Underwhelming Lobby Day at Virginia Capitol

Recently I have felt like the movie Groundhog Day. Virginia politics have seemed like a repeat episode.

Legislators are carrying the same bills as last year and they will result in a similar defeat. Like Senator Amanda Chase with a bill for Ivermectin for the treatment of Covid.

On Monday morning during lobby day for the Virginia Citizen Defense League, guns rights activist came out. The VCDL held their rally at the Capitol Bell Tower while more extreme gun rights activist stood around at 10th and Bank street. These gun enthusiasts with different affiliations like Boogaloo and militias have always returned to Bank Street every year like a monarch butterfly migrating.

The rally I anticipated featuring anti-vaccine Dr Robert Malone was a bust. Malone was a no show and the rally had medical professionals bore the audience. State Senate candidate and grill cheese salesman Matt Strickland exclaimed that he was going to defeat the mandates but no mention on what current mandates remain.

However there was a larger turnout for organizations like the Virginia Education Association and the New Virginia Majority. These groups advocating for education funding and immigration rights don't capture attention same way as guns and vaccines.