At  a time when our world, our nation, and our Commonwealth is becoming increasingly more dangerous, our polticians are reducing and attempting to eliminate law-abiding citizens' ability to defend ourselves. Most, if not all of these politicians have armed officers protecting them and their families 24 hours a day/seven days a week. I do not need a bodyguard, I have the ability to protect myself and those around me in the event of a violent incident. I do not believe that anyone has the right to take that from me.

Banning firearms from all State facilities only opens the door to the violence of those who choose evil. If the governor chooses to maintain this firearms ban order, then he should re-assign his bodyguards to their routine State Police duties, dismiss the Capitol Police Department and post "No Firearms Allowed" signs on the fences at the Capitol. To do any less is hypocritcal...and wrong. My blood and the blood of my family and friends is every bit as precious as anyone's. No one deserves the carnage that I witnessed in 25 years as a police officer. No one. And we can only stop it by working together and looking out for each other. In an era where almost all of the mass shootings have occurred in gun free zones, isn't it foolish to create even more gun free zones? Remember, Mr. Governor, when evil attacks in one of your gun free zones and seconds count,  our only option is to rely on the Police, who hopefully are only moments away. Please withdraw this executive order to keep me, my family, all Virginians, and those that travel here safe.