On Monday, January 26th, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced a slate of gun control bills targeting semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines, carry rights, home storage, and more. Most concerning, a substitute to SB 749 was adopted, the bill now bans all magazines above 10 rounds that are currently owned by law abiding Virginians. This will instantly turn individuals into criminals for owning most common handguns, semi-auto rifles and shotguns. Moreover, this hearing went forward while much of Virginia was under a winter storm state of emergency, making it difficult or impossible for many gun owners to safely travel to the Capitol to testify in person. Most of these bills now move to the Senate Finance Committee.
The following bills were reported from Senate Courts of Justice:
- Senate Bill 749 bans certain semi-automatic firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns, and arbitrarily limits magazine capacities. With the removal of the grandfather clause for magazines, anyone in possession of magazines that exceed the arbitrary limit will become a criminal overnight. 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 272 limits who can carry firearms at public institutions of higher learning.
- Senate Bill 348 creates mandatory storage requirements for homes where minors and/or prohibited persons also reside.
- Senate Bill 312 prohibits carrying “assault firearms” in public places, including streets, sidewalks, and parks. Because of vague definitions, SB 312 effectively criminalizes carrying any center-fire semi-automatic firearm in the Commonwealth.
- Senate Bill 323 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.
- Senate Bill 496 places further restrictions on the ability for a law-abiding individual to keep a firearm in their vehicle for self-defense.
- Senate Bill 115 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.
Meanwhile, the committee rejected Senate Bill 78, a measure that would have increased mandatory minimum sentences for repeat firearm offenses, sending a clear message that their priority is restricting lawful gun owners instead of violent offenders.
Live Inventory Price Checker
|
CCI - Blazer - 9mm - 115 Grain - JHP - 1000 | True Shot Ammo | $ 487.44 |
|
|
CCI - Blazer - 9mm - 115 Grain - FMJ - 1000 | True Shot Ammo | $ 247.00 |
|
|
CCI Blazer Brass 9mm Luger Ammo 115 Grain FMJ - 50 Rounds | Primary Arms | $ 13.24 |
|
|
|
CCI Blazer Brass 9mm 115 gr FMJ 500 Rounds Ammunition - 5200B500 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 179.99 |
|
Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for updates as this legislative session progresses.
About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
We need to stop referring to laws designed to unconstitutionally infringe on the 2nd as “gun control”. They are civil rights violations, unconstitutional infringements, repugnant to the Constitution… and they must consistently be referred to as such. The 2nd doesn’t allow for any exceptions! It doesn’t say “the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed except for when it’s politically expedient, or for public safety claims, or red flag laws, or gun free zones, or magazine limits, or permits, FOID cards and licenses in order to exercise your God-given rights…” Any and Every limitation & restriction is… Read more »
Looks like VA residents must emulate their flag but quick, or the tyrant will have his foot on the public’s throat. Millions made felons overnight, so nothing to lose, gather in the millions and take the capital back.
I live in Bedford County, VA. Many of these advancing bills will criminalize me. I’ve never been a criminal before. I’ve always tried to be good at what I do, but I’m soon to be in unfamiliar territory. Is there a good way to be one? Maybe there will be opportunity to appreciate the lefties’ soft on crime slap on the wrist policies. I always wished for stiffer sentences on criminals before, but maybe that’s another impending change in my approach.
Looks like VA will be on my list of do not travel to or support in any way states.
Once again, the left is showing that disarmament and control are their goals, by turning millions of lawful gun owners in felons, yet allowing felons with gun convictions to get hand slaps by rejecting minimum sentencing laws. Felons are allowed to plea out the most violent of their charges, get minimum sentencing, if any time at all. And then the random “10” round maximum capacity for magazines? Most MSR hold 3 times that as standard capacity, and even alot of pistols hold 13 to 20 as standard. If they can get 10 rounds then why not 6, just completely outlaw… Read more »
What do expect in a state that is now controlled by the democratic party. Carful how you vote. Abigail Spanberger would be to undo Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s February directive requiring Virginia law enforcement to help carry out federal immigration crackdowns — a policy she argues wastes local resources and undermines community trust. Spanberger, speaking to a rally of red-shirted advocates for stronger state gun-control laws, declared “Virginia is on the right path, Democrat Abigail Spanberger advocates for strict gun control measures, including a ban on the sale/transfer ofassault-style weapons, ghost gun bans, and tighter high-capacity magazine restrictions. A former CIA officer, she focuses on strengthening red… Read more »
Maybe in Virginia they should omit “land of the free” when they sing the National Anthem! Nah! They should live the National Anthem and TAKE BACK THEIR STATE!
Wow! Looks like Virginia won’t have anymore crime!
Several articles have mentioned that in New Mexico, far leftist, gun banning democrats -Debbie O’Malley And Andrea Romero have introduced bills to ban most semi auto firearms, ban all magazines over 10 rounds, put another waiting period on the purchase of a firearm, make gun shops put in surveillance cameras in front of store, parking lot, inside of store, record anyone buying a firearm ( and turn it over to state police- so they can make files on gun owners- just like East Germany government did). They also want to ban all guns 50 caliber and higher. Does this include… Read more »
Oh, and by the way — Where is the NRA???? They are completely invisible as far as I can tell, and I’m looking for them to redeem themselves!! This story was posted by some NRA department, but where is the call to action? The state arm of the NRA, The Virginia Shooting Sports Association is reporting frequently to its membership on these bills as they progress. Each of these communications, while reporting factually and without editorial, seem to project the inevitability that every single bad bill will become law and in very short order. The only question is how bad… Read more »