From the Democratic Party of Virginia:

Politics over Public Safety: VA Republicans crush common-sense gun reforms in committee and subcommittee

GOP rejects Governor’s call for bipartisanship, baldly dismisses steps to keep guns out of hands of those who would do harm

Richmond, VA – Over the last two days, Republicans in both chambers of the General Assembly rejected Governor Northam’s and Virginia Democrats’ calls for common ground on the issue of gun safety, defeating in committee and subcommittee a number of common-sense reforms that have received bipartisan support in many states. 

Among the measures Republicans disallowed from reaching a floor vote was an “Extreme Risk Protection Law”, sponsored by Senator George Barker in SB1458 and Delegate Rip Sullivan in HB1763. This law, which would have temporarily kept firearms away from people who pose a risk to themselves and others, was rejected with only Republican votes in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and without a vote in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1.

In his State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Northam plead with Republicans to work together on this issue, noting that Extreme Risk Protection Laws have “passed Republican legislatures in other states and been signed by Republican governors. It shouldn’t be a partisan issue to make sure that weapons are not in the hands of people who pose a threat, especially when the threat is to their own safety or their family’s safety.” 

Just as they did last year, Republicans also crushed universal background check legislation that is supported by 94% of Virginians. Everyday Virginia Democrats and Republicans alike have spoken loud and clear issue of common-sense gun reform, unfortunately, Republican members of the General Assembly have decided to ignore them.  

See the full list of common-sense gun safety reforms blocked by the Republicans below…

“Virginia Republicans are seemingly unmoved by the gun violence epidemic riddling our Commonwealth and our nation. Governor Northam and Democratic legislators again tried to work with Republicans to find common-sense solutions that would make Virginians safer. And again, Virginia’s Republicans put scoring political points over the welfare of the people. Luckily, all these Republicans are up for election in November and we look forward to their constituents voting them out.” – DPVA Communications Director Jake Rubenstein

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VIRGINIA SENATE

SB1162 (Saslaw) – Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; age requirement; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB1458 (Barker) – Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk, penalties. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB1454 (Lucas) – Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB1034 (Locke) – Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty. Firearms; use incommission of crime, civil liability for negligent gun storage. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1084 (Marsden) – Firearms; use in commission of crime, civil liability for negligent gun storage. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1096 (Howell) – Minors; allowing access to firearms, penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1119 (Peterson) – Mechanics’ liens; right to withhold payment. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1162 (Saslaw) – Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; age requirement; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1303 (Edwards) – Control of firearms; chambers of local governing bodies.– BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1324 (McClellan) – Firearms; reporting when lost or stolen, civil penalty.– BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1446 (Locke) – Purchase of handguns; limitation on handgun purchases; penalty.– BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1473 (Deeds) – Control of firearms; permitted events. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

SB 1482 (Deeds) – Firearms, certain; prohibition on carrying in public places.– BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING FLOOR VOTE. 

VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

HB1644 (Bourne) – Firearms; reporting when lost or stolen, civil penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB2399 (Lopez) – Firearms; transfer, criminal history record check delay. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB1992 (Price) – Localities; regulation of firearms in government buildings. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB1654 (Rasoul) – Prohibited public carrying of certain firearms in public areas; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB1763 (Sullivan) – Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk of injury to himself, etc., penalties. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB1956 (Toscano) – Firearms, etc.; permitted events. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB1957 (Toscano) – Children in need of services; disposition, certification by parentthat firearms are secure. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB2492 (Tran) – Prohibition of sale, transfer, etc., of certain firearms magazines and firearms; penalties. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB2604 (Ward) – Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB2244 (Sullivan) – Possession or transportation of firearms following convictions for certain misdemeanor crimes. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE. 

HB2285 (Hayes) – Allowing access to firearms by minors; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB2479 (Plum) – Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB1856 (McQuinn) – Firearms; libraries owned or operated by localities. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.  

HB1691 (Simon) – Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of undetectable firearms; penalty. – BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS FROM GETTING COMMITTEE HEARING AND VOTE.