By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
When the Virginia Assembly convenes this Wednesday, Jan. 14, they will be met with a slug of gun control legislation pre-filed by Democrats, who are now in control, and have an incoming Democrat governor for the first time in four years.
As noted by the Virginia Mercury, Democrats “hold a narrow 21-19 majority in the Senate and a commanding 64-36 edge in the House of Delegates, positioning the party to advance much of its agenda with a governor ready to sign it.” In addition to four far-left proposed changes to the state constitution, there is a full slate of gun control bills summarized by the National Rifle Association.
House Bill 19 expands prohibiting categories for certain misdemeanor crimes.
House Bill 24 jeopardizes concealed handgun recognition and reciprocity agreements. This could impact the ability of Virginia’s Concealed Handgun Permit holders to carry their firearms in other states as they travel.
House Bill 40 ends the centuries-old practice of individuals building lawful firearms for personal use without government interference by prohibiting the manufacture of firearms without serial numbers. Transfer and possession of an unserialized or plastic firearm would be prohibited. This legislation would also penalize individuals who lawfully purchased unfinished frames and receivers before the bill’s effective date.
House Bill 110 places further restrictions on the ability for a law-abiding individual to keep a firearm in their vehicle for self-defense.
House Bill 207 creates a $500 tax on the retail sale of firearm suppressors that will be allocated to the general fund. This is nothing more than a cash grab to price out law-abiding citizens.
House Bill 271 bans certain semi-automatic firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns, and arbitrarily limits magazine capacities. This bill is an attempt to redefine and ban firearms that are in common use by law-abiding citizens—plain and simple gun confiscation by definition.
Senate Bill 27 and House Bill 21 create sweeping new standards of “responsible conduct” for members of the firearm industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The bills require these businesses to establish and implement vague and subjective “reasonable controls” over the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of firearm-related products. Further, they establish a broad civil cause of action, allowing the Attorney General, local government attorneys, or private individuals to sue firearm businesses for injunctions, damages, and costs. These bills are a direct attack on the firearm industry and are designed to regulate the industry out of existence through litigation—despite longstanding federal protections.
Senate Bill 38 and House Bill 93 expand Virginia’s existing prohibited person restrictions to affect individuals who live in the same household as someone who is prohibited. These proposals could result in lawful gun owners losing their rights based solely on the actions or status of another household member.
