(REPRINTED FROM A VCDL EMAIL)
VCDL Legislative Update 1/20/24
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Seven bad gun-control bills cleared committee last week. Some are headed to the House Floor for a vote and others are headed to the Appropriations committee due to fiscal impact. Those anti-gun bills include a ban on “assault weapons” and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds; a dramatic limit on which states Virginia will have reciprocity with; taking away the right to own a handgun due to DWIs; and more.
The Democrats in the House Public Safety committee showed their disdain for a basic civil right protected by both the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions. They also showed disdain for CHP holders, with Delegate Helmer putting in the most egregiously unconstitutional bills.
Delegate Helmer, who claims to have carried an M-16 in the Middle East, still doesn’t understand that an AR-15 is NOT an M-16. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what he doesn’t know about firearms! He clearly doesn’t understand that all bullets fired from rifles travel faster than the same bullet fired from a handgun. He also thinks that the .223 round is a high-powered round that is unique in how it damages a human body. All centerfire bullets fired from a rifle do massive damage to a human body. The .223 is a mid-power cartridge, not a high-power cartridge, like those used in hunting, by any means.
Delegate Simon inadvertently admitted that he broke federal law by having a friend help him make a homemade gun from a kit. Besides doing much of the labor, the friend also provided the tools. I remember seeing the video that Simon posted when he did that several years ago. That could have gotten Simon and his friend a trip to Club Fed for 10 years!
On Thursday, January 18, the House Public Safety Firearms subcommittee heard nine gun-bills. All seven gun-control bills were reported out and both gun-rights bills were killed.
Anti-rights bills:
· HB2 – Delegate Helmer – makes both “assault weapons” and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds made after July 1, 2024 illegal. It also makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to have an “assault weapon.” VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 6 to 4.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Ennis, Owen
· HB46 – Delegate Bennett-Parker – provides a person with a protective order must turn their guns over to someone who lives at a different address and must be at least 21 years-old. VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 6 to 4.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Ennis, Owen
· HB113 – Sullivan – takes away a person’s right to own a handgun for five years for a second misdemeanor DWI conviction. VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 6 to 4.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Ennis, Owen
· HB173 – Simon – makes unserialized firearms made after 1968 illegal. VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 3.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans, Ennis
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Owen
· HB454 – Callsen – makes it illegal to carry in public higher education buildings. VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 3.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans, Ennis
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Owen
· HB466 – Helmer – severely restricts reciprocity with other states, meaning less states will honor Virginia CHPs. VCDL strongly opposes this bill. Reported out of subcommittee by a vote of 7 to 3.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans, Ennis
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Owen
· Pro-rights bills:
· HB390 – Griffin – makes a protection order a concealed handgun permit. VCDL strongly supported this bill. Defeated by a vote of 6 to 4.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor, Ennis, Owen
· HB395 – Griffin – creates an enhanced concealed handgun permit that allows a person to carry wherever a police officer can carry. VCDL strongly supported this bill. Defeated by a vote of 8 to 2.
Voting anti-rights: Clark, Lopez, Helmer, McClure, Cousins, Feggans, Ennis, Owen
Voting pro-rights: Cordoza, Taylor
FSTVA NOTE:
WE 'VE SAID IT BEFORE - AND NOT MANY PEOPLE TOOK ACTION! THEY ARE COMING FOR YOUR 2A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. IF YOU DON'T BOTHER TO VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION...DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN THIS HAPPENS!
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