Virginia adopts assault weapons ban
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a package of legislation on June 16 aimed at preventing gun violence, including a ban on assault weapons.
Surrounded by law enforcement officers, lawmakers, students, healthcare workers, and families impacted by gun violence, Spanberger said the commonsense gun legislation “will keep our families, communities, and law enforcement safe.”
The legislation bans the purchase, sale, manufacture, import, and transfer of assault weapons and ammunition-feeding devices that hold more than 15 rounds. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The law takes effect July 1; it does not apply to anyone who purchased and took possession of an assault weapon before that date.
The chief patrons of the legislation on assault weapons are Sen. Saddam Salim and Del. Dan Helmer, both of whom represent Northern Virginia.
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According to the governor’s office, assault weapons and large-capacity magazines are disproportionately used in mass shootings and the killing of law enforcement officers.
At the bill signing, Peter Read of Annandale, whose daughter Mary Read was killed in the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech, said, “This legislation will save lives, reduce injuries, and prevent other families from joining this club that no one wants to belong to.”
“As the daily toll of gun violence passes mostly unremarked and unremembered, the family and friends of the victims must somehow find the strength to go on in the aftermath,” Read said.
“When someone is killed by a firearm, a life story is cut short,” said Dr. Jesse Burgess, a trauma surgeon at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. “Today is about more than just signing bills. It is about preventing empty seats at dinner tables. It is about giving children a chance to grow up. It is about sparing families from the devastating news that changes their lives forever.”
The assault weapon ban is already facing pushback. The National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation are challenging the law in court.
In addition, several conservative commonwealth’s attorneys said they won’t enforce the new law on constitutional grounds, including Ryan Mehaffey of Spotsylvania County, WUSA9 reports.
Among the other 14 laws signed by Spanberger are measures to:
- crack down on untraceable ghost guns;
- require the safe storage of firearms;
- expand “red flag” laws;
- close the “boyfriend loophole” to make sure convicted domestic abusers can’t exploit a legal technicality to keep their firearms; and
- hold the firearm industry accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence.