By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Published reports offer dire warnings—perhaps unintentionally—that Virginia gun owners are about to face anti-gun demagoguery under a Democrat-controlled state government as Abigail Spanberger takes office, and lawmakers consider House Bill 217, which targets so-called “assault firearms.”
As reported by Virginia Independent News, the measure to “ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines is one of several anti-gun violence proposals previously vetoed by Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin that could become law in 2026” under Spanberger. The bill is authored by Del. Dan Helmer (D-10).
Quoted by ARLnow, Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) stated, “For years, common-sense assault weapons bans have passed the General Assembly only to be met with a veto pen, but that era of obstruction is over.”
HB 217 is an 11-page bill which states, “Any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”
Proponents quoted by news agencies are using the familiar rhetoric of the gun prohibition movement. Del. Hope told ARLnow, “We are talking about weapons of war—firearms designed for maximum lethality, not for personal use or sport.”
Helmer’s bill also would ban ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 20 cartridges.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed gun control legislation. He could not run for re-election because Virginia does not allow governors to serve consecutive terms.
According to ARLnow, HB 217 “must be passed and “cross over” to the Senate by Feb. 18.” However, with Democrats in control, this is a real possibility.
Northern Virginia Democrats, who turned out heavily in November to put Spanberger into office, reportedly have been pushing gun control. She promised on the campaign trail to sign “common-sense” legislation which Youngkin had rejected, although so far she has not publicly stated she will sign Helmer’s legislation.
Weighing in on this issue is the National Rifle Association, headquartered in Fairfax, Va. Writing at America’s First Freedom, Editor-in-Chief Frank Miniter warned, “With Democrats in control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s office in Virginia, proposals to restrict gun ownership, to blame the firearms industry for crimes committed by third parties, and to take away Second Amendment-protected freedom are moving forward.”
He called HB 217 “an attempt to criminalize America’s rifle, as AR-type rifles are the nation’s most-popular rifles.”
Spanberger has given no indication she will give any consideration to the interests of Old Dominion gun owners. As reported by Virginia Independent News, “Spanberger was elected in November after campaigning in support of legislation to prevent gun violence. She (stated) in an August interview that she backed safe storage laws, universal background checks, and a ban on high-capacity magazines.”
