Quote of the Day

Is Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) a mole for the National Rifle Association (NRA)? After the recent scandal involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), some may wonder given a curious turn of events in Virginia. Gun sales have surged after Spanberger and the Democrats passed sweeping gun bans. Spanberger also issued a public statement that could help tank the legislation in court — resulting in the striking down of the law (or parts of the law) after spurring record gun sales.

After July 1st, it will be a misdemeanor to buy, sell, transfer, or make an “assault firearm.”

With a July 1 deadline looming, background checks and sales are surging in Virginia. Stores are reporting that they cannot keep weapons on the shelves as Virginians flood stores to beat the deadline.

State Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, a Spanberger ally who introduced the bill, further fueled the panic by declaring that the legislation will “gradually” take these guns because these firearms “do not belong on our streets.”

Jonathan Turley
June 7, 2026
The Spanberger Surge: Virginia Governor May Prove the Greatest Gun Influencer Since Charlton Heston

Don’t every let anyone get away with telling you that no one wants to take your guns.

Also, I have to wonder… It was a long time ago, but my impression is that Obama and Hillary Clinton both were bigger sales boosters than Heston.

Still, even if it is an exaggeration, the point is valid, anti-gun politicians are a huge boost to gun sales and hence a boost to political organization and pro-gun organization memberships and financials. And what I don’t think the politicians realize is that the more extreme the gun laws the easier target they are. It creates low hanging fruit to create precedents which can be leveraged to eliminate a wider range of gun restrictions.

They create the conditions for their own downfall and the policies they advocate.