential fines of up to $5,000 for each day that they’re not in compliance.

Anyone familiar with the Commonwealth of Virginia knows there are a number of choices for people to shoot at both indoor and outdoor facilities.

Now, if those businesses aren’t at least five football fields away from a residential area — lawmakers want to shut them down.

And that’s not all.

On Monday, Virginia lawmakers released details concerning House Bill 567, a piece of legislation that aims to shut down any indoor gun range that isn’t housed in a building that owned or leased by the state.

And any business owners who decided to defy the law could be facing up to a $100,000 fine and potential additional civil penalties.

Take a look at the Virginia legislature’s specifics on the bill below.

But here’s the thing… when looking at the fine print, they showed their hand.

According to the bill, which has not yet been voted on or approved, would prohibit “the operation of an indoor shooting range, defined in the bill, in any building not owned or leased by the Commonwealth or federal government, unless fewer than 50 employees work in the building.

A source close to Law Enforcement Today pointed out some key information. The only Virginia indoor gun range in the state with more than 50 employees is none other than the National Rifle Association, who houses their range in Fairfax.

The building is not shown to be leased or owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia — and so if the measure passes and is signed into law… goodbye NRA range.

A spokesperson for the National Rifle Association issued the following statement about the effects of the new bill.

“This is a gun control bill that will eliminate jobs and destroy small businesses in Virginia without reducing crime,” said NRA spokesperson Catherine Mortensen. “In addition to generating about $18 million each year in revenue, the state’s ranges are the epi-center for vital safety training. This is where our law enforcement community comes to train alongside families and individuals seeking skills for home and self-defense.”

And there’s another message buried in their new bill as well. Essentially, small business that are doing well will be punished if they don’t play by the state’s rules, which could include moving their entire facility to a state-controlled campus.

And who knows what other stipulations would come with that?

Virginia is basically telling people that if you are too good at training people in safety, you are a threat – and we will take your business.

For those ranges that would be staying open, the state appears to want them to act as a data collecting operation, creating a state-controlled list of who is using the range as well as their photo ID and home address.

Let’s be clear. This is a very real threat against the rights laid out in the Constitution. Americans have the right to defend themselves. And the state is literally trying to stop gun owners from training and improving their skills.

The legislative session for Virginia begins later this week, and the first hearing of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee is January 13th, where a vote is likely for Northam’s new gun laws. The NRA has been hosting town hall meetings, activating grassroots representatives, and is holding Lobby Day in Richmond on the 13th.

The group’s message is clear: Don’t try to take our guns.

Don’t violate our constitutional rights.

Don’t threaten the commonwealth with the National Guard and police officers to take our guns.

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The pro-gun organization isn’t the only entity or person speaking out against these proposed laws.

Virginian Delegate Dave LaRock has sent a letter to Governor Northam asking him to deescalate the entire situation.

LaRock advocates that the proposed legislation and budget appropriations connected to gun confiscation, as well as the message to the public that the National Guard and local police will be the ones enforcing these laws, have the potential to:

“…place neighbor against neighbor in possibly violent confrontations.”

Earlier this week, LaRock received a letter from the wife of an active duty Virginia Guardsman, Michaela Claywell. Mrs. Claywell informed LaRock of “threats of severe violence” that had been posted on Facebook, which “appear to condone violence against Guard members and their families” if they attempt to take their guns.

These threats are obviously criminal and are being investigated according to Col. Gary Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, but they also lend evidence to LaRock’s fear of turning “neighbor against neighbor.”

This all came about in the wake of Representative Donald McEachin publicly encouraging Governor Northam to activate the National Guard to enforce the gun confiscations they seek, after many members of the law enforcement community spoke out saying that they wouldn’t.

The only problem is, the National Guardsmen don’t want to, either.

And the threat of doing just that is “undermining the safety and peace-of-mind of families across Virginia,” according to LaRock.

Mrs. Claywell and several other wives signed the letter to LaRock, which was also sent along to the governor, some members of Congress and state legislators. In it, Mrs. Claywell expressed concern over Rep McEachin’s statements, as well as the lashing out Guardsmen and their families have endured in the time following.

In her letter, Mrs. Claywell asked 2 things:

“1. Hold accountable the people that have used hate speech and made criminal threats against our soldiers and our families. 2. Use your media relations teams in a coordinated effort to de-escalate the current situation but also monitor this situation as the 2nd Amendment issue in Virginia progresses.”

She went on to say:

“Please use your collective influence to protect our soldiers and our families. Our children should never be the focus of death threats or hate speech because of politics. Our soldiers have given more than many Virginians could ever appreciate; this treatment is not what they deserve.”

In LaRock’s letter, he told Governor Northam:

“The safety of our citizens and the security of the Virginia National Guard members and Law Enforcement members and their families is of utmost importance.”

Our liberties are under attack. Don’t sit back thinking everything is alright… because let’s be honest.

It’s not.