Rod Watson: Gun law grounded in bigotry reveals its roots By Rod Watson News Urban Affairs Editor Aug 24, 2022 Aug 24, 2022 Updated Sep 28, 2023 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save It’s telling when your best argument for a new law is to cite discredited laws of the past as part of your rationale.kAmqFE E92E’D ;FDE H92E }6H *@C< $E2E6 92D C6D@CE65 E@ :? ECJ:?8 E@ 4@?G:?46 2 ;F586 E92E :ED A=6E9@C2 @7 ?6H C6DEC:4E:@?D >2<:?8 2 A6C>:E E@ 42CCJ 2 92?58F? G:CEF2==J FD6=6DD D9@F=5 A2DD >FDE6C]k^AmkAmpD E96 4=@4< E:4<D 5@H? E@ E96 $6AE] ` :>A=6>6?E2E:@? 52E6[ E96 >:D?2>65 r@?462=65 r2CCJ x>AC@G6>6?E p4E H:== 5@ ?@E9:?8 >@C6 E92? 4C62E6 2 ?6H 4=2DD @7 =2H\23:5:?8 4C:>:?2=D] p?5 :7 E92E A9C2D6 D@F?5D @IJ>@C@?:4[ J@F 5@?’E <?@H }6H *@C< $E2E6 – H96C6 E96 D64@?5 92=7 @7 E92E H@C5 :D @7E6? E96 >@DE @A6C2E:G6]k^Am kAmx?DE625 @7 E2C86E:?8 4C:>:?2=D[ E96 ?6H DE2EFE6 E2C86ED =2H\23:5:?8 A:DE@= A6C>:E 9@=56CD[ >2?J @7 H9@> H:== 364@>6 76=@?D D:>A=J 3J :8?@C:?8 2 =2H E92E H:== 244@>A=:D9 ?@E9:?8 6I46AE E@ AFE E96:C =:G6D 2E C:D< 2?5 AFE E96> :? 92?54F77D]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County administrator to step down Social Security COLA 2027: How much could your benefits increase? Trump to begin sending $500 ACA refund checks. Here's where they're going Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems Boones Mill obtains grant for new park project 1 killed, 4 injured in crash involving Abingdon school bus after football game Rocky Mount asks residents to voluntarily conserve water Judge Michael Urbanski to retire after long tenure on the federal bench Florida's flop, Alabama lead college football Week 5 winners and losers Sale of Hotel Roanoke Conference Center finalized as Virginia Tech prepares to sell whole building Diamond Avenue community pushes for solutions to decades-long problems David Hoffmann: A better chorus for the communities we serve Federal grant to fund Route 122 improvement study at Smith Mountain Lake Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast Tri-Area Community Health announces new behavioral health director kAm%96 724E E92E :? 5676?5:?8 E96 =2H 7C@> 2 =682= 492==6?86[ E96 DE2E6’D 7:=:?8 4@?E2:?D 2 7@@E?@E6 AC24E:42==J 5:D2G@H:?8 :ED @H? 2C8F>6?ED E6==D J@F 2== J@F ?665 E@ <?@H] qFE E92E’D H92E 92AA6?D H96? J@F ECJ E@ 5676?5 E96 :?5676?D:3=6 C6DEC:4E:@?D AFD965 E9C@F89 3J v@G] z2E9J w@49F= 2?5 2 4@>A=:2?E s6>@4C2E:4 {68:D=2EFC6]k^Am kAm%96 7@@E?@E6 EC:6D E@ 5:DE2?46 E96 DE2E6 7C@> :ED @H? 2C8F>6?E :?G@<:?8 E96 C24:DE =2HD :>A=6>6?E65 3J E96 4@=@?:DED E@ <66A 8F?D 2H2J 7C@> }2E:G6 p>6C:42?D] $E2E6 =2HJ6CD[ 2D 7:CDE ?@E65 @? E96 H63D:E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96C6=@25]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE96C6=@25]4@>k^2m[ 2=D@ 4:E6 E96 t?8=:D9 q:== @7 #:89ED[ H9:49 “6DE23=:D965 2 C:89E @7 E96 A6@A=6 E@ 2C> E96>D6=G6D[” H9:=6 24<?@H=658:?8 E92E E9:D C:89E “H2D @?=J 8:G6? E@ !C@E6DE2?ED[ 32D65 @? 2 4@?E:?F65 36=:67 E92E r2E9@=:4D H6C6 =:<6=J E@ 6?8286 :? 4@?5F4E E92E H@F=5 92C> E96>D6=G6D @C @E96CD 2?5 FAD6E E96 A6246]”k^Am kAm%96D6 3:8@E65 AC64656?ED H6C6 4:E65 E@ >2<6 E96 4=2:> E92E E96 ?6H =2H’D 2>3:8F@FD “8@@5 >@C2= 492C24E6C” C6BF:C6>6?E[ 2D 56E6C>:?65 3J 3FC62F4C2ED[ “:D 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 =@?8 9:DE@CJ :? 3@E9 t?8=2?5 2?5 p>6C:42 @7 5:D2C>:?8 E9@D6 H9@D6 2DD@4:2E:@?D[ C6AFE2E:@?[ @C 4@?5F4E DF886DE65 E96J A@D65 2 52?86C E@ @E96CD @C E@ E96 AF3=:4 @C56C]”k^Am kAmx? E96 ?6IE 3C62E9 – 2=36:E 2 D9@CE6C @?6[ D:?46 :E’D 3FC:65 :? E96 7@@E?@E6D – E96 DE2E6 D966A:D9=J 25>:ED E92E :ED @H? 6I2>A=6D “2C6 32D65 @? C24:2= @C C6=:8:@FD 2?:>FD E92E :D C6AF8?2?E E@ 2 >@56C? F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?]”k^AmkAmqFE E92E’D ?@ >@C6 C6AF8?2?E E@ E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? E92? E96 DE2E6’D 3=2E2?E 2EE6>AE E@ E9F>3 :ED ?@D6 2E E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 564:D:@? EH@ >@?E9D 28@ DEC:<:?8 5@H? }6H *@C<’D C6BF:C6>6?E E92E 2 =2H\23:5:?8 4:E:K6? 56>@?DEC2E6 “AC@A6C 42FD6” E@ 42CCJ 2 92?58F? @FED:56 E96 9@>6]k^Am kAmx? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 9:89 4@FCE[ w@49F= 2?5 96C =68:D=2E:G6 >:?:@?D 42>6 FA H:E9 E96 rrxp[ H9:49 DF3DE:EFE6D E96 >@C2= 492C24E6C 4=2FD6 H9:=6 2=D@ >2?52E:?8 2 4964< @7 2AA=:42?ED’ D@4:2= >65:2 244@F?ED E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J =:G6 FA E@ E96 DE2E6’D 567:?:E:@? – H92E6G6C E92E >:89E 36 – 367@C6 6I6C4:D:?8 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E]k^AmkAmx? E96:C 7656C2= 4@FCE DF:E D66<:?8 E@ 3=@4< E96 ?6H =2H[ E96 A=2:?E:77D – :?4=F5:?8 vF? ~H?6CD @7 p>6C:42 2?5 @?6 @7 :ED >6>36CD[ $496?64E25J r@F?EJ C6D:56?E xG2? p?E@?JF< – ?@E6 E96 52?86CD @7 8:G:?8 3FC62F4C2ED DF49 DH66A:?8 5:D4C6E:@? E@ ;F586 =2H\23:5:?8 2AA=:42?ED’ 7:E?6DD E@ AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D] u@C 6I2>A=6[ E96J A@:?E @FE[ E96 G28F6 DE2?52C5 “368D E96 BF6DE:@? H96E96C D@>6@?6 H9@ 2EE6?5D 2 Wq=24< {:G6D |2EE6CX ‘A2C256’ @C ‘C2==J’ E92E EFC?D G:@=6?E 4@F=5 36 56?:65 2 A6C>:E]” ~? E96 @E96C 6?5 @7 E96 A@=:E:42= DA64ECF>[ “w@H 23@FE E9@D6 H9@ 36=:6G6 E92E E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@? H2D ‘DE@=6?[’ @C H9@ AF3=:4=J 25G@42E6 282:?DE r@G:5\`h G244:?2E:@?n” k^Am kAmxE 5@6D?’E E2<6 >F49 :>28:?2E:@? E@ D66 H96C6 E9:D 4@F=5 =625] p?5 H6 92G6?’E 6G6? 8@EE6? E@ E96 =2H’D AC@9:3:E:@?D @? 42CCJ:?8 2 4@?462=65 7:C62C> :? 2 “D6?D:E:G6 =@42E:@?]”k^AmkAmp?5 H92E[ J@F >2J 2D<[ :D 2 D6?D:E:G6 =@42E:@?n %9:D 4@=F>? H@F=5 92G6 E@ 36 2 D6C:6D :? @C56C E@ =:DE E96> 2==[ 3FE 7@C DE2CE6CD E96J :?4=F56 “2?J A=246 @H?65 @C F?56C E96 4@?EC@= @7 7656C2=[ DE2E6 @C =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E … 2?J A=246 @7 H@CD9:A @C C6=:8:@FD @3D6CG2E:@? … =:3C2C:6D[ AF3=:4 A=2J8C@F?5D[ AF3=:4 A2C<D[ 2?5 K@@D … 2?J A=246[ 4@?G6J2?46[ @C G69:4=6 FD65 7@C AF3=:4 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? @C AF3=:4 EC2?D:E[ DF3H2J 42CD[ EC2:? 42CD[ 3FD6D[ 76CC:6D[ C2:=C@25[ @>?:3FD[ >2C:?6 @C 2G:2E:@? EC2?DA@CE2E:@? …]”k^Am kAm*@F 86E E96 :562] tG6CJ AF3=:4 A=246 :? }6H *@C< $E2E6 H@F=5 36 2 “D6?D:E:G6 =@42E:@?[” 56DA:E6 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D 4=62C H2C?:?8 E92E 2?J ?6H =2H 4@F=5 ?@E :>A@D6 DF49 3=2?<6E 32?D]k^Am kAmp?5 :7 32??:?8 =2H\23:5:?8 4:E:K6?D 7C@> AC@E64E:?8 E96>D6=G6D :? AF3=:4 :D?’E 6?@F89[ E96 =2H 2=D@ H@F=5 32? A6C>:E 9@=56CD 7C@> 42CCJ:?8 E96:C 8F?D @? AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ H:E9@FE 6IAC6DD A6C>:DD:@? 7C@> AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD]k^AmkAmpD E96 =2HDF:E ?@E6D[ E9:D H:== >2<6 AC24E:42==J 2== 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 @E96C AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ @77 =:>:ED “3J 5672F=E]”k^Am kAm%96 3@EE@> =:?6i {2H\23:5:?8 }6H *@C<6CD[ H9@ 92G6 A2DD65 A@=:46 324<8C@F?5 4964<D 2?5 F?56C8@?6 6IE6?D:G6 EC2:?:?8 :? @C56C E@ @3E2:? 2 4@?462=65\42CCJ A6C>:E E@ AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D 2?5 E96:C =@G65 @?6D[ H:== 36 32CC65 7C@> 5@:?8 D@ :? ;FDE 23@FE 2?J AF3=:4 @C AC:G2E6 A=246]k^Am kAm%96 @?=J A6@A=6 H9@ H@?’E 36 32CC65n rC:>:?2=D H9@[ 3J 567:?:E:@?[ H@?’E @36J E96 =2H]k^AmkAmpD 2?J D6=7\5676?D6 6IA6CE H:== E6== J@F[ J@F 2C6 J@FC @H? 7:CDE C6DA@?56C 3642FD6 E96 >@DE A@=:46 EJA:42==J 5@ :D 42E49 J@FC 2DD2:=2?E 27E6C E96 724E]k^Am kAm}@H w@49F= 2?5 E96 {68:D=2EFC6’D s6>@4C2E:4 >2;@C:EJ H2?E E@ AC6G6?E J@F 7C@> AC@E64E:?8 J@FCD6=7]k^AmkAmx? 255:E:@? E@ :ED @G6CC6249 2?5 FD6 @7 3:8@ECJ 2D 2 ;FDE:7:42E:@?[ E96 DE2E6 92D E9C@H? 2== D@CED @7 @E96C DEF77 282:?DE E96 H2== – E96 $E2E6 !@=:46 DFA6C:?E6?56?E :D E96 HC@?8 5676?52?E[ E96 A=2:?E:77D 92G6 DF776C65 ?@ 92C> J6E[ E96 =2H :D 4@?E6?E\?6FEC2= H96? :E 4@>6D E@ D@4:2= >65:2[ 6E4] – :? E96 9@A6 E92E D@>6E9:?8 H:== DE:4<]k^Am kAmp7E6C 962C:?8 >@C6 2C8F>6?ED @? %F6D52J[ &]$] s:DEC:4E yF586 v=6?? $F5523J :D 6IA64E65 E@ CF=6 367@C6 E96 =2H :D D4965F=65 E@ E2<6 67764E ?6IE H66<]k^Am kAmxE D9@F=5 36 2? 62DJ 42== – 2?5 G@E6CD D9@F=5 C6>6>36C H9J 2 ;F586 925 E@ >2<6 :Ei q642FD6 E96:C 8@G6C?@C 2?5 =68:D=2E@CD EFC?65 E96:C 324<D @? =2H\23:5:?8 4:E:K6?D H9@ H2?E ?@E9:?8 >@C6 E92? E96 492?46 E@ AC@E64E E96>D6=G6D 7C@> 4C:>:?2=D E96:C A@=:E:4:2?D 42?’E DE@A]k^Am 0 comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Rod Watson: After fight over BLM banner, church workshops aim to ‘inoculate’ against racism The Unitarian Universalist Church of East Aurora is conducting immersive workshops for children and adults to explore race and ethnic identity… Rod Watson: Rocker with racist rhetoric? After May 14, Ted Nugent is the last thing WNY needs "Now is not the time to bring in a septuagenarian rock star with a megaphone who doesn’t even believe systemic racism exists," Watson writes. Rod Watson: One neighborhood with 5 drug treatment centers. Do they really need another? Neighbors have a good reason to say their opposition to a Seneca Nation affiliate's plan for a drug treatment facility in the Cleve-Hill Plaza… Watch Now: Related Video The 10 safest cities in the United States A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! September 18, 2026: Maymont’s Bier-Garden returns; Virginia Wine Month; Top Five A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026 August 26, 2026: Fall Festival Guide 2026
Rod Watson: After fight over BLM banner, church workshops aim to ‘inoculate’ against racism The Unitarian Universalist Church of East Aurora is conducting immersive workshops for children and adults to explore race and ethnic identity…
Rod Watson: Rocker with racist rhetoric? After May 14, Ted Nugent is the last thing WNY needs "Now is not the time to bring in a septuagenarian rock star with a megaphone who doesn’t even believe systemic racism exists," Watson writes.
Rod Watson: One neighborhood with 5 drug treatment centers. Do they really need another? Neighbors have a good reason to say their opposition to a Seneca Nation affiliate's plan for a drug treatment facility in the Cleve-Hill Plaza…
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond
A1 Minute! August 31, 2026: High school football; Tecovas steps into Short Pump; Amazon's drone delivery coming to Richmond