Your representatives at work! VCDL update.

VCDL Legislative Update 1/23/24

On Monday, January 22, the Senate Courts of Justice committee heard and voted on nine gun-bills.  The committee ran out of time, so some additional bills will be heard later.

All votes were party line, with all Democrats on the committee supporting gun-control bills, ignoring the unconstitutionality of those bills, and voting against pro-gun bills.  All Republicans voted against gun-control bills and supported pro-gun bills.

The gun-control bills that passed out of committee are now heading to either the Senate Floor or to the Finance committee.

SB2 – Deeds – bans “assault firearms” made after July 1, 2024.  It also bans magazines that hold more than 10 rounds which are made after July 1, 2024.  Young adults, under 21-years-old, are prohibited from possession, sale, transport, or purchase of “assault firearms.”  You can bet they will come back in the future to ban older “assault firearms” if this bill is signed into law. This bill is clearly unconstitutional under the Bruen ruling and a similar law has been struck down in California for that reason.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out by a vote of 9 to 6 and heads to Finance.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB47 – Favola – requires a prohibited person not be able to have someone living in the same house or a young adult under 21 hold their guns until the prohibition is lifted.  This gives a person less options in finding someone to hold their guns.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to the Senate Floor.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB82 – McGuire – changes Virginia’s CHP to a concealed weapon permit (CWP), allowing permit holders to have more options for self-defense.  VCDL Strongly Supported this bill.  The bill was defeated 9 to 6.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB100 – Ebbin – requires homemade guns to be serialized, including any such guns that already exist.  The bill is unconstitutional under Bruen and a similar law in Maryland has been struck down for that reason.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to Finance.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB273 – Subramanyam – institutes a 5-day waiting period on firearms purchases.  Unconstitutional under Bruen.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to Finance.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB363 – Ebbin – makes it a crime to possess or to sell a firearm with an altered serial number, similar to federal law.  This bill is unconstitutional under Bruen.  A similar law in West Virginia was struck down for that reason.  VCDL Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to Finance.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB 522 – Williams Graves – requires a person to get firearms training every 5 years to be able to purchase a firearm.  This bill is unconstitutional under Bruen.  A similar law in Maryland was struck down for that reason.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to Finance.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB447 – Marsden – creates a civil fine of up to $500 if a handgun is left within view in an unattended vehicle.  The vehicle can be towed if parked on a public street.  VCDL Strongly Opposed this bill.  The bill reported out 9 to 6 and heads to the Senate Floor.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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SB639 – Sturtevant – repeals Virginia’s Red Flag law.  Senator Sturtevant did an excellent job in telling the committee why this law is unconstitutional under the 4th Amendment and for many other reasons.  VCDL Strongly Supported this bill.  The bill was defeated 9 to 6.

Voting for gun control: Surovell, Deeds, Boysko, Bagby, Aird, Subramanyam, Carroll Foy, Perry, Salim

Voting against gun control: Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Peake, Jordan

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On Tuesday, January 21, the House K-12 subcommittee voted on HB498, Cohen, which requires schools to send a notification via text to parents about gun storage laws but also includes gun-control advocacy information as well.  VCDL Opposed this bill because of the advocacy part.  The bill was report out on a 9 to 2 vote and heads to the full Education committee.

Voting for gun control: Simonds, Askew, Cousins, LeVere Bolling, Coyner

Voting against gun control: Cherry, Green