Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Virginia’s New Gun Laws Pass

RICHMOND, Va. — Three bills that will prohibit firearm possession in public spaces, limit monthly handgun purchases, and require background checks for firearm transfers passed the state Senate on Thursday, marking the first of stronger gun-control legislation proposed by the new Democratic majority in the General Assembly.

The following bills were approved between two high-profile gun rights protests at the State Capitol:

Senate Bill 35: Authorizes any locality to prohibit the possession of firearms and ammunition in public spaces during permitted events or events that would otherwise require a permit. Introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell (D – Mount Vernon).

SB 69: Prohibits anyone who is not a licensed firearms dealer from purchasing more than one handgun within a 30-day period, making the offense a Class 1 misdemeanor. Exempts those with valid Virginia concealed handgun permits and those replacing a lost or stolen handgun, as well as law enforcement agencies, state and local correctional facilities, private security companies and those with special circumstances with a background check from Virginia State Police. Also exempts purchases made during a private sale for a personal collection of rare or historical items. Introduced by Sen. Mamie Locke (D – Hampton).

SB 70: Requires background checks for any firearm transfer and directs State Police to set up a process for obtaining such a check from a licensed firearms dealer. Anyone who sells a firearm without a background check is guilty of a Class 6 felony, and the person who receives the firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Exempts transfers between immediate family members and by estate administrators, as well as transfers during lawful activities at shooting ranges or similar spaces designed for target practice. It also exempts temporary transfers that occur while the owner is present or are necessary to prevent death or bodily harm. Additionally, it allows transfers of antique firearms, transfers that are part of a buy-back or give-back program and those that occur by operation of law. Introduced by Sen. Louise Lucas (D – Portsmouth).

SB 35 and SB 69 each passed along party lines with votes of 21-19. SB 70 passed the state Senate with a vote of 23-17, gaining Republican support from Sens. Siobhan Dunnavant (R -Henrico) and Emmett Hanger (R -Augusta). The bills must now be considered by the House of Delegates.

During the hearing, Sen. Amanda Chase (R – Chesterfield) said she was concerned about SB 35. She said the measure will create gun-free zones and disarm law-abiding citizens.

“The good guys won’t have the guns,” Chase said. “They won’t be able to protect themselves, and we’re basically creating a disastrous situation in which criminals will not follow the law, and it will only hurt and create victims.”

She referenced a 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, which left 59 people dead, including the gunman, saying it occurred in a gun-free zone.

Sen. Dick Saslaw (D – Springfield), spoke in favor of SB 35. He said the measure does not infringe upon law-abiding citizens because they are still able to purchase multiple handguns a year.

“Twelve handguns a year is more than enough, for most citizens,” Saslaw said. “If you need more than that, go to Texas. They don’t have any laws.”

SB 240, known as the “red flag bill,” was passed by for the day on Friday. It would create a process for attorneys and law enforcement to file emergency orders prohibiting a person from purchasing, possessing or transferring a firearm if they pose “a substantial risk of injury to himself or others.”

By Andrew Ringle with Capital News Service

And Texas they will go.

Hope they all end up in court.

What do they mean by we don’t have any laws in Texas? What is a law?

That sumbitch is nearly as ignorant as some that post here.

Texas has always been a gun control state.

“12 handguns a year is more than enough for most citizens”

Thank you. So is a 32oz soda, but you can have 12oz and free refills.

Why can’t I buy them all in the same month then? Oh, because that’s dangerous.

Just let the potentional criminals know that they can commit a new crime with a new gun once a month. Then they have to wait 30 days to do it again. Good idea!!

Common sense!

The ONLY chance to overturn these is the next election.

....as soon as possible...

I can not express enough how angry it makes me when someone else trys to tell me what's "enough". Once you've made adulthood your on your own, bad or good.

Knew they would, that didn't matter, I just wanted to be counted.

I would not count on the judicial branch, it’s mighty flimsy.

The Democrats do not understand human behavior. All these bills will do is create more legal gun purchasing in VA. Every guy that wants something now is going to psychologically feel pressure to purchase it when it is available. A lot of folks will be making sure to get there "monthly" purchase going now. Very similar to what ol' Zero effected for the entire industry when his failed attempt at administration was in office.

I would place a bet on 2020 having a record-high number of legal gun sales in VA.

And it would be so easy if people would just get off their arse and go vote!

Full court press against the Second Amendment across America. This is not an accident. National gin control is at a standstill, so the communists decided to go after guns State by State. There is real conspiracy and collusion here.

Ain't that the fuggin truth!

I don’t think Virginians felt it was going to go this far, which is why you vote!

I agree 16B.
Little Mr. Hurst is getting after it down here with RU & VT student registrations along with general public registrations.
We as conservatives have to get the ball rolling on our side-starting now!

And contribute what you can afford to any conservative candidate with a chance of winning, starting with President Trump. Even the price of a box of shells helps. After all, Bernie is now the front runner (or close) of the democrats and his average contribution is only $15.

When was the last time a criminal committed a crime with over 12 handguns??? WTF is wrong with these people?

The only good part is.......I REALLY don't understand their reasoning (or lack thereof)!

Andy3

BLOOMBERG-and his "all illegal guns in New York are run up from Virginia" slogan.
Those owned had no option.