New Gun Control Laws Take Effect Today

Today, the gun control bills passed by this year's General Assembly and signed by Governor Northam take effect. These bills are:

• HB 2/SB 70 Criminalizes private sale of firearms - All sales of firearms, including private sales must now undergo a background check before the transfer can be made. Firearm loans, gifts, and transfers that do not involve an exchange of value (money) may still occur without a background check.
• HB674/SB240 Red Flag Laws / Extreme Risk Protection Orders
• HB 812/SB 69 Handgun Rationing limits purchases to one per month. Individuals that possess a valid concealed handgun permit are exempt from this limit.
• HB9 Mandatory reporting of lost/stolen firearms.
• HB1083 Penalties for "recklessly allowing minors 14 and under access to firearms will now carry a penalty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (the penalty for this had been a Class 3 midemeanor)
• SB35/HB421 allow localities to regulate firearms in public buildings, parks, recreation centers, and during permitted events.
• SB479/HB1004 prohibit individuals subject to protective orders from possessing firearms, require them to turn over their firearms within 24 hours, and certify to the court that they have turned over their firearms.

VSSA, working with the NRA and other firearm groups, successfully lessened the impact that many of the above bills would have had if they had passed as originally introduced.  These efforts were also successful in beating back the most heinous of the bills, Delegate Levine's so-called "assault weapons" ban (HB961).  Northam has made it clear he plans to come back for more next year. He even appointed gun ban advocate Lori Haas to the Virginia Crime Commission. Haas, and Northam's Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran recently appeared on a leftist political podcast and outlined what they had planned. Haas said she has a "big list" of what she wants to do next year.

Now is the time to push back on any new gun ban bills.  We can beat Northam's gun ban if we continue to work with the four Senators who helped defeat HB961.  If you live in the districts of Senators Creigh Deeds, Chap Petersen, John Edwards or Scott Surovell , please reach out to them and ask to meet with them and explain why modern sporting rifles like the AR-15 are the move popular rifle in America.  If you compete with these rifles, share this information with them and let them know how these rifles are used in competition most every weekend across the nation.  They need to hear from you now.

Commonwealth Mulling Appeal to Loss in SafeSide Range Lawsuit

The Washington Post reports this morning that Attorney General Herring is considering appealing yesterday's ruling by Lynchburg Circuit Judge F. Patrick Yeatts’s that SafeSide Tactical in Lynchburg may reopen with social distancing and sanitizing guidance.

The office of Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) said Monday that officials are mulling an appeal after the ruling.

“Governor Northam’s efforts to save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19 are necessary and proving to be effective, but unfortunately, the gun lobby believes the ability to shoot a gun indoors during this pandemic is worth risking further spread of the virus and making Virginia communities and families less safe,” Herring said in a statement.

What Herring did not say is that most all of those outdoor ranges that the Governor allowed to remain open are private clubs and are not open to the public like indoor ranges.  The Governor lost this one.  It will be interesting to see if he decides to just lick his wounds and hope that this is the only setback before finally lifting his "stay-a-home" order, or if he tests his luck with the Virginia Supreme Court and tries to have the injunction overturned.

Lynchburg Judge Orders Temporary Injunction Allowing Lynchburg Range to Reopen

WSET ABC13 News reported earlier today that a judge has granted a temporary injunction in the SafeSide Tactical of Lynchburg suit against Governor Northam. The range can reopen but must practice social distancing and sanitizing guidance.  The ruling only affects SafeSide and does not affect any of the other indoor ranges that are currently closed by the Governor's Executive Order.

The key takeaway from the ruling is this quote from Judge Yeatts:

The Governor appears to argue that, when he declares a state of emergency, he can ignore any law that limits his power, even laws designed to limit his powers in a state of emergency.

Pretty much sums up both Governor Northam, as well as Attorney General Herring, who defended the Commonwealth/Governor in the suit.

Governor Northam Substitutes Registration for Confiscation of Modern Sporting Rifles

Virginia Mercury is reporting that Governor Northam is pulling back from his proposal to ban the possession of modern sporting rifles.

“In this case, the governor’s assault weapons ban will include a grandfather clause for individuals who already own assault weapons, with the requirement they register their weapons before the end of a designated grace period,” Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said in a statement Monday evening. “Additional details on this and all other bills will be announced prior to the start of the upcoming session.”

Though legislation for the 2020 General Assembly session is still being written, gun-rights supporters have directed a wave of outrage at an early draft of a bill filed by incoming Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax. Saslaw’s legislation would have made it a felony to possess an pistol, rifle or shotgun that falls under its “assault weapon” definition after the bill takes effect and didn’t appear to make any exceptions for gun owners who already have them.

In a brief phone interview Monday night, Saslaw said the bill he filed won’t be the main assault weapon proposal and will be amended at a later date. Asked about the governor’s support for grandfathering in existing weapons, Saslaw said “that would make sense.”

“I’m not going to lock up a large part of Virginia,” Saslaw said.

Saslaw sure seemed ready to lock up thousands of Virginians a month ago when he introduced the bill.  Northam and Saslaw probably think this will appease the thousands of people who have packed local governing boards meetings over the past month.  Don't bet on it!

Graphic by Gun Rights Watch

VSSA's position of opposing any bill that bans the most popular rifle in America is not changing.  Simply adding a grandfathering clause and requiring registration of currently owned firearms doesn't change that.  VSSA will oppose any bill at the state legislature that bans the sale or purchase of any firearm.

Crime Commission Announces Dates for Hearings on Northam Gun Control

On July 9th, the General Assembly directed the Virginia State Crime Commission to review legislation related to gun control and public safety that was introduced for he Special Session and related legislation introduced by July 18th.  The Crime Commission will be holding hearings on August 19th and 20th to evaluate those bills.  The hearing will be held in House Committee Room, Pocahontas Building, 900 East Main Street, Richmond, VA.

Update:  Please submit comments to the Virginia State Crime Commission opposing all of Gov. Northam’s gun control proposals. Written comments can be submitted electronically to comments@vscc.virginia.gov, or mailed to the address below.

Attn:  Written Comments
Virginia State Crime Commission
1111 East Broad Street, Ste. B036
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Gun Ban Lobby Going Full Throttle on Social Media to Push for Special Session Floor Votes

Here is a sample:

The #GVPSession is our opportunity to save lives in Virginia! @SpeakerCox & @TommyNorment: bring the #DangerousWeaponsBan & #ERPO to a floor vote! Everyone in the @VASenate & @VAHouse should have an opportunity to vote on these bills.

— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) June 26, 2019

We’re ready to be LOUD and put the pressure on at the #GVPsession in Richmond on July 9! We’re focused. We’re determined. And we’re ready to #TakeActionNotSides against gun violence in America. pic.twitter.com/ciYBnJ8PtM

— Brady (@bradybuzz) June 26, 2019

At the #GVPsession, we are urging @SpeakerCox and @TommyNorment to bring #ERPOS and the #DangerousWeaponsBan to the floor for a vote. The @VaHouse and @VASenate MUST have the opportunity to vote on this important legislation. pic.twitter.com/1fev47Rbl2

— Brady (@bradybuzz) June 26, 2019

Text "Virginia" to 877-877 to be connected to @SpeakerCox and @TommyNorment!

Tell them Virginians WANT #gunreform now! #GVPsession #EndGunViolence pic.twitter.com/6WBMjlxAPt

— Brady (@bradybuzz) June 26, 2019

If you are not engaged with your state legislators, you need to be, the other side is.

Still Waiting on Legislation for Special Session

A quick look at the General Assembly Legislative Information System shows that no legislation has been prefiled as of today.  We do know that one GOP Delegate has said he has a proposal that he thinks will gain support on both sides of the assembly.

Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, says that when he talks to police and prosecutors about guns, they tell him they need more tools to crack down on gun-theft rings and the black market in stolen firearms.

And one tool they told him that wish they had is one federal law enforcement agencies have used for seven decades. It is the power to ask judges to cut convicts’ sentences if, once in prison, if those offenders give police the information needed to bring drug-smugglers, gun-runners and other organized criminals to justice.

While we know what Governor Northam proposed during his press announcement earlier this month, nothing has been turned into legislation and that list apparently was not all inclusive so there could be more than what he laid out in the announcement

Vocal Second Amendment Supporters Pack Abington Gun Control Roundtable

In what probably illustrates why Governor Northam scheduled only one Gun Control Roundtable in western Virginia, the administration heard from a number of opponents to his gun control proposals yesterday in Abington.  WVVA has the story.  When you watch the video of the news story on WBBA's web site, you gotta love the male anchor's air quotes when he talks about what Northam calls "sensible" gun laws.

In Abingdon, Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security Brian Moran spoke to a crowd of people questioning the need for new laws.

Moran noted several of Northam’s proposed solutions including universal background checks and reinstating the one hand gun a month law. But many in attendance say the laws are unnecessary and infringe on their second amendment rights.

“This is confiscation without representation,” said one attendee. Many in the crowd voice how they believe all of Northam’s proposed plans will eventually lead to more control in how law abiding citizens use their guns.

Make sure if you have not contacted your State Senator or Delegate, that you make your views known to them before July 9th.