Sic Semper Tyrannis

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After careful review of the legislation and existing Supreme Court precedent, I find the assault weapon ban signed by the Governor on May 15, 2026 unconstitutional – and as a result, unenforceable. The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the Second Amendment protects firearms commonly owned by law abiding citizens.

As Commonwealth’s Attorney, I took an oath to uphold both the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia. That oath requires more than mechanical enforcement of statutes. I must exercise prosecutorial discretion, constitutional judgment, and fidelity to the rule of law. As such, my office will not support criminal charges resulting solely from technical violations of the unconstitutional assault weapon ban.

Phillip Blevins Jr.
Smyth County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Virginia
May 17, 2026
Smyth Co. Commonwealth’s Attorney says ‘assault weapons ban’ is ‘unconstitutional’ | WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather

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It may be noteworthy that in 2019 and 2020 many of the counties and cities in Virginia declared themselves 2nd Amendment sanctuaries. For example:

It is good to know a notable number of Virginia politicians are faithful to their state motto:

Sic semper tyrannis.

Which translates from Latin to “Thus always to tyrants.”

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10 thoughts on “Sic Semper Tyrannis”

  1. Now let’s start getting DA’s and AG’s (probably not in Virginia, although it would be nice, but wherever we can get them) who will refuse to enforce laws against murder and battery of gun control swine.

    And governors who will give out immediate pardons to those heroes.

    • At this rate, I half-expect the Virginia assembly/legislature to file a bill outlawing “prosecutorial discretion” and attempting to force county prosecutors to enforce EVERY law.

      Either that or tax the county for every law the D.A.s don’t aggressively prosecute. (Hell, they’re taxing everything else already, so why not this?)

      Not that’s there’s no fun loopholes the D.A.s couldn’t play with. Let’s just say, if I were the prosecutor in a county with Democrat Assemblymen, I’d ask my LEO counterparts to always be on the lookout for those cars and to pull them over and write tickets for EVERY single infraction, no matter how minor. I mean, since the Assembly expects us to enforce EVERY law with no exceptions or lenience, they should be expecting no exceptions or lenience.

      Harassment? Nah, we’re just watching out for our Assemblymen to ensure their safety, while following their laws/policies to the letter. You’re welcome.

  2. Words. What is needed is action. There is precedent in VA or would it be WV. A few years ago WV issued an invitation to counties in VA to join them. The county commissioners in the non-metro counties could constitute themselves as the VA legislature (which is what was done in CW1) and pass the resolution. WV would approve and then it is on to DC.

  3. I still think it’d be better to bring a suit against Virginia regarding the borders of the District of Columbia as described in our Constitution in Article 1 Section 8 Take a sizable chunk of Fairfax county including ALL of Alexandria and incorporate it into Washington DC. Just making the borders reflect reality….

    • In principle, I agree, and in fact, that’s how it was originally. Roughly half of D.C. was on the Maryland side and half on the Virginia side (what is now Arlington County). But as all the national buildings and seats of government developed on the Maryland side of the Potomac, the economy of the Virginia side suffered, and the residents petitioned for Virginia to take that half back. Congress approved the “retrocession” before the Civil War.

      However, since it was Congress that approved giving that land back to Virginia, I doubt suing the Commonwealth of Virginia would pull it back into the District. Also, it would only be Arlington County — and maybe a tiny chunk of Alexandria — as the size of the District is limited in the Constitution (“not exceeding ten Miles square,” per Art. I, Sec. 8). Little-to-none of Fairfax County would be included.

  4. It’s always good to see and hear examples of people with constitutional backbone and understanding.
    Good on him!
    Hopefully the freedom loving citizens of Virginia will rally around him in a show of force against the communists.
    But like the Zen master said, “We’ll see”.

  5. Does anyone else see the irony of the tyrants in the Commonwealth of Virginia attempting to ban “assault weapons,” when the Seal of the Commonwealth depicts a figure standing over a presumably-dead king (evinced by the crown on the ground), holding a sword and spear — the “assault weapons” of yore?

    Some versions don’t have the crown, but all have the sword-and-spear-wielding figure standing over a dead tyrant, with the “Sic semper tyrannis” (“Thus always to tyrants”) text.

    The lesson of history is right there on every official document. Is the Virginia legislature/assembly really that blind to it?

    • I suspect the symbols are just meaningless emoji to them. Sort of like both the state and US constitutions.

    • That’s what John Wilkes Booth shouted when he fled after shooting Lincoln.

    • I think they are well aware of it. To them it’s a big joke. Being able to do the exact opposite of that symbol to you.
      The symbol makes it that much more fun for them.
      Anyone not thinking the governor didn’t orgasm at lying through her teeth to get elected.
      Then turning on the electorate in a matter of hours?
      Tricking you into voting for a moderate. When she was a total communist.
      They aren’t ignorant, They’re tyrants. They enjoy the evil and chaos they create.
      One day we’re going to have to follow suit.

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