Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed sweeping gun-control measures into law Friday, realizing the fears of many rural constituents.
The newly signed package requires background checks on all firearm sales; allows law enforcement to temporarily take someone's guns away if they're deemed a danger to themselves or others; limits Virginia residents to buying one handgun a month; requires people to report lost or stolen guns in 48 hours; and increases the penalty for leaving firearms out around children, according to a press release.
Northam proposed an amendment to a bill that would allow local governments to regulate where firearms are allowed; his amendment clarifies that colleges and universities would be exempt from local laws. He also proposed an amendment to a bill that would require people with protective orders against them to turn over their guns; the amendment would allow judges to hold the person in contempt of court if they fail to comply.
The newly signed package requires background checks on all firearm sales; allows law enforcement to temporarily take someone's guns away if they're deemed a danger to themselves or others; limits Virginia residents to buying one handgun a month; requires people to report lost or stolen guns in 48 hours; and increases the penalty for leaving firearms out around children, according to a press release.
Northam proposed an amendment to a bill that would allow local governments to regulate where firearms are allowed; his amendment clarifies that colleges and universities would be exempt from local laws. He also proposed an amendment to a bill that would require people with protective orders against them to turn over their guns; the amendment would allow judges to hold the person in contempt of court if they fail to comply.
Some of the gun-control bills were watered down to pass the state Senate, Gregory Schneider reports for The Washington Post. Though Democrats control both chambers of the legislature, the Senate has been more concerned about the repercussions for rural constituents: a bill banning "assault weapons" died in the Senate in February. but House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn worked with senators to find a happy medium. Seven of the eight gun-control bills passed the legislature in some form.
"Guns became a divisive issue in Virginia after Democrats won full control of the state's General Assembly in November, and Northam, a Democrat, promised to pass the host of restrictions," reports Ryan Miller of USA Today. "The signing comes almost three months after more than 20,000 gun owners descended on the state capitol in Richmond to protest the measures. It's also been almost a year since the deadly Virginia Beach shooting left 12 people dead plus the shooter."
Rural Virginia has acted, too. In the months after the election, most rural counties declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries, asserting that local law enforcement would not comply with state laws. And in January, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice invited conservative Virginia counties to secede and join West Virginia.
Gun sales are at an all-time high in Virginia (and in the U.S. overall) in recent weeks. Most of that is attributed to the pandemic, but in Virginia some of it was probably because of fears about gun legislation, Mark Bowes reports for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In addition to gun-control laws, Northam also expanded protections for LGBT Virginians, loosened restrictions on abortion, made it easier to vote, and decriminalized possession marijuana (those caught with the drug would pay a $25 civil fine).
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