Editor, Gazette-Journal:
It has been widely reported that Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s Attorney General, sent a lengthy series of sick and demented text messages to a colleague.
In the texts, Jones describes a hypothetical situation in which he had a gun with two bullets and had to choose between two dictators and the Republican Todd Gilbert. Jones then wrote that he’d shoot Gilbert twice. Jones also fantasized about killing the children in front of their parents.
The colleague (who sent screenshots of the conversation to Gilbert that day) responded that such talk is outrageous. “Yes,” Jones replied. “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
Surprisingly, the Washington Post covered the story. But not to disappoint, the editorial concludes, “Jones has a month to convince voters that his hateful rhetoric does not reflect how he’d behave if elected…” In other words, better a hateful leftist than a Republican Attorney General.
With a resume full of questionable issues, many, including Virginia’s Fraternal Order of Police, are calling for Jay Jones to drop out of the race.
Where is Abigail Spanberger? She stated that the texts were unconscionable, but in the same breath also said that Jones should not step away from the race. Therefore, Jones is an example of Spanberger’s staff.
Virginia voters should think carefully before electing an Attorney General, someone who would likely be removed from a police force or jury for sounding like a sociopath. Mr. Jones should seek professional help.
Jay Jones is manifestly unsuited by temperament and behavior to hold a position charged with upholding the laws on behalf of all individuals of the state, not just the ones he likes.
A vote to re-elect Jason Miyares for Attorney General will preserve common sense in our Commonwealth.
Ronald Benson
Merry Point, Va.