RICHMOND, Va. – After crossover day, the day that marks the midway point of this year’s Virginia legislative session, dozens of gun safety bills are headed to their second chamber of passage, meaning that they are one step closer to being on Governor Youngkin’s desk. For the second year in a row, gun-sense majorities in both chambers have passed dozens of gun safety laws through their chambers of origin, committing to their promise to keep their constituents safe. Several of these measures passed with bipartisan support.
“We voted for gun sense majorities in 2023 because we knew that they would deliver on making our state safer. Time and again, they’ve demonstrated that they are up for the challenge,” said Gayatri Manoharan, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “In both the House and the Senate, our legislative champions have not let a day go by where they are not prioritizing gun safety bills, and our communities will be safer for it. With the session halfway done, it’s time to get these bills across the finish line.”
“When our lives are on the line, young people like me have proved that we’re not letting up. In Virginia, we’re grateful that we have lawmakers who are committed to fighting with us,” said Sofia Posadas, a volunteer leader with the University of Virginia Students Demand Action chapter. “It’s only three weeks until this legislative session is over, and we can’t give up now. We know that our lawmakers will get these gun safety measures passed, and onto Governor Youngkin’s desk.”
Some of the Gun Safety Measures That Have Passed Their Chamber of Origin Include:
- Measures to hold the gun industry accountable and limit the spread of particularly dangerous firearms and accessories, including bills to prohibit assault weapons (SB 1181/HB 1607), regulate ghost guns (SB 881), prohibit all forms of rapid fire devices (SB 886 / HB 1660), and allow victims of gun violence to hold bad actors in the gun industry accountable when their misconduct harms Virginians (HB 1608 / SB 1450);
- Measures to increase or promote secure firearm storage, including bills to require firearms to be stored securely around children or people who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms (HB 1597 and SB 1134), broaden the secure storage tax credit (HB 2595 / SB 1389), and educate parents of schoolchildren about secure storage (SB 1048 / HB 1678, HB 2679, and HB 2055); and
- Measures to strengthen laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers (HB 1960 / SB 744 and HB 1869 / SB 883)
Additional measures passed include those to keep guns out of sensitive places such as college campuses and hospitals and out of the hands of those who could be a danger to themselves or others. Last year, gun sense lawmakers passed dozens of gun safety measures through both chambers, including five gun safety measures that were enacted with bipartisan support. This progress built on the victories for gun safety that were achieved in the 2023 elections, when gun sense majorities were elected to both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.
In an average year in Virginia, 1,200 people die by guns and 1,624 people are wounded. Gun violence costs Virginia $14.2 billion each year, of which $288.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Virginia is available here.
To speak to a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please don’t hesitate to reach out.