Virginia: Onslaught of Anti-Gun Bills to be Heard in Committees on Friday

More than twenty firearm bills are scheduled for public hearings on Friday, January 17th. The bills will be heard in the House Public Safety Committee and the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. It's critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters contact committee members today! 

Please contact the members of these committees by using the TAKE ACTION button below and urge them to OPPOSE gun control and SUPPORT pro-2A bills.

Anti-Gun Bills in the House Public Safety Committee

HB1607 bans certain semi-automatic firearms manufactured after July 1, 2025, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. Additionally, HB 1607 arbitrarily limits magazine capacities and discriminates against adults who are 18-20 years old. 

HB1608 threatens firearm industry members with frivolous lawsuits by eroding the protections afforded to them via federal law. This legislation would be detrimental and costly to the industry, making exercising your constitutional rights more expensive.

HB1622 prohibits Virginians from storing, placing, or leaving a handgun in their parked vehicle. The bill even allows authorities to tow the vehicle under certain circumstances. In addition, any person cited under this provision would face a fine of up to $500.

HB1797 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.

HB1869 expands prohibiting categories for certain misdemeanor crimes. 

HB1876 prohibits firearms within buildings owned by public academic institutions, allowing only those that are to be utilized in an official program or during a sanctioned activity.

Anti-Gun Bills in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee

SB848 restricts young adults between 18 and 21 from being able to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

SB880 bans carrying a rifle or shotgun on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, public park, or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public. This is a drastic expansion of Gun Free Zones across Virginia.

SB881 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.

SB883 expands prohibiting categories for certain misdemeanor crimes.

SB886 redefines "trigger activator" to mean a "conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device designed to allow alter the rate of fire." This vague and ambiguous definition could be broadly interpreted to implicate many common firearm accessories, including any trigger upgrades and modifications. 

SB891 implements a mandatory, five-day waiting period before a law-abiding citizen may take possession of a legally purchased firearm.

SB1109 drastically overhauls Virginia's firearm laws to mirror draconian anti-gun policies adopted by states such as California and Maryland. The legislation requires all residents to obtain a firearm permit before purchasing, complete a firearm training class, undergo fingerprinting in addition to discriminating against young adults prohibiting individuals between 18 and 21 from purchasing any firearm.

SB1110 and SB1182 propose an expansion of "gun-free" zones without providing any additional security measures where law-abiding persons would be prohibited from lawfully carrying. 

SB1134 creates mandatory firearm storage laws. 

SB1181 bans Virginians from owning certain semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols and places limits on magazine capacity. 

SB1329 places further restrictions on the ability for a law-abiding individual to keep a firearm in their vehicle for self-defense. 

Pro-Gun Bills 

SB837, introduced by Sen. Sturtevant, reduces the minimum age of Concealed Handgun Permit holders from 21 to 18.

SB849, introduced by Sen. Diggs, requires the Department of State Police to issue a Concealed Handgun Permit to an out-of-state resident within 90 days if it does not determine that the applicant is disqualified from receiving such permit

SB1025, introduced by Sen. Diggs, would allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms into rest areas in Virginia.

More anti-gun bills are likely to be filed this year, so please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your email inbox for NRA-ILA alerts on the latest action items.