By: Teresa Mull

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D), after supporting some of the worst gun control in America and accusing law-abiding gun owners of planning to break the law, is taking credit for keeping the peace among an estimated 22,000 gun owners who descended – many of them openly carrying firearms – on the capitol yesterday to protest the impending infringement of their Second Amendment rights.

GPM reported yesterday that, not surprisingly, the hysteria spread by the mainstream media about inevitable violence all turned out to be false alarms.

Here’s what Northam had the gall to say after the fact:

We are all thankful that today passed without incident. The teams successfully de-escalated what could have been a volatile situation. This resulted from weeks of planning and extensive cooperation among state, local, and federal partners in Virginia and beyond.

Virginia’s law enforcement and first responders demonstrated tremendous professionalism. I’m proud of their work. I have spoken with Colonel Settle of the State Police, Colonel Pike of the Capitol Police, and Chief Smith of the Richmond Police Department, as well as leaders of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office, and thanked them for keeping Virginia safe.

Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard. Today showed that when people disagree, they can do so peacefully. The issues before us evoke strong emotions, and progress is often difficult. I will continue to listen to the voices of Virginians, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep our Commonwealth safe.

Of course, Lobby Day attendees are fed-up with the governor’s nonsense. One black attendee told Breitbart:

“The real reason I’m out here is I do not support in any way, shape or form Gov. Northam and the Democrats’ gun control.

“What I also don’t support is the fact that every news piece you’ve seen on this this weekend, they’ve always brought up the issue of race a though it’s nothing but white rednecks and hillbillies out here who care for the Second Amendment, when actually it’s black Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Americans in general who care about the Second Amendment.

“I can’t tell you the number of customers I see of all races, all colors, all creeds who care about the Second Amendment and who just want to peaceably live their lives, enjoy their rights and the Second Amendment. That’s why I’m out here.”

Teresa Mull is editor of Gunpowder Magazine.