As Gun Sense Majorities Return to Both Chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, Lawmakers Have the Opportunity to Build on Last Year’s Progress on Gun Safety

Lawmakers Enacted Several Gun Safety Measures With Bipartisan Support Last Year

RICHMOND, Va. - As the Virginia General Assembly gavels in for the start of the 2025 legislative session, the Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, released the following statements. With gun sense majorities in both chambers, lawmakers have the opportunity to build on the bipartisan progress from last year's legislative session where five gun safety measures were signed into law. Ahead of the elections this fall, the gun safety movement is ready to hold their lawmakers accountable and re-elect gun sense majorities for another two years.

"I'm proud of the progress that we were able to make last year, but I know that there is still so much more we can - and need - to accomplish," said Mike Fox, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. "We refuse to sit idly by while this crisis continues, and we know that our gun sense lawmakers are with us. Governor Youngkin couldn't ignore the gun safety movement last session, and we're prepared to make our voices heard again."

"Lawmakers know exactly where our generation stands on gun violence: pass gun safety laws or we'll replace you with someone who will," said Daniel Gonzales, a volunteer leader with the John R. Lewis High School Students Demand Action chapter. "We have every intention of bringing that energy into this year's session, especially since it's an election year. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for young people in America and we fully expect our leaders to build on the bipartisan progress they made last year on gun safety."

Last legislative session, lawmakers passed dozens of life-saving gun safety bills, five of which were signed into law. The bills that became law include a prohibition auto sears, which are devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, a measure to hold gun owners accountable for allowing children under their care with certain dangerous histories to access firearms, and an expansion of Virginia's secure firearm storage tax credit to include more devices such as cable locks. This progress was achieved after the gun safety movement worked hard in the 2023 election cycle to help flip the House of Delegates and maintain a gun sense majority in the Senate - all while sending nine Moms Demand Action volunteers to the House of Delegates.

Gun Safety Priorities For Advocates In This Year's Legislative Session Include:

• A prohibition on assault weapons, which are exceptionally deadly firearms that are commonplace in mass-casualty shootings. Nine states and Washington, D.C., have already instituted laws to ban assault weapons.
• A stronger secure storage law, requiring that firearms be securely stored anytime that they are not being carried or used by their owner or another authorized user.
• A stronger prohibition on rapid fire devices, which would ensure that all forms of these deadly devices are prohibited in Virginia, building on previous successes in banning bump stocks and auto-sears.
• A prohibition on ghost guns, which are unserialized, do-it-yourself, homemade guns, often assembled from readily available components or using 3-D printing technology that can be acquired without a background check. For this reason, they are particularly attractive to criminals, gun traffickers, and others who are legally prohibited from buying firearms.
• Enhanced Background Checks, which would require firearm purchasers to obtain a permit prior to buying a gun. These permits are a critical tool for solving and preventing gun crimes, combatting gun trafficking, and keeping guns out of the hands of those who pose a danger to themselves or others, because they give law enforcement officers the power to investigate applicants and deny permits to those they find would endanger public safety.
• Stronger laws to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them, including perpetrators of domestic violence and hate-motivated crimes and people experiencing mental health crises
• A prohibition on firearms in sensitive places such as college campuses and other locations. In 2020, lawmakers enacted a law prohibiting guns in sensitive locations like Capitol Square, state buildings and polling places.
• Sustained, robust funding for community-based violence intervention programs, which help to break cycles of gun violence and other programs that help reduce gun violence through community resources.

In an average year, 1,200 people die by guns in Virginia and 1,624 are wounded. With a rate of 13.6 deaths per 100,000 people, Virginia has the 34th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. 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.

To speak to a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please don't hesitate to reach out.