The city had been declared in a temporary state of emergency and violent clashes were expected between protesters in favor and against the regulations for the possession of firearms. But the day ended in peace, against all odds.
On Monday, thousands of pro-weapons activists - including militia groups, nationalists and white extremists - marched to the state Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, to hold a protest against the efforts of lawmakers in that state to restrict the access and permits to acquire firearms.
Some protesters appeared carrying military-style assault rifles; most of them white men, dressed in camouflage and with flags with messages of support for the president, Donald Trump. Others shouted chants and displayed flags with images of rifles and the legend "Come and take it off."
During a similar demonstration in 2017, extremist groups in favor of the Second Amendment in the town of Charlottesville threw a car at the crowd, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring more than 19 people.
The protests dragged a large crowd, as the state Congress has been controlled for a year by the Democratic Party, and has promoted several bills to limit the purchase of firearms through more thorough background checks and other regulations . These proposals are the response to a mass shooting in May in Virginia Beach, in which a city employee killed 12 people in a municipal building.
Protesters who decided to participate outside the Capitol Square were allowed to carry their rifles. Photo: (Getty Images).
The governor, Ralph Northam, also a Democrat, had declared a state of temporary emergency , prohibiting any type of weapon during the event and extreme security and frisking measures for those wishing to enter the Capitol Square. Those protesters who participated from outside were allowed to carry weapons.
Protesters heard the speeches of renowned activists for the right to arms, conservative politicians and other voices that support the Second Amendment as members of the National Rifle Association and other organizations.
Some of them defended the movement that seeks to declare cities and counties of the state as "sanctuaries of the Second Amendment", which has the objective of not following the arms control measures approved by the General Assembly.
The rally takes place every year, organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
Just before the start of the protest, President Donald Trump urged protesters with a message of support: "The Democratic Party in the Great Community of Virginia is working hard to take away their Second Amendment rights. This is just the Start. Don't let it happen! "he tweeted.
Pro-weapons protesters in front of a security zone before a demonstration at the Virginia Capitol. Photo: (AP)
Although the annual manifestations of the League of Defense of the Citizens of Virginia only have a few hundred attendees, this time the presence has been more massive because the issue of weapons was key to the 2019 state legislative elections, after the Virginia Beach shooting.
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The rejection of the new arms restrictions proposed by the Democrats began immediately after they obtained majorities both in the state Senate and in the House of Delegates in local elections.
Virginia Democrats also support bills that limit firearms purchases once a month, implementing universal background checks on gun purchases, allowing localities to ban weapons in public buildings, parks and other areas, and a bill that would allow the authorities to temporarily withdraw weapons to any person deemed dangerous to themselves or others.
Edited with information from AP and NBC
See also:
Gun control returns strongly to public opinion