The Virginia General Assembly continues to push hard, moving and defeating pro- and anti-gun bills before next week’s bill crossover deadline.
Earlier this week, the House Rules Studies subcommittee defeated anti-gun bill, HB 1656. HB 1656 would have directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.
The House Courts subcommittee #2 defeated anti-gun bill, HB 2227. HB 2227 would have created 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.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee defeated pro-gun bill, Senate Bill 805. SB 805 would have removed the authority for localities to pass their own restrictions on the lawful purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms and ammunition and prohibits localities from filing lawsuits against the firearm industry for lawful activities and commerce.
And no surprise, the Democratic-controlled Senate passed two more gun control measures. These bills will now move to the House of Delegates for their consideration. We will continue to monitor the progress of these bills and email you when action is needed.
Senate Bill 1139 requires that anyone who possesses a firearm(s) in a residence and a minor under 18 years of age is present must store them unloaded in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet and store ammunition in a separate locked container, compartment, or cabinet. 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.
Senate Bill 1382 prohibits the import, sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, transport, and transfer of many commonly owned firearms and ammunition magazines.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor SB 1139 and SB 1382 and inform you when action is needed. In the meantime, check out our legislative map to see all the bills we are monitoring in Virginia and across the nation.
About Sportsmen’s Alliance: Working in all 50 state legislatures, the Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public and youth education, legal defense in state and federal court and research to guide the decision-making process of all involved. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance at www.sportsmensalliance.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
