Virginia Citizens Defense League
Defending Your Right to Defend Yourself
YES!! Gun-control took it on the chin as Governor Youngkin stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Virginia's lawful gun-owners today!
While we had no reason to think Governor Youngkin would sign any gun-control bills, it was still incredibly important that gun owners were proactive. Your phone calls, emails, and postcards to the Governor bolstered him and helped make this victory possible. THANK YOU!
The Governor vetoed 30 gun-control bills, modified 6 other gun-control bills so that they no longer pose a threat to Virginia's lawful gun-owners, and he signed 4 bills that had been modified in the General Assembly changing VCDL's position from Oppose to Neutral. There are no more gun-control bills left.
There is no way the Democrats will be able to override any of the Governor's vetoes.
The Democrats and the gun-control organizations pushed this year to go easier on violent criminals, while at the same time attacking people like you and me. These vetoes are their just desserts for disrespecting the Constitution and minimizing the importance of self-defense for good, decent people.
Bottom line: the gun-grabbers struck out. There are no significant changes to Virginia's gun laws this year! Of the gun bills that were not vetoed, there are none that are opposed by VCDL!
After the General Assembly Veto Session on April 17, VCDL will do a "Thank you" campaign to the Governor and to the Republicans in the General Assembly for their strong support of our right to keep and bear arms.
Bills signed by the Governor and will become law on July 1 (VCDL is neutral on all these bills):
HB22, Jones, makes auto sears that are illegally owned under federal law, illegal under state law. This bill changes nothing for gun owners. VCDL is neutral on this bill.
HB36, Willett, makes it illegal for a parent, who has been notified by a school or the court system that his child is dangerous to himself or others, to allow that child to gain access to a firearm. VCDL is neutral on this bill.
SB44, VanVaulkenburg, makes it illegal for a parent, who has been notified by a school or the court system that his child is dangerous to himself or others, to allow that child to gain access to a firearm. VCDL is neutral on this bill.
SB210, Perry, makes auto sears that are illegally owned under federal law, illegal under state law. This bill changes nothing for gun owners. VCDL is neutral on this bill.
These bills were modified by the Governor. As modified, VCDL went from opposing these bills to either supporting them or being neutral:
SB100, requires serialization of homemade guns made after 1968 and prohibits totally plastic firearms. The Governor removed the serialization part of the bill, improved current law by adding a protection against someone unknowingly having a plastic firearm (a gun with little or no metal components), and put in a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for 2nd time violent offender convictions. VCDL supports this bill as modified by the Governor.
HB173, requires serialization of homemade guns made after 1968 and prohibits totally plastic firearms. The Governor removed the serialization part of the bill, improved current law by adding a protection against someone unknowingly having a plastic firearm (a gun with little or no metal components), and put in a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for 2nd time violent offender convictions. VCDL supports this bill as modified by the Governor.
SB225, requires schools to text or email subjective information on guns to parents at the start of a school year. The Governor's amendments will require this bill to be passed again next year to take effect. It also requires parents to be notified about a host of other things, including various parental rights and responsibilities not related to firearms. VCDL is neutral on this bill as modified by the Governor.
SB363, makes it unlawful to possess, sell, or distribute a firearm with an altered serial number. The Governor's amendment makes the bill basically duplicate federal law on altered serial numbers. This bill now changes nothing for gun owners. VCDL is neutral on this bill as modified by the Governor.
SB515, prohibits firearms in hospitals. The Governor's amendments strike most of the bill's wording, including the hospital carry ban and gun confiscation provisions. The amendment makes it a crime to willfully provide a weapon to someone who is in a hospital getting mental health treatment. That's it. VCDL is neutral on this bill as modified by the Governor.
HB861, prohibits firearms in hospitals. The Governor's amendments strike most of the bill's wording, including the hospital carry ban and gun confiscation provisions. The amendment makes it a crime to willfully provide a weapon to someone who is in a hospital getting mental health treatment. That's it. VCDL is neutral on this bill as modified by the Governor.
These gun-control bills were vetoed by the Governor:
HB2, bans "assault firearms" and magazines holding more than 10 rounds made after July 1, 2024. The definition of "assault firearm" is expanded to capture more types of firearms. It also prohibits ownership of "assault firearms" by young adults. VETOED!
SB2, bans "assault firearms" and magazines holding more than 10 rounds made after July 1, 2024. The definition of "assault firearm" is expanded to capture more types of firearms. It also prohibits ownership of "assault firearms" by young adults. VETOED!
SB99, prohibits the carry of "assault firearms" in public areas, regardless of whether they are loaded, and removes an exemption for CHP holders. VETOED!
HB175, prohibits the carry of "assault firearms" in public areas, regardless of whether they are loaded, and removes an exemption for CHP holders. VETOED!
HB183, requires all firearms in a home, that are not being carried by the owner, to be locked up if there is a minor present. VETOED!
SB258, expands the things a judge can consider and must consider when issuing an Extreme Risk Protection Order (Red Flag). VETOED!
SB273, requires a five-day waiting period for firearm sales. VETOED!
HB318, allows for frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry in a blatant attempt to litigate a legitimate industry out of business. VETOED!
SB327, makes it illegal for young adults to purchase an "assault firearm." The definition of "assault firearm" is expanded to capture more types of firearms. VETOED!
SB338, creates a commission to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth. VETOED!
HB351, requires a person purchasing a firearm to sign a certification that no minor lives in the home, otherwise a locking device must be included with the firearm. VETOED!
HB362, adds "dating relationship" to the definition of a "domestic relationship" for purposes of prohibiting guns for misdemeanor domestic violence. VETOED!
SB368, requires all firearms in a home, that are not being carried by the owner, to be locked up if there is a minor present. VETOED!
SB383, prohibits firearms in higher education buildings unless part of an authorized program or activity in that building. VETOED!
SB447, creates a $500 fine and makes a vehicle subject to towing if there is a visible handgun inside an unattended vehicle. VETOED!
HB454, prohibits firearms in higher education buildings unless part of an authorized program or activity in that building. VETOED!
HB466, severely restricts recognition of out-of-state CHPs. VETOED!
SB491, allows for frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry. VETOED!
HB585, prohibits home-based Federal Firearms Licensees from operating within 1.5 miles of any elementary or middle school. VETOED!
HB637, creates a training program to make more frequent use of Substantial Risk Orders (Red Flags). VETOED!
SB642, adds "dating relationship" to the definition of a "domestic relationship" for purposes of prohibiting guns for misdemeanor domestic violence. VETOED!
HB797, removes NRA and USCCA training courses from the list of qualified training courses to get a CHP. It also requires the firing of ten rounds of ammunition. Interestingly, the House cognate for this bill, SB522, died for lack of a conference committee report. VETOED!
HB798, takes away a person's right to own a firearm for several types of misdemeanor convictions, including simple assault. VETOED!
HB799, requires a person to be fingerprinted when applying for a new or renewed CHP. Applicant pays the fingerprinting fee. VETOED!
HB916, creates a Substantial Risk Order (Red Flag) reporting system. VETOED!
HB939, prohibits firearms within 100 feet of an electoral board, voter registration, voter satellite building, or a drop-off location or absentee voter precinct. VETOED!
HB1174, makes it illegal for young adults to purchase an "assault firearm." The definition of "assault firearm" is expanded to capture more types of firearms. VETOED!
HB1195, requires a five-day waiting period for firearm sales. VETOED!
HB1386, provides that any locality that adopts an ordinance prohibiting the public carrying of firearms shall not have workplace rules that are less restrictive than such ordinance. VETOED!
HB1462, creates a $500 fine and makes a vehicle subject to towing if there is a visible handgun inside an unattended vehicle. VETOED!
Here is a link to the Governor's announcement of all the actions he took on March 26 (some are not gun bills):
https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2024/march/name-1024514-en.html
Here is a link to his reasons for each veto of a gun-control bill:
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