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If there\u2019s a state that better exemplifies the phrase \u201celections matter\u201d than Virginia, I don\u2019t know which state it would be.<\/p>\n
While Democrats maintain control of Virginia\u2019s General Assembly, pro-gun efforts helped propel Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin into office in January 2022. Since then, he has been the primary barrier between commonwealth gun owners and numerous highly punitive gun ban schemes.<\/p>\n
Last March, Youngkin vetoed nearly 30 anti-gun bills that Democrats had pushed through the assembly, including a so-called \u201cassault weapons\u201d ban and a five-day waiting period for firearm purchases after a purchaser has passed the federal background check. Now, Youngkin is once again the final hope to avert disaster, as Democrats have sent another two dozen anti-gun measures to his desk before the legislative session adjourned on February 21.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a brief rundown of some of the worst measures.<\/p>\n
SB 848<\/a> would raise the purchase age for certain semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols to 21. Under federal law, adults aged 18 to 20 can legally buy long guns (rifles and shotguns), so this measure would directly infringe upon their freedom.<\/p>\n SB 880<\/a> would prohibit carrying certain semi-automatic centerfire rifles or shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or other places open to the public. Such bans on carrying in specific areas often infringe on freedom, and if enacted, they are typically expanded to include more types of guns and additional areas.<\/p>\n SB 891<\/a>\u00a0and its House companion\u00a0HB1607<\/a>\u00a0These proposals are rehashes of the waiting period bill passed last year but vetoed by Gov. Youngkin. They would impose an arbitrary five-day delay before a law-abiding citizen may take possession of a legally purchased firearm. As we\u2019ve mentioned many times in the past, there is no evidence that waiting periods reduce suicides, homicides, or mass shootings. In fact, no studies identifying causal effects have been recognized by any of the independent literature reviews conducted since 2004.<\/p>\n SB 1134<\/a>\u00a0would require firearms and ammunition to be stored in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet.\u00a0While safe gun storage is an important part of responsible gun ownership, the freedom to choose how to store a self-defense firearm should always be left up to the owner.<\/p>\n Like SB 848, SB 1181<\/a>\u00a0would prohibit law-abiding adults and individuals under the age of 21 from owning specific semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Additionally, it would expand this prohibition to include firearms magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.<\/p>\n Lastly, SB 1450<\/a>\u00a0and its House companion measure\u00a0HB 1608<\/a>\u00a0would introduce new ambiguous laws and restrictions in an effort to undermine the already heavily regulated firearms industry. It would also empower the attorney general or a district attorney to sue a member of the firearm industry by alleging violations and even potential violations of these laws, allowing individuals \u201clikely to be harmed\u201d to seek equitable relief from a court, which could cost gunmakers millions in legal fees.<\/p>\n Most Virginians understand how close they are to legislative disaster, and hopefully, Gov. Youngkin will come through for them again with another mass veto. However, at some point, they will need to figure out how to regain Republican control of the General Assembly. If they don\u2019t and a Democrat is elected governor, there won\u2019t be much left to stop all the anti-gun schemes from steamrolling commonwealth gun owners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n