Virginia to Outlaw Kickboxing, Tai Chi, Firearms Instruction and Self-defense Training
The State of Virginia is proposing a new 2020 law known as SB64 (see link here) which will be taken up by the Senate beginning January 8, 2020.
The law would instantly transform all martial arts instructors into criminal felons. This includes instructors who teach kickboxing, BJJ, Krav Maga, boxing and even Capoeira.
It would also criminalize all firearms training classes, including concealed carry classes.
It would even criminalize a father teaching his own son how to use a hunting rifle.
Specifically, the law says that a person “is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity” (a class 5 felony) if that person:
“Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons…”
The phrase “technique capable of causing injury or death to persons” covers all forms of martial arts and self-defense training, including Krav Maga, BJJ, boxing and other contact martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do or Tai Chi.
Under the proposed law, all forms of self-defense training — including hand-to-hand martial arts training — would be considered “paramilitary activity,” even if the training consists of private classes involving just one instructor and one student.
That’s because every form of martial arts training imparts skills which could be used to cause injury to other persons.
In fact, according to the language of the law, just “one” person learning such arts is a felony crime, which means that watching a DVD on Krav Maga would be a felony crime.
Here is the full text of the proposed law:
SENATE BILL NO. 64
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled November 21, 2019
A BILL to amend and reenact §18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to paramilitary activities; penalty.
Bill Title: Paramilitary activities; penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2019-11-21 – Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
———-
Patron– Lucas
———-
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
———-
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
- That §18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-433.2. Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty.
A person shall be is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he:
- Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or
- Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or
- Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.
- That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 854 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Source: NaturalNews.com (excerpt) / Reference: Legiscan.com
Article from HUMANS ARE FREE
I know the world is crazy…but this is INSANE. I highly doubt this will get passed…but the idea that an elected official is proposing this — nuts.
The intent is clear – to target militias and other groups (which is another 2nd amendment right). So I seriously doubt this is going anywhere.
Seriously? This law has been in effect since 1987. See how many martial arts or firearms instructors have been charged? None, because there haven’t been any civil unrest…yet.
You mean yet. All it takes is one prosecutor with an agenda.
so how would this affect Fort Lee???? are they going to take action for their training???? this beyond a mess…..
The law is clear, if the training your children go to is specific to learn a martial art to help them commit crimes, then yes that instructor wold be in trouble. But if, say its for slef defense training, you are not breaking the law
Sheeple….
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/virginia-martial-arts-firearms-law/
Back on planet earth….
Just bloody ridiculous.
A bird drops crap and a seed springs up in another place.
So the interesting thing here is that the part of the bill you quote as an area of concern (and I share it) is already law in Virginia, and has been since at least 1987. You can read that law here: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-433.2/
What the proposed legislation you have cited is an amendment to the current law that adds this sentence:
“3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.”
This amendment seems more designed to deal with open-carry situations (also a concern).
But the portion of the law you are concerned about is technically already the law.
Really…so technically…right now, what we’re doing is illegal in Virginia.
No…it’s not illegal because you’re not training your students to use it with “intent to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder”
Correct – but again, as an instructor this increases your exposure.
You left out one small detail:
“intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder;”
Part 2:
So…why are martial arts dojos still open if this is the law in Virginia? Because of the second half of the sentence that you did not mention in your article. The full sentence reads:
“Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder;”
So in addition to teaching martial arts, you would also have to KNOW or INTEND that the training you provide will be used for the purposes of civil disorder. I don’t think any of our schools do that…and therefore are not guilty of this law.
You left out one small detail:
“intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder;”
He didn’t leave it out. And, this stupid fucqing law needs to be slapped down in the SC.
Here’s the problem…how do you prove or disprove that?
Example – you train a guy and he sends you a text telling you that he hates (NAME GROUP) then he goes and attacks (NAME GROUP) at some sort of (NAME GROUP) rally with a few of his friends.
Now what?
As I said, I share your concerns, they are valid. I just want to make sure people understand the existing legal context. Like so many things, it’s complicated. Full respect to you for the work that you do.
And you are correct, it would be very difficult to prove…and fortunately for us, in this country, the burden of proof is on the prosecutor, not the defendant.
“burden of proof…” Unless you are Donald Trump and you are told you must prove your innocence during the impeachment sham.
Burden of proof – is not FREE. As an instructor, this law increases your exposure. And proving your innocence — well, good lawyers cost big money.
Good morning all,
Take it from an ex-LEO, ex-Justice of the Peace, and Prosecutor’s Investigator. The burden of proof will be on you. What is going on in Washington is not that different in the center of America. There is an old saying, “A Prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich.” Every student you have taught will be interviewed about any comments you made about the government. Every student’s background and social media will be thoroughly vetted, scrutinized and laid before the jury. Every friend will also be vetted, scrutinized, and laid before the jury. You may be jailed, and if you are, it will be to protect the good citizens of Virginia from a madman, or woman. BTW. Mike Blumberg is the one packing the Virginia Legislature and pushing this amendment. Please forgive my first post. L-5
If only folks would awaken to the fact they cannot be compelled to associate with persons..James 2:9 King James…
No – I LOVE the response and the conversation. Great stuff.
Here is some more interesting news. New York and New Jersey have recently outlawed two of the better “self-defense insurance” policies our there. That means if an owner of that insurance gets arrested for defending themselves, the “murder insurance” (quoting Andrew Cuomo) cannot be used to defend the defendant EVEN IF HE WAS VISITING ONE OF THE STATES BUT LIVED IN TEXAS. The left coast is expected to follow suit as well as VA and other blue states. NRA keeps getting voted in as a terrorist organization. L-5
Pure communist like liberal bull. This mess is going to spur some terrible revolutionary war that will make the LA riots look like a church picnic
I’m really frightened at all these hair brained attacks on our constitution that without were nothing as a nation
Tamara Keel shares what I believe is a common sense perspective
on this topic…..See here:
https://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2019/11/believing-what-you-read-on-internet.html?fbclid=IwAR1YUl2GXeV_FHXHTO_yxs-nNprTp9ZPRnfc9wgOCynnBXgmbWc0obyWwUk
Well you vote for Democrats that’s what you get. Now deal with like everyone else that didn’t vote for them. Fyi, wait until public school laws star becoming like California.
Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.
Good grief. Did any of you actually *read* the amendment?? It’s pointed specifically at people whose sole intent is to foment domestic terrorism. “intending to employ such training” and “intent of intimidating”.
Try reading.
Define “intending to employ such training”
As an instructor – you could be found responsible for training these people. The problem is – they are legislating INTENT and not ACTIONS.
So you don’t even need to break the law…you just have to “intend” to break the law. You don’t see a problem here?
Training someone specifically to create civil disobedience is a lot different than me getting martial arts training from you and me then using that training to beat and rob someone.
But if you had a bunch of people in your school with the intent on teaching them to be terrorists… See the difference?
Here’s the thing…we already have a law for this…its RICO that covers conspiracy and association.
It’s too far reaching and broad.
Define “INTENT”.
For example…you own a firearm school and a few guys want to learn long range tactics. It just so happens that these guys belong to a group who is plotting to kill the governor.
*Based on what you’re citing – you would have a hell of a time proving your innocence because you TRAINED these subjects. Especially when LE is building a case. And if you think they’re all about “finding the innocent” I have a bridge I can sell you. The more convictions – the better the score.
Have all your students sign a declaration that what they learn will not be used to create civil unrest. Done.
Mike,
NRA has been deemed a terrorist organization from NY State and San Francisco. That means, in those areas, NRA Instructors are “Prima Facia” guilty. L-5
Fake news. You print the bill but apparently never read it. Subsection (1) and (2) specifically state such instruction “…intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder…” Section (3) declares violation with the intent to ”… intent of intimidating any person or group of persons…”
None of these sections are relevant to your firearms or Karate class or to the Dad teaching his son to shoot.
Here’s the thing…we already have a law for this…its RICO that covers conspiracy and association.
It’s too far reaching and broad.
Define “INTENT”.
For example…you own a firearm school and a few guys want to learn long range tactics. It just so happens that these guys belong to a group who is plotting to kill the governor.
*Based on what you’re citing – you would have a hell of a time proving your innocence because you TRAINED these subjects. Especially when LE is building a case. And if you think they’re all about “finding the innocent” I have a bridge I can sell you. The more convictions – the better the score.
But, with your example, as a firearms instructor, if you had been training people for, say, 2 years. And you have had hundreds of students over those 2 years. 30 of which were within 6 months of any civil unrest caused by some of your students and it was only about 6 of those 30 who actually took your training with foul intent. Those numbers from your class would give you enough to show that you don’t train people to use guns for civil unrest…unless they had direct evidence that you had told your students to use their training to do what they did. In that case, you would be screwed, but if you have the numbers on your side, it would make it difficult for a prosecutor to prove intent. You can’t prove someone did something this time but not the other 20 times that they might have had a chance lol. That’s my opinion anyway. I don’t live there, just found the article intriguing and wanted to add my 2 cents.
Right – but because of this law…you would still have to PROVE IT…which is complete nonsense…and expensive.
I am 72 year old woman and I walk with a cane!
I KNOW HOW TO USE IT! Balance and self defense!
I am sure the original post is another demoncrat joke!??????❤️
Craziness. This is the world we live in. One side definitely seems to think it is ok to presume someone guilty. Get a prosecutor who feels that way, and no doubt, there will be a case involving a self defense instructor.
I am amazed… I thought California had crazy laws, but this makes that state look normal.
It doesn’t appear that they criminalize the use of martial arts, or crossing state lines to train.
I have to believe this will never pass.
Just crazy, I’m still stunned…
Bottom line: even though the legislation has a small chance of impacting instructors at this time, the probability can increase as the unrest in this country increases. The federal government in particular but even state and local, do not inspire alot of trust lately when it comes to abuse of power. For the record, I’m a law and order conservative who is no cop hater.
Agreed. I get nervous when we start to try and monitor intent without opportunity and ability. A group training in CQB without specific intent is a lot different than a group that is training for a specific mission. A kid with a “kill list” and access to weapons is different than a kid taking a firearms training class.
I feel this law is unclear and just doesn’t make that distinction.
Self defense training should only be banned if this lawmaker can provide defense for each and everyone with certainty.
I looked on two websites I trust and learned that the internet buzz on the “Proposed Virginia law banning self-defense teaching” is false. The sites say the part of the law being quoted is already law and has been since shortly after the incident in Charlottesville in 2017. The other statements were added by the Alex Jones’ conspiracy trolling site, Infowars, which posted an article originally published by junk news site Natural News. The NN site falsely reported the State of Virginia will consider legislation outlawing martial arts and firearms instruction. Snopes site added, “Finally, the laws don’t make it illegal for martial arts or shooting-range instructors to teach students disciplines like “krav maga, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, tai chi” or “firearms instruction.” The laws restrict people from various military-like activities that result in violence and civil disorder. The amendment to the Virginia law, specifically, prohibits marching with weapons or explosives for the purpose of intimidation. We, therefore, rate this claim “False.”
Apparently, most states have laws that bar “marching with weapons or explosives for the purpose of intimidation.”
OR … I could be mistaken…l-5
“The amendment to the Virginia law, specifically, prohibits marching with weapons or explosives for the purpose of intimidation.” so what if your purpose isn’t for intimidation, but people outside of your group FEEL intimidated even though that isn’t your purpose or goal? I think this is a bit too vague and needs to be specified much further because just because someone may feel intimidated, I don’t believe that should be the person or groups fault if it wasn’t their intent or purpose.
Folks here is some good information. https://wtkr.com/2019/12/04/no-laws-have-passed-but-virginia-communities-keep-declaring-themselves-second-amendment-sanctuaries/
The bill may not be much now however, once the pry bar is in the door it can soon be opened. For sure something to keep an eye on.
Now that is a great thought. L-5
Hopefully everyone had a chance to view the news clip I posted for the Virginia gun law mess. Now add SB64 to the equation. So let’s say the group of folks that were protesting had a few people that had firearms with them within that group. Do you think that SB64 would mean anything then? There is a reason for Virginia to amend an existing bill. My opinion is the gun grabbers need more teeth to fight the 2nd amendment. If they cannot take our guns they can make it painful to own one. It is very easy to claim you are intimidated, just say it. Now to prove that you didn’t have the intent to intimidate is a different story and can cost a ton of money to do so. When the Lawyers get involved lookout! A good attorney will drag anyone they can into the fight, even someone who wasn’t there such as someone who provided training. Again there is a reason for the amendment to SB64. I’m not saying to let your mine run into the wild blue yonder, just be aware how easy one can find themselves in a situation they truly had nothing to do with. Below is the text of SB64 with the proposed amendment. Can you see how it cause trouble for someone providing training.
Bill Title: Paramilitary activities; penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2019-11-21 – Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice [SB64 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SB64-Prefiled.html
20101207D
SENATE BILL NO. 64
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled November 21, 2019
A BILL to amend and reenact §18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to paramilitary activities; penalty.
———-
Patron– Lucas
———-
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
———-
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-433.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-433.2. Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty.
A person shall be is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he:
1. Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or
2. Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or
3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 854 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4 of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
If they make a law which the Constitution does not authorize, it is void.
Oliver Ellsworth
January 7, 1788
Connecticut Ratifying Convention
I can’t EVEN comment on that without blowing a gasket. L-5
why?
Why? WHY??? Look up the last 100 years of the US Supreme Court. Look at how the various Congresses and Legislatures and Commissions (Federal, State, County and local institutions whether elected, appointed or simply employed) called the Legislative Branch of Government have violated the Constitution over and over and over again with the permission of both the Judicial and the Executive Branches of Government. Their silent permission and refusal to enforce the US Constitution, not to mention the permission of the heads of our government, the CITIZENS, has made the law and hope of our fathers UNENFORCEABLE. Please forgive me while I go blow a gasket. L-5
You really need to read the Book “Plain Honest Men” about the men who drafted the Constitution before you start shooting your ignorant mouth off. The book traces most of the thought processes of the drafters of the Constitution, and how they arrived at the document they produced. Oliver Ellsworth was quite correct in his observation.
Unfortunately, there are a bunch of bimbos in Washington who claim to be educated in these matters who are really unfit to hold their office!
Folks, the amendment to the bill, item 3 is what can cause problems.
3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof..
The law is about the intent of the training n9t the training in and of itself
How do you prove it wasn’t the intent if someone claims it was your intent?
Why does one have to prove that it wasn’t their intent??? Why does the challenge of having to prove one’s innocence even enter into this discussion???? Are you really that stupid????
This is NOT true. Here is the link to the actual proposed legislation: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB64
The law is directed at terrorist and paramilitary groups and specifically requires the INTENTION to cause harm. Even Snopes has posted about the false nature of this panic.
These people are complete idiots. This is just insane.
I would like to find out more about this bill and I will start a change.org petition against it. Please send me an e-mail with the names and title of those whom are elected in the state. I will start a petition and get the ball rolling.
I would like to find out more about this bill and I will start a change.org petition against it. Please send me an e-mail with the names and title of those whom are elected in the state.
It appears the key words here are “intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder” not that one shouldn’t be able to learn to defend oneself from violent attacks.
I’m not surprised. Since 1996 thanks to a CONSERVATIVE (so called) politick and his fellow criminals and the massacre facts suggest he used a highly skilled & trained mercenary whose shooting skill gobsmacked a Vietnam vet, and our Vietnam War era military chief (Ted Serong) believed had skills greater than his as a counterterrorism expert and marksman, and which he said were rare, to massacre 35 people then blame it on a benign simpleton who Serong believed lacked the skills to do it (he said it required Satanic accuracy and or concentration), and questioned why Martyn Bryant, the patsy was the only one arrested.
Since then Australians have been banned from carrying a knife on their person in public without what a cop thinks is a good reason (self defence is NOT one), and banned from using any lethal or non-lethal weapon (or having one on your person in public or in fact owning one) for self defence. You may still use a gun for hunting and target shooting & sport, but some knives and guns are banned outright – a Marine vet of Iwo Jima had to send the gun and ammo he kept when discharged back to the U.S. to avoid its confiscation & destruction.
Batons (I think) & other non-lethal items are illegal, and so if as you just point a weapon at someone to deter an attack you become a criminal. That happened to me because after my sibling tried to murder me with a fast & hard palms slam sending me flying back onto rocky ground I pointed a knife I had in a pocket at him & I got a misdemeanour for that & had to endure some dickhead who claimed to be an Abo despite not looking like one, & I found the attitude of my government is rock solid weapons grabbing & he almost fell off his chair backwards when I defiantly criticised Howard & his weapons grabbing & thereafter deemed me to have a bad attitude and made me do more despite doing all I was ordered to.
The only exception is Western Australia as I understand it as I think they still allow pepper spray. Here I heard a fruit & veg merchant was warned off cutting up his fruit on the footpath outside his shop by two cops passing by, and if a cop finds you have anything on your person for self defence you will be charged with an offence. Included in banned items is body armour.
Yet police here have publicly stated they lack the resources to attend every incident and will simply ignore some incidents. Add to this I think in South Australia is plagued by home invasions, but cops can’t attend them all, and in Victoria Ilhan Omar’s ilk band together in gangs and harass law abiding citizens while Daniel Andrews the premier refuses to do anything, and others join him in denying reality. Add to that other Mussies & lunatic leftists supporting illegals and the sickening widespread apathy of Australians and refusal to do anything to fight to reclaim our self defence rights, and it looks like we are effed.
I am not really surprised. You guys are in my opinion the last obstacle to the collapse of freedom and Western civilisation whether you are a republic or democracy. As I see it when your 2nd amendment goes that will be it.
I forgot to say of the 35 murdered at Port Arhur 19 were due to head shots, and Serong said the skill required to do them was as described in my main comment and thus way beyond Bryant’s who was a newbie to guns. He just couldn’t have made those 19 kills assuming he did the other 15 (forensic evidence said he was innocent just like in the Vegas massacre with that killer, and various facts suggest he is innocent and this was a government job just like 9/11), but he was the only arrested and put in jail where he rots for life.
Howard skites he made a big difference, but gun crime was dropping before this, and his nanny state laws haven’t stopped violent crime with weapons be they guns, knives or anything else, and both major parties refuse to wind back these laws even to allow pepper sprays etc. Bush jr’s puppy dog has just made life far more dangerous and miserable for law abiding citizens and helped pave the way for tyranny.
There is no way Virginia can legally pass this law! Our Military couldn’t be trained in any form of self defense is a joke.This country is headed for a Civil War,and there are enough 2nd amendment people out there who won’t allow this to happen,definitely a violation of our civil rights. Right now they are short of military personnel and Texas has taken towns and made them into sanctuary’s where people walk around and carry their firearms open carry and any state can do this. Goverment is total bullshit.
That is so insane I can’t believe it. How crazy can they be?
Totally ignorant, how can they be so? Our government needs to be replaced by some who are more qualified, intelligent and Godly.
Hi,
Just want to clear some things up. SB 64 amends section 18.2-433.2 which is part of Article 8 referring to paramilitary activity. However, no one bothered to look at the exceptions part of section 8 (section 18.2-433.3):
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to:
1. Any act of a law-enforcement officer performed in the otherwise lawful performance of the officer’s official duties;
2. Any activity, undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further a civil disorder, which is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense techniques such as karate clubs or self-defense clinics, and similar lawful activity;
3. Any facility, program or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and training intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms; or
4. Any other lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational use or possession of firearms, including but not limited to hunting activities, target shooting, self-defense and firearms collection.
Notwithstanding any language contained herein, no activity of any individual, group, organization or other entity engaged in the lawful display or use of firearms or other weapons or facsimiles thereof shall be deemed to be in violation of this statute.
1987, c. 720.
So firearms courses and self defense courses are always excluded from section 8. Just by advertising yourself as a self defense course / firearms training course you can avoid burden of proof unless there exists evidence that you are forming a paramilitary group. 48 states have a subordination of military law and all of them include this exception text.
Everywhere it says “section 8”, replace with “article 8”. Apologies for the typo.
That settles my questions. Anybody else? L5
So about the Jihadi training camps in VA, are they still there?
Good post. Do you have any other ones you can stick? I highlyrate it. I have actually tried Dux Forex as a signals provider and they are amazing. I will keep you guys posted. :)
good information
Senior System Architect