Richmond, Virginia — Families who have lost loved ones to gun violence celebrated today as the House passed a historic ban on assault weapons. SB 2, sponsored by Senator Creigh Deeds, narrowly passed the House today on a vote of 51-49. The House cognate, HB 2, sponsored by Delegate Dan Helmer passed the Senate today by a vote of 20-19. The House and Senate also passed several other commonsense bills to prevent gun violence today, following the passage of twelve related bills last week. These bills come at a time when gun violence fatalities are on the rise in Virginia, and gun fatalities have become the leading cause of death in people aged 1-17. The legislation will now move to the Governor’s desk for a signature.
“There have been 61 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, and it’s not even March. The worst of those shootings have all involved assault weapons. We have to do something to prevent this senseless loss of life,” said LaTwyla Mathias, Executive Director of Progress Virginia. “The fact is that when it comes to guns, Republicans in the legislature have abdicated their responsibility to ensure a safe Commonwealth. They voted against a bill that prohibits people from illegally altering or removing serial numbers on guns. They voted against a bill that required people to know how to use the guns they buy. They refuse to partner with us to save lives, and so it’s up to our community and the Democrats in the legislature to do the work ourselves. We don’t have time for more inaction if we want to ensure that not one more person loses their life in a senseless act of preventable violence. We will continue to follow these bills as they make their way through the legislative process, and we strongly urge Governor Youngkin to sign them into law.”
Background:
- SB 2, sponsored by Senator Creigh Deeds, passed the House on a vote of 51-49. The bill bans the sale and possession of assault weapons in Virginia (with some exceptions, including for students at military academies.) The House cognate, HB 2, sponsored by Delegate Dan Helmer, passed the Senate 20-19.
- SB 258, sponsored by Senator Scott Surovell, passed the House on a vote of 52-47. The bill allows judges to order an emergency substantial risk order if there is reason to believe a person poses a risk to themselves or others. This would prohibit people under such an order from possessing or buying firearms.
- SB 363, sponsored by Senator Adam Ebbin, passed the House on a vote of 52-47. The bill prohibits removing or altering the serial number from a firearm, or owning a gun where the firearm has been altered or removed.
- SB 522, sponsored by Senator Angelia Williams Graves, passed the House on a vote of 51-49. The bill requires anyone who buys a firearm to pass a firearms safety or training course within five years.
- HB 318, sponsored by Delegate Dan Helmer, passed by a margin of 20-19. The bill creates standards of responsible conduct for firearms manufacturers.
- HB 585, sponsored by Delegate Candi Mundon King, passed by a margin of 20-19. The bill prohibits home-based firearms dealers from operating near a school.
- HB 1386, sponsored by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler, passed by a margin of 20-19. The bill ensures that workplace regulations around guns are not less restrictive than the laws of the locality.