State Judge Hears Case Against The Virginia Shutdown Of Indoor Ranges

By John Crump

LYNCHBURG, VA –-(Ammoland.com)- Virginia Governor Ralph Northam tried to circumvent the state court system by attempting to move a case brought by SafeSide Tactical shooting range of Lynchburg, the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), and Gun Owners of America (GOA) against the Commonwealth’s shutdown of indoor shooting ranges due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) to the federal court level.

SafeSide Tactical has been hit hard by the Governor’s forced shutdown. The state-mandated closure forced the Lynchburg based shooting range to lay off more than half of its staff. Other indoor shooting ranges from across the state faced similar issues stay afloat during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The two organizations accused Northam of breaking a state law (Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law) that prevents the Governor from using an emergency to violate the Second Amendment or the state constitution. In the suit, the gun-rights group argued that the shutdown order for ranges violated Article I Section 13 of the Virginia Constitution. The Virginia Solicitor General argued that the lawsuit was a Second Amendment case in disguise. It reasoned since the language in the Second Amendment of the Federal Constitution …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand