The state assembly of Virginia recently passed legislation banning “assault weapons” (AR-15 and similar style rifles, along with magazines carrying more than 15 rounds).  It turns out, though, that enforcement of this controversial law is going to prove difficult.  According to Breitbart News, already twelve county sheriffs and seventeen prosecutors have publicly stated that the law will not be enforced within their respective jurisdictions.  

It turns out that this is one of the final checks on government infringement on basic rights - the refusal of law enforcement and courts to prosecute violation of unjust laws.  As noted in Liberty Herald some weeks ago, this is the very thing that William Penn encountered in his trial for the offense of holding an unauthorized religious gathering back in 1670.  The jury refused to convict Penn and his colleague, William Mead because they believed the law to be a violation of the right of conscience.  

So it appears that these sheriffs and prosecutors of Virginia believe that this gun law is a violation of the second amendment of the U. S. Constitution, which upholds the divine right to the preservation of life via self-defense.  We hope that the number of sheriffs and prosecutors refusing to enforce this law will continue to grow.