First Batch of Gun Control Bills Heads to Virginia Governor

Virginia lawmakers are still moving multiple gun control bills through the General Assembly, including a ban on so-called assault firearms that was approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday. Today the House Public Safety Firearms subcommittee is expected to approve two more bills: SB 115, which would replace the state’s universal reciprocity for concealed carry with a far more restrictive regime that will upend the reciprocity agreements the Commonwealth has with dozens of states; and SB 643, which prohibits the sale of handguns and “assault firearms” to adults under the age of 21. 

In an alert sent out on Wednesday evening, the Virginia Citizens Defense League reported that two other gun control bills have now cleared both chambers of the legislature and await Gov,. Abigail Spanberger’s signature. 

SB 348, Senator Boysko, requires all firearms in a home, that are not being carried on a person, to be unloaded and placed in a locked container if there is a minor in the home or if there is a prohibited person in the home. A gun may only be stored loaded if it is in a safe that has either a combination lock, a coded lock, or a biometric lock. Gun dealers must post signage about the law and there is also a provision to educate the public on firearm storage. 

This is one of those laws that will be impossible to enforce, at least proactively. At best, this is something that can be charged after police have evidence a crime has taken place. In my opinion it’s far more likely to be used as plea bargain bait for individuals facing more serious charges, allowing them to plead down to a misdemeanor and escape a felony conviction. Still, it’s also a heavy-handed one-size-fits-all policy that removes parental choice on whether or not to allow their children access to a firearm for self-defense or other lawful purposes, and when the governor signs it into law I hope it will be challenged in court. 

HB 901, Delegate Sullivan, expands the Red Flag law by allowing more categories of people to petition for someone to be Red Flagged. The expanded types of petitioners cover various kinds of counselors and medical professionals. It now also includes immediate family or household members and intimate partners. 

The VCDL notes, “The recent lawful acquisition of a firearm or ammunition is considered possible evidence that someone might need to be Red Flagged!” 

The group adds that the bill “will discourage someone from getting medical or counseling help, as the person will not be able to trust that any information he shares won’t be used against him.  The expanded list of petitioners will greatly increase abuse of the Red Flag law by someone with a grudge.”

As we’ve seen in other states, “red flag” laws get expanded because supporters don’t believe enough petitions for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (or Emergency Substantial Risk Order, as they’re called in Virginia) are being filed. When gun control groups first started pushing these laws they claimed that they would only be rarely used, but that was just another lie from the anti-2A crowd. In reality they want petitions filed as often as possible, and I would be shocked if Democrats don’t try to further expand the state’s “red flag” law next session as well. 

A growing number of sheriffs across the state are vowing not to enforce any unconstitutional gun laws, and they can, if they choose, decide that they’re not going to arrest anyone with a valid carry permit from other states, even if Virginia no longer recognizes those permits. The storage mandate is another area where some local law enforcement can and likely will use their discretion. 

Later today we’ll be discussing a new poll that found the vast majority of Virginians surveyed disagree with the Democrats’ anti-2A efforts. That news isn’t going to dissuade anti-gun Democrats in the General Assembly, but local sheriffs and county supervisors will hopefully be more willing to listen to residents voicing their opposition to the wave of restrictions on lawful gun owners that are soon to be in force. 

Editor’s Note: The mainstream media continues to lie about gun owners and the Second Amendment. 

Help us continue to expose their left-wing bias by reading news you can trust. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.