VA Lawmaker Reveals AK-47 on House Floor to Highlight Need to Curb Gun Access

Virginia state delegate Joe Morrissey (D-Highland Springs) pulled out an AK-47 on the floor of the state's House of Delegates on Thursday, in an attempt to rally support for a bill that would ban assault weapons in the state.

From the Washington Examiner:

"A lot of people don't know that in many locations in the commonwealth, you can take this gun, you can walk in the middle of Main Street loaded and not be in violation of the law," Morrissey said. "Even though the law right now says you can't bring this gun into a high school or elementary or middle school, there is nothing from keeping you from walking in front of [an elementary school with a gun]."

Morrissey assured colleagues the gun was not loaded, and told Capitol Police about his plan in advance to try and gather support behind his bill, which mirror's President Obama's proposal to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Despite the fact two-thirds of Virginians support a ban on military-style assault rifles, and over 90 percent are in favor of universal background checks, Morrisey's bill was killed by a House subcommittee. One Republican told Morrissey both the Holocaust and killings in gulags in the former Soviet Union happened because citizens of those countries weren't armed.

Morrissey is correct about the ability of most Americans to walk around legally brandishing an assault rifle. On Wednesday, photos of a Utah man shopping a JC Penny with an AR-15 slung across his back went viral online.