Virginia House Democrats Announce Gun Violence Prevention Platform

From the Virginia House Democratic Caucus:

Virginia House Democrats Announce Gun Violence Prevention Platform

House Democrats File More Than a Dozen Gun Reform Bills

RICHMOND, VA – Today, Virginia House Democrats gathered to speak on the epidemic of mass and daily gun violence across the nation. Democrats are committed to keeping our communities safe, with commonsense solutions that are proven to make a difference. This includes reforming our gun laws and addressing the root causes of violence here in Virginia. The bills cover a range of popular solutions that would make our schools, our homes, and our communities safer.

“Gun violence impacts all of our communities – urban communities and rural communities; white, Black, and Latino communities. It impacts kids and adults, impacts us in our schools and in our homes,” Leader Don Scott said. “Make no mistake: This is an epidemic harming all of us. And gun violence is entirely preventable. So, we can’t wait. Virginia can’t wait. Our constituents can’t wait.”

“Every year, more and more Virginians and their families experience gun violence – on our streets, in our schools, on our college campuses, in our places of worship. House Democrats want to make clear – we don’t have to live like this,” Delegate Patrick Hope said. “These proposals are popular ideas and each and every one will save lives. We hope Republicans will work with us on some of these efforts so that we make communities safer.”

Also speaking at today’s announcement were Delegate Dan Helmer who introduced a bill prohibiting the sale of assault firearms and large-capacity firearm magazines (HB2240), Delegate Mark Sickles who introduced a bill raising the age to buy assault weapons to 21 (HB2288), Delegate Marcia Price who introduced a bill to study the effects of gun violence on communities (HB1656), and Lori Haas of the Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Below is the full list of gun violence prevention legislation being brought forth by Democrats so far this session:

HB1579: Delegate Rip Sullivan’s bill bars anyone convicted twice within a 5-year period of operating a vehicle while intoxicated from being allowed to purchase or transport firearms; the bar is removed once five years have passed with no further convictions for DUI.

HB1656: Delegate Marcia Price’s bill authorizes a two-year JLARC study of the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth. JLARC (Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission) is the General Assembly’s nonpartisan policy analysis agency, which conducts rigorous and objective research to serve the public.

HB1729: Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s bill supports robust and effective enforcement of the law by closing the dangerous loophole created when those subject to Final Protective Orders and those convicted of assault and battery transfer their firearms to a third party. The bill requires that prohibited persons report to the Court the name and address of the transferee and requires the transferee to live in another household.

HB1788: Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn’s bill will bring microstamping technology to Virginia to help law enforcement solve gun crimes by requiring licensed dealers to sell or transfer only microstamping-enabled firearms beginning July 1, 2025. Modifying or disabling a firearm’s ability to stamp information on the casing of ammunition when fired from that firearm will be illegal.

HB1936: Delegate Kenneth Plum’s bill establishes the Virginia Firearm Buy-Back Program and Fund within the Virginia State Police Department, to set up uniform standards for local law enforcement agencies if they choose to conduct firearms buy-back programs.

HB2070: Delegate Kathleen Murphy’s bill will close the “dating relationship” loophole in current Virginia law barring a person convicted of assault & battery of a family or household member from purchasing, possessing or transporting a firearm.

HB2078: Delegate Kathleen Murphy’s bill will help keep children safer by requiring licensed dealers, when selling or transferring a handgun, to provide a locking device for that firearm or include a specific written warning that handguns should be locked and kept away from children and that there can be civil or criminal liability for failing to do so.

HB2141: Delegate Schuyler Van Valkenburg’s bill places criminal liability on a gun owner who allows a minor access to the gun if the minor uses it to commit a crime or to cause bodily harm to themselves or others.

HB2227: Delegate Kathleen Murphy’s bill makes a parent/guardian who fails to reasonably secure a firearm away from a minor liable in a civil suit for injury to the person or property of another or for wrongful death caused by the minor’s possession and use of that firearm.

HB2240: Delegate Dan Helmer’s bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, purchase, or transport of assault firearms, large-capacity firearm magazines, or silencers.

HB2273: Delegate Cliff Hayes’s bill mandates a three-day waiting period between the customer’s consent for a firearms dealer to conduct the required criminal history check and the actual purchase of a firearm.

HB2288: Delegate Mark Sickles’s bill expands the definition of “assault firearm” and requires that any person purchasing an assault firearm must be at least 21 years of age.

HB2346: Delegate Elizabeth Guzman’s bill encourages Virginia school boards to make available to students a system to share (anonymously) messages and tips relating to violence or harm to self or others, including access to crisis counselors trained in violence risk assessment, suicide prevention, crisis management, and mental health support.

HD2350: Delegate Marcus Simon’s bill requires separate locked storage for an unloaded firearm and its ammunition in any residence where the firearm owner knows (or should reasonably know) that a minor under 18 years of age is present.

HB2365: Delegate Sally Hudson’s bill would ban firearms and explosives on public college campuses, just like Virginia already does for our K-12 public schools and other state-owned buildings.

HB 2232: Delegate Kathleen Murphy’s bill would amend the state plan for medical assistance services to ensure greater access and treatment for individuals who have sustained injury due to community or interpersonal violence, including gun violence.

[number incoming]: Delegate Alfonso Lopez’s bill would provide up to a $300 tax credit per year for the purchase of safety equipment, such as safes, lock boxes and trigger locks, from a federally licensed gun dealer.