David Agee of Henrico County, Virginia, in front of the state Capitol Monday.

Tyrone Turner / WAMU

In the shadow of looming concern from state officials, the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL)’s annual lobbying day event and rally Monday went as organizers planned with 22,000 in attendance, only one arrest, and no notable issues (with the possible exception of the frigid temperature.)

Traditionally, the event has provided the group an opportunity to lobby their representatives about gun issues that matter to the people of Virginia.

The event attracted national attention this year, in part due to the number of Second Amendment supporters that were expected to travel to Richmond from across the region. Supporters were energized by a legislative agenda filled with firearm regulations they’re hoping to address with state officials.

But last week, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s declared a state of emergency to run from Friday through Tuesday, citing credible threats of civil unrest and violence.

Less than a day after Northam announced the state of emergency, the FBI arrested three men with ties to the extremist group “The Base” who had discussed attending Monday’s rally. Three more men were later arrested in Georgia with ties to “The Base” though it’s still unclear if they had any intention of traveling to the event in Virginia.

Jeff Hulbert drove two and a half hours from Maryland to attend Monday's rally in Richmond, Virginia. Why? Hulbert says if these laws are allowed to pass in Virginia, any state could be next.Alana Wise / WAMU
Ed Gomez of Fairfax, Virginia, held up a sign with an image of two men, one depicted wearing black face and another in a Ku Klux Klan hood. The image was pulled from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's 1984 yearbook page at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Northam has denied he is either person in the photo.Alana Wise / WAMU
L-R: Michelle, Kandice and Melissa attended Monday's lobby day to speak out against a different piece of legislation — VA HB1381 — which focuses on education, not guns.Alana Wise / WAMU
From left to right: Tim Griffin, Zach Stephens, Travis Satterwhite. "I'm really happy that we haven't seen any troublemakers," Tim Griffin (left) said. "No confederate flags, no white nationalists. None of the fear-mongering we've seen going around."Alana Wise / WAMU

Outside the Capitol grounds, rally attendees carry signs and flags while others pair tactical gear and helmets, long guns in hand.

A variety of flags waves above the crowd, including (but not limited to) the American flag.Tyrone Turner / WAMU
Demonstrators stand outside a security zone in Richmond, Va., on Monday. Thousands of activists and gun enthusiasts converged on the city to urge the state not to pass new gun laws.Tyrone Turner / WAMU
While helmets (and guns) are forbidden inside the Capitol grounds, many outside the boundaries of the gates have both.Tyrone Turner / WAMU
Wearing tactical gear and bundled for the cold, rally-goers gather outside the Capitol grounds.Tyrone Turner / WAMU

And while many rally-goers chose to stay outside, reports from Capitol police said over 5,000 gathered within the official boundaries on the Capitol grounds:

This story originally appeared at WAMU.

Previously: 

Death Threats Will Force Virginia Lawmaker To A Safe House During Pro-Gun Rally

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