Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a proposal that would crack down on the kind of paramilitary groups that marched on Charlottesville.
Should paramilitary groups like the ones who marched on Charlottesville be able to intimidate people on Virginia streets?
Attorney General Mark Herring says no, and he’s working with state Senator Louise Lucas of Portsmouth to crack down on these groups. “These were heavily armed and uniformed people who were white supremacists, and it was confusing to people who thought they were actually maybe National Guard or law enforcement," Herring said, "and that shouldn’t happen in Charlottesville or any other community in Virginia.”
The bill goes after groups that parade or march or drill “with the intent of intimidating.”
Philip Van Cleave at the Virginia Citizens Defense League says that’s a problem. “It’s merely if somebody is intimidated. How do you control that," Van Cleave asked. "Some people are intimidated by a mouse much less somebody who might be carrying a gun. So we look at that as being way to broad, way too vague.”
The bill made it out of one Senate committee with bipartisan support. But because it creates a possibility for more people spending time behind bars, it’s headed to the Senate Finance Committee since it has an estimated cost of $50,000.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
