Pro and Anti Gun Movements Protest in Richmond Today

Daniela Berson
WMAL.com

RICHMOND — (WMAL) Two sides of the gun debate will protest outside of the Richmond State Capitol today.

The pro-gun group, led by the Virginia Citizens Defense League is protesting in the morning.

Phillip Van Cleave with the Defense League said that his groups wants as many gun owners there as possible.

“We really need to protect our right to keep and bear arms,” Van Cleave said. “There’s always the threat of crime.”

Van Cleave’s group will wear orange and hand out stickers that read “Guns Save Lives.”

The anti-gun group is led by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

They are protesting in the afternoon.

Ladd Everitt, from the Coalition, told WMAL that he expects at least 750 gun control supporters at today’s rally.

“I think Virginia, if anything, is a purple state when it comes to guns,” Everitt said. “If you look at NOVA, particularly where the NRA headquarters is, the NRA gets dominated here now. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they ended up moving.”

Both groups decided to hold their protests on Martin Luther King Day because it’s a popular day for activism.