Virginia Legislators Barely Back Off Extreme Gun Control Stances

by
posted on December 22, 2019
northam_for_garrett.jpg

Photo of Gov. Ralph Northam: Public domain image courtesy of Livestream.

Anti-gun legislators in Virginia recently adjusted their stance on completely outlawing semi-automatic firearms, allowing that you may keep the ones you already legally own, but only if you register them with the state.

Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed ban on commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms will reportedly include a grandfather clause for current owners provided the firearms are reported to a registry, according to local news sources. 

“The governor’s assault weapons ban will include a grandfather clause for individuals who already own assault weapons, with the requirement they register their weapons before the end of a designated grace period,” said Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky in a statement Dec. 9.

Northam’s “assault weapons ban” is more extreme than the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which also included a grandfather clause for firearms owned when the law was enacted but did not include any registration requirement. The federal ban expired in 2004.

The decision to include a grandfather clause is a weak attempt to appear more reasonable even as the new majority pursues a radical anti-gun agenda and is likely a result of vocal opposition to a flurry of pre-filed anti-Second Amendment bills in the state. Senate Bill 16, sponsored by incoming Senate Majority Leader Richard “Dick” Saslaw, would reportedly “create a total ban on commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms,” and “is clearly designed to be firearms confiscation,” according to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. Saslaw’s pre-filed bill does not grandfather current owners.

SB 16 is one of a dozen anti-Second Amendment pre-filed bills for Virginia’s 2020 legislative session. The full list of pre-filed bills can be viewed here.

Latest

The Armed Citizen
The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen® November 22, 2024

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

Now They Want to Use Toy Gun Control as an Excuse for Actual Gun Bans?

Some gun-control “experts” really want to ban young adults from lawfully possessing firearms by citing old state laws that include regulations on toy guns.

This Olympian Has Something Important to Say

Vincent Hancock has a lot to say, but most people just want to know how he accomplished all he has.

From the Editor | The Bullseye

We all need range time, but this day at the range brought more than expected.

Standing Guard | The NRA Comeback

The backbone of the NRA is its millions of members.

What Will 2025 Bring?

The future should hold more victories than defeats throughout the courts.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.