RICHMOND, VA – If extreme MAGA Republicans get total control of state government in this election, they will weaken gun laws, making communities less safe and schools less secure. In an op-ed today by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, she writes:
“Guns are now the number one cause of death for children and minors. We cannot accept this as our new normal.
That’s why this year’s election is so important in Virginia. [...]
If radical Republicans take control of the state Senate and keep the House of Delegates, much of the progress we’ve made over the past 10 years will be lost. Not only will they not fix the problem, they’ll also go backward, weakening gun laws and making the problem worse. MAGA Republicans running for office this year have pushed to remove background checks, overturn extreme risk protection orders (sometimes known as “red flag” laws) and have rejected safe firearm storage requirements.
These are all commonsense laws, designed to keep our communities safe.”
As WRIC reported last year, “A Republican push to roll back gun control policies came up short in the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday...” If they had total control, there would be more guns on our streets and our communities would be less safe.
Check the record for yourself.
They opposed red flag laws, blocked firearm safety, and opposed background checks. They’re trying to repeal penalties for illegally carrying dangerous weapons, allow guns into church services, allow guns into daycares, reopen loopholes in background checks, let people buy concealed handguns without a permit, take away gun-free school zones and much more.
WRIC: Bills to reverse gun control shot down in Virginia Senate
"A Republican push to roll back gun control policies came up short in the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday."
"The must-pass Senate Judiciary Committee shot down multiple bills that sought to reverse laws passed in 2020, when Democrats controlled every branch of state government. The panel also rejected proposals to make it easier to concealed carry and create exceptions for permit-holders in gun-free zones."
"The let down for gun rights advocates is just the latest example of the Senate–still narrowly controlled by Democrats–spoiling GOP priorities after Republicans won back statewide offices and the House of Delegates."
AP: Virginia House GOP votes down gun control measures
"Virginia House Republicans have voted down a range of bills that would have added new restrictions on firearms, including a ban on assault-style weapons, a college campus gun ban and a gun-storage bill that were priorities for Democrats."
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