Tomorrow, Jan. 26, in House room 1 at 4 p.m., the House Public Safety Subcommittee is scheduled to hear a full slate of anti-gun bills that will have a major impact on Virginia’s sportsmen. Every hunter and gun owner needs to email the members of the House Public Safety subcommittee to ensure they know exactly where they stand – that they will protect their outdoor and firearm heritage.
Anti-gun legislators repeatedly introduce legislation based on emotion and the appearance of “doing something,” and this set of anti-freedom measures are no different. These bills only restrict firearms and their use among the law-abiding, whether for protection, hunting or shooting. Anti-gun advocates have made it clear their real motivation behind legislation of this type: Restrict freedom without benefiting public safety.
HB 1656 directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth. This is a “feel good” measure that will have no material benefit for public safety in Virginia. The bill provides no detail on how this “study” will be conducted, or whether the rigor of scientific methodologies will be guaranteed, resulting in a set of political “answers” that will not benefit Virginians in any way.
HB 1788 requires all new firearms being sold after 7/1/2025 in Virginia to be equipped with microstamping capabilities. Microstamping is an unworkable technology that creates massive new costs on firearm purchasers with no public safety benefit whatsoever. Numerous studies have shown microstamping to be an utter failure when implemented.
HB 2227 creates a new cause of action for civil suits against parents and guardians if a child kills or injures another with a firearm where the person didn’t “reasonably secure a firearm.” This standard of law is no standard at all, because it is anyone’s guess what “reasonably secure” actually means. Virginia law already has felony provisions for reckless endangerment of a child, so this new civil suit provision targets firearm owners with a vague civil standard rife for abuse to chill what is otherwise a constitutionally protected right.
HB 2240 bans the import, sell, transfer, manufacture, and purchase of “assault firearms,” suppressors, and magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. This bill is nothing more than an anti-gun grab-bag, with modern hunting rifles and accessories pulled into ban, once again, with no material benefit to public safety.
HB 2273 requires a mandatory three-day waiting period for firearms purchase even after the purchasers passed the background check. Researchers have shown time and again that waiting periods do nothing to reduce violent crime and stand in the way of lawful self-defense and the purchase of firearms for recreational hunting and shooting. This is yet another “wish list” item for anti-gun politicians who simply want to restrict our freedom and the exercise of our constitutional rights.
HB 2288 expands the definition of “assault firearm” to include many commonly owned firearms and prohibits young adults 18-20 years old from purchasing these newly defined “assault firearms.” Similar to HB 2240, this bill goes one step further by prohibiting young adults from purchasing firearms for lawful purposes. There is no credible evidence that such restrictions reduce violent crime.
HB 2350 requires that firearm(s) must store unloaded in a locked container, compartment or cabinet and that ammunition must be stored in a separate locked container, compartment or cabinet when a minor under 18 years of age is present. A loaded firearm may only be stored in a biometric storage device. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and when more than one firearm in a residence is not stored in accordance with this section, a violation for each such firearm shall constitute a separate crime.
HB 2407 requires proof of completion of a firearms training course within five years to purchase a firearm. Numerous studies have shown that requiring firearm training does not reduce violent crime or accidental discharge. This is another bill that restricts firearms freedom without a benefit to public safety or a reduction in criminal activity.
Please use our take action button to email the members of the committee and urge them to oppose the above anti-gun bills.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.