Virginia House Democrats Pass Sweeping New Gun Control Measures Over Powerless Republicans’ Objections

Democrats in Virginia’s House of Delegates have passed a wave of gun control measures, over the objections of Republicans, sending them to the state’s senate, and raising the hopes of gun control advocates that they will be signed into law by the new Democratic governor. Democratic lawmakers advanced roughly half a dozen bills that would impose new storage requirements for firearms, ban large-capacity magazines, and impose civil liabilities on gun manufacturers. Republican lawmakers in the chamber decried the bills, but are powerless to stop them.One of the bills would ban the sale, importation, or manufacture of semi-automatic weapons, often referred to as “assault-style weapons.” That bill passed 58-34. If enacted, those convicted of violating the law would face a three-year prohibition on purchasing, possessing, or transporting firearms. Another bill passed by the chamber would let the attorney general, prosecutors, or injured individuals sue firearm manufacturers or sellers who do not take action to prevent straw purchases or engage in unlawful marketing. Lawmakers also passed a bill that prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from possessing a semi-automatic weapon. The House Minority Leader, Terry Kilgore, said that the bill “blatantly defies” Supreme Court rulings and is a “lawyer’s dream.”Gun control advocates celebrated the passage of the bills. A volunteer with a gun control advocacy group, Moms Demand Action, Gayatri Manoharan, said in a statement, “Today is an exciting day for every Virginian who has ever knocked on a door, or called their legislator demanding a safer Commonwealth.”“This is a comprehensive commitment to protecting our children from gun violence in every form. We are thrilled to see this progress and look forward to getting these bills across the finish line in the Senate and onto Governor Spanberger’s desk,” she said. Republican lawmakers suggested the measures may be unconstitutional and warned that they would likely be subject to expensive legal challenges in light of several Supreme Court decisions in recent years. Virginia’s state senate, which is also controlled by Democrats, is considering several, similar restrictions on firearms. The passage of the bills in the House of Delegates comes weeks after a Democrat, Abigail Spanberger, became governor. Her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, vetoed two dozen gun control bills during his tenure. However, Ms. Spanberger, who has said she is a supporter of the Second Amendment, signaled she would support gun control measures during her campaign for governor.

Virginia House Democrats Pass Sweeping New Gun Control Measures Over Powerless Republicans’ Objections

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