(The Center Square) — Though Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed all of the gun bills passed by the Democratic-majority General Assembly in 2024, that hasn’t stopped state legislators from trying this session.
Their efforts may ultimately be quashed by another fierce wielding of the veto pen, but delegates will be able to campaign on their bills and voting records, as the whole House of Delegates is up for reelection in the fall.
Several vetoed bills from 2024 have resurfaced this year, often patroned by the same delegate or senator. Youngkin vetoed bills last year requiring a minimum five-day waiting period for firearm purchases; adding more restrictions to who can accept a gun from a dangerous family member; creating “standards of responsible conduct” for the gun industry; facilitating fines up to $500 for anyone who leaves a gun in plain sight in their car; and broadening prohibitions on carrying semi-automatic center-fire rifles and shotguns in public places, to name a few.
The House and Senate have also resurrected bills making people who have committed assault or battery against a family member guilty of a misdemeanor if they buy a gun.
Lawmakers have also resurrected vetoed bills making it a Class 4 misdemeanor for anyone who fails to securely store a firearm on any premises where a minor is likely to be present and raising the minimum age for purchasing an assault firearm in Virginia from 18 to 21.
Most gun legislation brought forward this session is Democratic, and most of it is still alive. Eleven bills have passed the Senate, and several more have passed the House or could pass in time for crossover on Tuesday (the last day of the session when the chambers can consider their legislation). If they make it through crossover, they will likely make it to the governor’s desk, as both chambers hold a Democratic majority.
Republicans brought just a handful of gun bills this session, but it’s unclear whether any will make the crossover deadline.
Gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety produces a “gun law report card,” ranking states’ “gun law strength.” The organization has rated Virginia 15th in the nation, the same rank it had last year. However, Virginia climbed in the rankings after 2020, when the state passed “a major suite of gun safety laws” under a Democratic trifecta.
The lobbying organization ranks blue states California, Massachusetts and Illinois as the top three and gave Virginia its highest scores in “foundational laws” and “guns in public.”
