Virginia Democrats Aim to Criminalize Lawful Gun Owners & Hunters

Bearing Arms editor Cam Edwards discusses more with me.

Dozens of gun control bills have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly. Some are currently making their way through the Senate and House of Delegates. From Gun Owners of America:

• SB 115
  Restricts concealed carry reciprocity and limits lawful carry protections.

• SB 173
  Bans firearms in medical and mental health facilities, leaving citizens unable to defend themselves in vulnerable situations.

• SB 272
  Restricts lawful firearm possession on college campuses.

• SB 323
  Criminalizes common firearm parts and home-built firearms that have long been legal.

• SB 348
  Imposes mandatory storage requirements inside private homes, interfering with families’ ability to defend themselves.

• SB 496
  Restricts lawful firearm transport and imposes burdensome vehicle storage rules.

• SB 727
  Expands public carry bans across the Commonwealth.

• SB 749
  Bans commonly owned firearms and standard-capacity magazines that are protected under Supreme Court precedent.

Virginia Democrats, of course, opposed a Senate Republican proposal to increase “mandatory minimum sentences for repeat firearm offenses” as reported by the Virginia Mercury.

New Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) openly campaigned on banning so-called “assault weapons” and other commonly-owned firearms and parts . She’s expected to sign many of the proposed bills into law.

Ironically but not shockingly, Virginia Democrats have also introduced House Bill 863 to eliminate “mandatory minimum sentences for certain offense” and eliminate “the mandatory minimum term of confinement for certain crimes.” This includes: rape, voluntary manslaughter, assaults on law enforcement, and possession of child pornography.

The chief patron, Democrat Rae Cousins, told ABC7, “HB 863 is a common-sense proposal that eliminates the requirement for one-size-fits-all minimum sentences for certain crimes.”

But Josh Ederheimer, assistant professor at the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice and a retired law enforcement officer, told Fox News:

“I think that the police and public alike have expectations that convicted criminals will be held accountable, and that full sentences should be served,” Ederheimer said. “Mandatory minimums assure victims – and the community – that a convicted person will serve their sentence.”

“It is the circumstance when convicted felons are released early that victims may feel a sense of betrayal or that justice was not served. That’s the dilemma.”

Now-former Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) was a saving grace. He vetoed misguided gun control legislation throughout his four years in office. I wish we had him back.

Admittedly, I’m nervous about all these bills being heard. Many of them, without grandfather provisions (which are infringements, too), will make many of us who are law-abiding criminals overnight. Pray for us.

Cam and I discuss our concerns with the bills making their way through the General Assembly, if a repeat of the Virginia 2A Sanctuary movement will make a comeback, legal challenges after the 2026 session, if federal courts/SCOTUS/DOJ can intervene, and how to offer input and get involved in the fight to protect Second Amendment rights in the Commonwealth.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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