Virginia Democrat Brandishes AK-47 to Highlight Need for Gun Law

'You can take this gun, walk in the middle of Main Street, and not be in violation of the law'

No, it wasn't a scene from a revolutionary coup somewhere in the horn of Africa, but it was meant to spark change.

Virginia Del. Joe Morrissey brandished an unloaded AK-47 in front of his fellow politicos on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates Thursday, in a stunt meant to encourage tougher gun laws, reports Politico. In tandem with the firearm display, the Democrat delivered an "impassioned" speech on the need for an assault weapons ban akin to the one that existed at the federal level from 1994 to 2004.

"A lot of people don't know that in many locations in the commonwealth, you can take this gun, you can walk in the middle of Main Street loaded and not be in violation of the law," said Morrissey, whose scenario recalls the actions of two Portland, Oregon men earlier this month. "Even though the law right now says you can't bring this gun into a high school or elementary or middle school, there is nothing from keeping you from walking in front of [an elementary school with a gun]."

As Politico notes, Morrissey's ban proposal failed to survive the scrutiny of a House subcommittee.

Via Politico.

Are stunts like this an effective way to encourage more gun laws?

[Raptor]

Well done, I bet it got real quiet in there. LOL

[justanallusion]

I saw it simulcast on the news...First there was an uptick in murmurs and gasps, then it got deathly silent and you could see people in the background exiting the room as quickly as they could manage without attracting attention to themselves.

[culinary]

It got quiet because the dumbass' s thumb is on the trigger.

[marine1]

@culinary tacky but true thanks for the laugh.

[Brownie]

Lmbo

[XLP]

@culinary If you watch the video he holds it by the well and even taps the trigger to reassure people it is empty. These people are idiots and have no idea what they are talking about; and have no business with a gun.

[TheJimmy]

That rifle looks more like a Mac 90 than a Kalashnikov.

[mimi57]

LOL

[marine1]

The rifle doesn't scare me but the idiot holding it should scare everyone.

[HPthinker]

Thats a pretty fancy gun there. Really what is needed is to keep guns away from crooks, so maybe come up with that plan instead of cheap stunts?

[Speedieg]

Yes that's definitely a Norinko Mac 90 perhaps because its Chinese makes it more frightening.

[marine1]

Ya know, if you are a bird hunter, you never fire into a covey but if there were ever a season on politicians that rule would have to change.

[Thunderchicken]

The magazine stunt in NY was one thing. I assume that carrying a weapon into the legislature is illegal and this clown deserves to suffer the consequences.

[justanallusion]

Well, that's the point that he was making, that is, that such weaponry ISN'T illegal under our current legislation and it ISN'T illegal or prohibited to bring or have such armament in the legislative offices.

So, you see, it's not so much that HE was the "clown" as much as it is that he was 'clowning' the current gun laws AND the legislative body that had enacted them.

Well played, Mr. Morrissey, well played!

[Dan_Tien]

"Morrissey notified police and made sure the gun was not loaded, the lawmaker told ABC News in a phone interview."

""As a delegate, I have the authority to bring guns into the chamber," Morrissey said. "Right now, there are members of the House of Delegates on the other side of the aisle that pack weapons."

He assumes the guns are loaded, he said, and he doesn't like seeing them in the assembly chamber.

"How about this," he asked, exasperated. "How about prohibiting firearms from coming into the General Assembly?""

[Rocker]

@Dan_Tien - LOL - Membership does have it's privileges doesn't it??

[Thunderchicken]

@justanallusion

If he didn't have a permit, it was illegal for him to carry in the capitol. I'll bet brandishing a weapon is illegal anywhere in the state. Still he's as much a moron as the two clowns in Portland. Maybe more so.

"The AK-47 that Morrissey brought on the floor was borrowed from someone else, his office told The Washington Examiner. He told Capitol Police about his plan in advance. Members of the General Assembly, law enforcement personnel or anyone with a concealed weapon is permitted to bring a gun into the Capitol."

Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/gun-control/2013/01...

[Libertyiskey]

@Thunderchicken So if I had a CCW I could bring it into the Capitol??

[gabe]

ALL GUNS ARE LOADED AND FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TILL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT DUMBASS

[Knightkore]

You can take this gun and....oh....you want me to pull my pants up?

Seriously....stunts like this are the reason why people don't trust our government....

[martydotcom]

Why aren't you fighting to have the 1934 Law banning Machine guns overturned. There was very little 2nd Ammend. howls of anguish of note in the history books when it was enacted. Don't you need a Thomp. Sub Machine gun to make you whole?

[ir0nw0lfe]

@martydotcom because they aren't banned just regulated as class III weapons. The assault ban is different. A handgun ban would at least address the weapon used in most gun crimes but we see that as ridiculous. This is picking on the most fearsome looking rifle which will have little to no real effect on gun crime...

[martydotcom]

@ir0nw0lfe about as effective as banning vodka would have on drunk drivers. My son in lae inherited his father's US treasury permitted Thompson. Regulated? Banned he had to jump thru legal hoops to get it into his name to legally sell it.( He's - a lawyer, my daughter an elected official in her town. afraid of any kick back

[ir0nw0lfe]

@martydotcom agree with you but class 3 weapons r regulated not banned. Never saw the appeal really. Most people can't hit jack on full auto after the first 2 rounds. It takes training. The Thompson is so heavy though you could dot the Is and cross the Ts while writing your name on a target.

[whataGOVwehave]

That guy is the man!!!!...even though he is dangerous as **it, with his thumb on the trigger....NO to AR ban!....YES to training idiots!

[Knightkore]

So did he say, "Say hello to my lil' friend?" too?

What happened if there were an acutal responsible gun owner with a concealed weapon and thought this guy was threatening everyone?

[Russell797]

The responsible gun owner would in one instant become an irresponsible, dangerous, trigger happy gun owner.

[Knightkore]

"....need for an assault weapons ban akin to the one that existed at the federal level from 1994 to 2004."

What does Clay Akin have to do....oh....they're comparing two useless things right?

[idiot]

they can have the assault rifles and high capacity mag's. But they will not get our semi automatic hunting rifles, we have to draw the line.

[mudpike]

How many of these clowns must we suffer ? Another phony actor living off the taxpayers & playing any part needed to get the votes. Term limits - get rid of all of them & start anew.

[GmanGSW]

Too many and, yup, another phony. First "they'd" like to take OUR 2nd amendment right, that defends the rest of OUR rights, yet they will not discuss term limitations for "professional politicians." Heck, they'd rather go on strike than to bring up term limitations - at least the majority! Wait, the majority of us legal gun owners DO NOT break the law, only the very minority. Hmm, contradiction here? Sorry, somewhat "off subject."

[citizen7]

It will scare people who vote for these things into voting more laws. All the while criminals who don't go by the laws will still be driving around in their cars and carrying these on the street. Limit the ability of the people to safe guard themselves from the attacks of the criminals. You can't take a revolver and be protected against a gun like that.

[Malitia_Man]

Him and his armed security & colleagues probably went to a local shooting range after his oppressive rant!!!

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Please tell me this is a made up article to bash Democrats. Please tell me that Joe Morrissey is not living proof that everything I've ever said about Democrats is absolutely true. I only ask this because posters on this board swear I misrepresent what Democrats stand for. It looks like Morrissey has you guys pegged. No spinning this one Denizen_Kate, not at all.

[HughAkston]

Let's be honest, the Democrats were always in league with the Communists. Democrats have always been collectivists and elitists that know what's good for everybody. What you are witnessing is the rational conclusion. Democrats have always been hellbent on two things national health care and gun confiscation.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@HughAkston - What's sad about obama's reelection is that now they feel bold enough to come out in the open with it and no longer feel the need to pretend that is not their agenda. America is so hosed.

[HughAkston]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Did you ever hear those commercials on the radio? My name is Bob, I'm a teacher and I'm a Communist. My name is Maria, I'm a housewife and I'm a Communist. The names aren't exactly right but you can look the commercial up on YouTube. I heard the commercials while driving in Michigan. You're right! They no longer pretend. It's time to find greener pastures guy. I'm outa here. Good luck to you.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@HughAkston - I hate to see a taxpayer go, but I can't blame you for leaving. This country is going down fast. I just hope we can make it until 2016 so that we can get a real president to help save this sinking ship. I have to look up those commercials you're talking about. I hadn't even heard about them.

[MongoAPillager]

@BingHamton like the woman from bodysnatchers asked"where you gonna go.where you gonna run,who you gonna tell,Sorry Hugh this is the last bastion of freedom,we can beat,em,why do you think they do everything in increments ?they are at heart cowards,stay and fight the good fight

[Libertyiskey]

You can walk down the street with it legally, but the cops are not going to leave you alone as we saw with the two 22 year olds with their ARs. Almost any one open carrying finds themselves talking to the police to make sure everything is in order.

[HughAkston]

This man is an demagogue! You can kill the same amount of people with a 12 gauge shotgun or a .22 caliber rifle for that matter. What's dangerous is people like him. Remember the government is the ONLY entity that can LEGALLY disarm people and LEGALLY use deadly force on people. The radicals have finally got their wish. They will now proceed to disarm innocent citizens that have not committed any crime. This is not the face of democracy, this is the face of the coming dictatorship. All of this is being done to protect us. This is being done in our name. Do you believe it? I don't.

[mimi57]

I don't !

[mimi57]

...and isn't it comforting to know that is the most popular gun that gangsters use...
When they take the guns from the people who want them to protect their families,
the gangsters will always have easy access to them on the black market. So, they
will have AK-47's and Uzi's, and the law abiding citizen will have a .22 and will be
lucky if they can get bullets for it. Sure makes me feel safer... That's what it's coming to.

[HungryJoe87111]

I'm a Libertarian that voted for President Obama, deeply believes in gay rights, a woman's right to choose and am NOT for any more gun laws. Idiots like this one make me deeply regret my vote for President Obama. tinyurl dot com/Jim-McCauley
We've had more deaths with jet airliners than we've had with so-called assault weapons. Check the stats at the web site. The all-time murder champion is still the .38 caliber revolver, and in 2nd place, the semi-automatic pistol. If these radical autocratic idiots succeed in eliminating all the weapons they consider "assault weapons" LOOK OUT. Their next target will be the weapons that ACTUALLY CAUSE MORE DEATHS than all others combined- the revolver and the semi-automatic pistol. Where does that leave the law-abiding American citizen then? Especially since the SUPREME COURT in Warren v. District of Columbia ruled the Police do not have a duty to protect the individual and AG Erik Holder's BATFE flooded the illegal firearms market with semi-automatic military look-alikes? It's like some kind of weird Michael Palin movie- a sequel to "Brazil".

[tomincali]

thumb on the trigger.ha shows no common sense.

[crusader]

That weapon looks good and even has the thumb hold in it. Now that his stunt is over he is going to sell at a flea market, or maybe give it to his personal security.