On July 9, the Virginia General Assembly will enter into a special session ordered by Gov. Ralph Northam to address gun violence.

Northam is specifically asking the Republican-led legislature to enact universal background checks, a ban on "assault weapons," reinstating Virginia's one gun per month law and more.

But Republicans are planning a much different approach. Del. Nick Freitas is a member of the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, which will review every piece of legislation in this special session.

Listen to the podcast to hear Freitas explain why he believes public safety and civil liberties ought to be the top priorities for lawmakers, why he thinks Northam's proposals are more about politics than saving lives, why he expects the narrow GOP majorities to hold together on the Second Amendment, and what he makes of poll numbers showing strong support for some of the Northam agenda.