Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Up in Committee on Monday

On Monday, January 26th, the Senate Courts of Justice committee will hold a hearing on over a dozen gun control bills, including semi-automatic bans and concealed carry prohibitions. The hearing will begin at 8am.

Please contact members of the committee by using the TAKE ACTION button below and urge them to OPPOSE all gun control bills.

Bills being heard include, but are not limited to:

Senate Bill 797 and Senate Bill 643 establish a "permit to purchase" scheme in Virginia, requiring individuals to acquire a "firearm purchaser license" issued by the Department of State Police.

Senate Bill 749 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 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.

Senate Bill 173 prohibits the possession of any weapons in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services, and provides that any weapons seized in violation are forfeited to the Commonwealth.

Senate Bill 272 limits who can carry firearms at public institutions of higher learning.

Senate Bill 27 creates sweeping new standards of “responsible conduct” for members of the firearm industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The bill requires these businesses to establish and implement vague and subjective “reasonable controls” over the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of firearm-related products. Further, it establishes 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. This is a direct attack on the firearm industry and are designed to regulate the industry out of existence through litigation—despite longstanding federal protections.

Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for updates as this legislative session progresses.