VA Democrats target the NRA national headquarters indoor range

On the face of it, it would appear that VA House Bill 567 is trying to ban all indoor ranges that are not owned by or leased by the commonwealth, the federal government or anything connected to law enforcement.

However, upon closer inspection of the proposed law, there is an exemption “unless fewer than 50 employees work in the building”. Notice also that it says employees who work in the building, not who work at the range. There is a reason for that, they are targeting the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) range at their national headquarters building in Fairfax, VA

15 lane indoor range at the NRA headquarters in Fairfax, VA

The NRA describes their range like this on their website:

Come and enjoy one of the premier family friendly indoor shooting facilities in the country! The 50-yard, wheelchair accessible NRA Range is open to all NRA members and the general public. Featuring 15 shooting booths, The NRA Range has ample room for pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting. The automatic target retrieval system can place targets at any distance, in one-foot increments from 7 to 150 feet. The revolutionary backstop system enables guests to fire rifle calibers up to .460 Weatherby Magnum and pistol calibers up to .500 S&W. (Steel core ammunition and blackpowder firearms are prohibited. Shotguns may fire slugs only.) Shooters must provide their own firearms.

It is a very nice range, but it would hardly require 50 or more employees to run it. In fact, it could be run with a handful or less, as most are. Thus, is it is obvious who and what the target of this proposed law.

Interestingly, the NRA has not been a major player behind the pushback against proposed legislation in Virginia that amounts to an across the board gun confiscation. It has been county Sheriff’s that have stood up for the rights of their citizens and it has been the citizens themselves who have demanded that their county leadership support the second amendment sanctuaries.