Virginia Gov. Youngkin Faces Wave of Anti-Gun Bills

If there’s a state that higher exemplifies the phrase “elections matter” than Virginia, I don’t know which state it could be.

Whereas Democrats preserve management of Virginia’s Common Meeting, pro-gun efforts helped propel Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin into workplace in January 2022. Since then, he has been the first barrier between commonwealth gun homeowners and quite a few extremely punitive gun ban schemes.

Final March, Youngkin vetoed practically 30 anti-gun payments that Democrats had pushed by the meeting, together with a so-called “assault weapons” ban and a five-day ready interval for firearm purchases after a purchaser has handed the federal background examine. Now, Youngkin is as soon as once more the ultimate hope to avert catastrophe, as Democrats have despatched one other two dozen anti-gun measures to his desk earlier than the legislative session adjourned on February 21.

Right here’s a quick rundown of a number of the worst measures.

SB 848 would elevate the acquisition age for sure semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols to 21. Beneath federal regulation, adults aged 18 to twenty can legally purchase lengthy weapons (rifles and shotguns), so this measure would straight infringe upon their freedom.

SB 880 would prohibit carrying sure semi-automatic centerfire rifles or shotguns on any public avenue, street, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or different locations open to the general public. Such bans on carrying in particular areas typically infringe on freedom, and if enacted, they’re usually expanded to incorporate extra kinds of weapons and extra areas.

SB 891 and its Home companion HB1607 These proposals are rehashes of the ready interval invoice handed final 12 months however vetoed by Gov. Youngkin. They might impose an arbitrary five-day delay earlier than a law-abiding citizen could take possession of a legally bought firearm. As we’ve talked about many occasions prior to now, there is no such thing as a proof that ready durations cut back suicides, homicides, or mass shootings. The truth is, no research figuring out causal results have been acknowledged by any of the unbiased literature opinions carried out since 2004.

SB 1134 would require firearms and ammunition to be saved in a locked container, compartment, or cupboard. Whereas protected gun storage is a vital a part of accountable gun possession, the liberty to decide on tips on how to retailer a self-defense firearm ought to all the time be left as much as the proprietor.

Like SB 848, SB 1181 would prohibit law-abiding adults and people below the age of 21 from proudly owning particular semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Moreover, it could increase this prohibition to incorporate firearms magazines that maintain greater than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Lastly, SB 1450 and its Home companion measure HB 1608 would introduce new ambiguous legal guidelines and restrictions in an effort to undermine the already closely regulated firearms trade. It could additionally empower the lawyer basic or a district lawyer to sue a member of the firearm trade by alleging violations and even potential violations of those legal guidelines, permitting people “prone to be harmed” to hunt equitable aid from a court docket, which might price gunmakers tens of millions in authorized charges.

Most Virginians perceive how shut they’re to legislative catastrophe, and hopefully, Gov. Youngkin will come by for them once more with one other mass veto. Nevertheless, in some unspecified time in the future, they might want to determine tips on how to regain Republican management of the Common Meeting. In the event that they don’t and a Democrat is elected governor, there gained’t be a lot left to cease all of the anti-gun schemes from steamrolling commonwealth gun homeowners.