Gun Purchase Tax Increase Passes Senate

Senator John Watkins' bill, SB 1166, which whould increase the fee paid by gun owners for background checks from $2 to $5 passed the State Senate today by of vote of 27-13. VSSA will continue fighting this tax increase when the bill comes up in the House of Delegates.

Stop the Gun Tax

Today, the Senate Finance Committee reported Senate Bill 1166 our of committee and now heads to the full Senate.

Sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-Chesterfiled), this bill would increase the gun tax charged by the Virginia State Police to run the mandatory background check from $2 to $5, a 150% increase for Virginia residents. For non-state residents, the legislation mandates an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8. The state budget should not be balanced on the back of Virgnia's gun owners.

It is imperative that you contact your State Senator TODAY at their Richmond office and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 1166. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.

Call Members of Senate Courts of Justice Today

Two gun related bills are waiting to be considered in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee Today!

The first bill, SB 1166, is in the the Criminal Sub-Committee of the Senate Courts of Justice. IT is sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-10 Chesterfield), this bill would increase the gun tax charged by the Virginia State Police to run a NICS check from $2 to $5, a 150% increase for Virginia residents. For non-state residents, the legislation mandates an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8.

Please contact the members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee Criminal Sub-Committee TODAY and respectfully tell them that the state budget should not be balanced on the back of gun owners and request them to oppose this tax increase on the Second Amendment rights of Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners. Contact information can be found below.


State Senator Roscoe Reynolds (D-20)
(804) 698-7520
district20@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Richard Saslaw (D-35)
(804) 698-7535
district35@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Kenneth Stolle (R-8)
(804) 698-7508
district08@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Thomas Norment, Jr. (R-3)
(804) 698-7503
district03@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Janet Howell (D-32)
(804) 698-7532
district32@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Ryan McDougle (R-4)
(804) 698-7504
district04@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Robert Hurt (R-19)
(804) 698-7519
district19@senate.virginia.gov

Also waiting to be considered is Senator Henry Marsh's attack on gun shows. Senate Bill 1257 would require that all firearms transactions that take place at gun shows be subject to background checks, require gun show promoters to register all vendors (private citizens as well as licensed dealers), and maintain that registry for four years following the date of the gun show.

This bill could be considered any time and it is important that law-abiding gun owners stand-up and make their voices heard. Please contact the following State Senators and respectfully encourage them to defeat SB 1257. Also, thank them for their strong support of law-abiding gun owners.

State Senator Creigh Deeds (D-25)
(804) 698-7525
district25@sov.state.va.us

State Senator John Edwards (D-21)
(804) 698-7521
district21@sov.state.va.us

State Senator Roscoe Reynolds (D-20)
(804) 698-7520
district20@sov.state.va.us

State Senator Thomas Norment (R-3)
(804) 698-7503
district03@sov.state.va.us

State Senator Frederick Quayle (R-13)
(804) 698-7513
district13@sov.state.va.us

State Senator Kenneth Stolle (R-8)
(804) 698-7508
vasenate08@kenstolle.com

State Senator Robert Hurt (R-19)
(804) 698-7519
district19@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Ryan McDougle
(R-4) (804) 698-7504
district04@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Mark D. Obenshain
(R-26) (804) 698-7526
district26@senate.virginia.gov