Virginia Votes To Protect Residents From Microchips (And The Anti-Christ!)

Concerned that employers or insurance companies may one day forcibly implant microchips into people, yesterday the Virginia legislature made such a thing illegal without written consent. But the bill's sponsor had an additional agenda.

Del. Mark L. Cole (R-Fredericksburg), the bill's sponsor, said that privacy issues are the chief concern behind his attempt to criminalize the involuntary implantation of microchips. But he also said he shared concerns that the devices could someday be used as the "mark of the beast" described in the Book of Revelation. "My understanding -- I'm not a theologian -- but there's a prophecy in the Bible that says you'll have to receive a mark, or you can neither buy nor sell things in end times," Cole said. "Some people think these computer chips might be that mark."

Wisconsin and California already ban forced microchip implantation, but as I recall, in California the ban grew out of a campaign to forcibly implant paroled felons, not fear of the Anti-Christ.