HISTORIC VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Former Moms Demand Action Volunteer, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, Signs Massive Slate of Gun Safety Legislation Into Law, Solidifying[...]

Historic Action on Gun Safety Follows Years of Tireless Advocacy from Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Volunteers

RICHMOND, VA - Yesterday, Virginia cemented its status as a national leader in the movement to end gun violence as Governor Abigail Spanberger signed over a dozen life-saving gun safety bills into law. The Governor's impact will expand even further as several more bills are expected to be signed into law once the legislature finalizes language amendments on April 22nd. Yesterday marked the most significant advancement of public safety in the Commonwealth's history, fulfilling a mandate from voters who elected a gun sense majority in 2025. The signed package includes a ban on "ghost guns," measures that enable efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and critical protections for domestic violence survivors.

This historic shift in Virginia didn't happen by chance, and is the direct result of years of tireless advocacy. Not only is Virginia led by Governor Spanberger, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer, but the legislative process was championed by a General Assembly where Moms Demand Action volunteers now make up 20% of the House Democratic Majority. Of the gun safety bills signed by Governor Spanberger, three were led by former Moms Demand Action volunteers: Delegate Amy Laufer and Delegate Laura Jane Cohen.

"This is proof that elections matter. Less than six months after we helped elect former Moms Demand Action volunteer Governor Spanberger, she's signing a historic package of gun safety bills," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "It speaks volumes about the changing political calculus around gun safety that the NRA's home state just cemented its status as a national leader when it comes to keeping guns away from people who have no business being armed."

"The lifesaving gun safety laws signed show what's possible when a grassroots movement turns advocacy into action," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "More than a decade ago, we began organizing across Virginia to demand better for their communities. Today, that work has helped elect volunteers from our movement, including Governor Spanberger, who are turning those demands into law. This is a historic win for our movement and, most importantly, for every Virginian who will be safer because of it."

"This is what happens when we stop begging for change and start electing the changemakers," said Kelly Johnson, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. "For years, we watched life-saving bills fail at the hands of the gun lobby's allies. Today, we are led by a Governor who knows firsthand that 'thoughts and prayers' don't save lives, but strong gun safety laws do. Virginia is an inspiration for the rest of the country, proving that when we elect gun sense candidates, we don't just make progress. We make history."

"For the first time, students across Virginia are seeing our hard work result in historic change that will protect our generation for decades to come," said Hattie Friedman, leader of the First Colonial High School Students Demand Action group. "We've grown up in the shadow of the gun violence epidemic, but by signing these bills, Governor Spanberger has sent a clear message: our lives are worth more than the profits of the gun industry. To finally see the tireless efforts of young people across the Commonwealth validated with a signature that keeps our generation safe is something I will never forget. Thank you, Governor Spanberger, for choosing our safety over the gun lobby."

By enacting these measures, Virginia moves from a state once stalled by the gun lobby to a national model for common-sense gun safety action. Yesterday's signing is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the transformative impact of electing leaders who treat gun violence as the public health crisis it is.
In an average year in Virginia, 1,226 people die by guns and 1,624 people are wounded. Gun violence costs Virginia $14.2 billion each year, of which $288.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Virginia is available here.