I support HB1015 because it constitutes common sense gun regulation which is necessary to reduce the significant number of preventable gun related deaths in the Commonwealth. Conviction of a hate crime must and should preclude legal ownership of a deadly weapon.

I am against these proposed bills to impededany sort of restriction on the carry of firearms, banning any sort of accessory, type or feature of a firearm, or any law that adds additional penalties, burdens, fees, or taxes on firearms. The punishment the law abiding citizen with burdensome laws and infringe upon their constitutional rights. The 2nd ammendment is very clear in "shall not be infringed," yet these bills infringe on the freedom of people to bear arms. The propososers of these bills know they're illegal bills and are not constitutional. Virginia has long been a beacon of freedom, and was instrumental in in the American Revolution to secure that freedom. It is disguisting seeing its politicians try to forcibly take that freedom away from its people. I am opposed to these bills and urge the legislature to throw them out, with prejudice.

As a pediatrician I have long been appalled that firearms are the number one cause of death of our children- and having lived thru both mass shootings in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, I immersed myself in the data to understand the problem- we know FIrearm licensing , and concealed carry licensing that incorporates safe storage training saves lives. We know that the access to assault weapons so easily , especially in people with prior threats or concerning obsessions is a reason for most of our mass shootings in America. We know that in domestic violence access to firearms , even in dating relationships , is why women continue to die even with protective orders in place. As a physician I strongly feel concealed carry , especially assault weapons has no place in hospitals , colleges , schools and public buildings. In Virginia we can have laws that really protect people without infringing on the right of sane citizens to own guns. Brief waiting periods, safe storage education for all gun owners, safe storage requirements for all gun owners and a strong emergency protective order system will save many lives and I urge you to support them.

This bill will not allow anyone convicted of a hate crime to own a gun, We SUPPORT this bill as we believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

This bill will not allow anyone convicted of a hate crime to own a gun, We SUPPORT this bill as we believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

✅ Safe Child Access Prevention, HB871, Del. Downey (D): This bill will create penalties for gun owners whose gun is illegally used by a minor. We SUPPORT keeping guns out of the hands of kids. ✅ Expanding ERPO Petitioners, HB901, Del. Sullivan (D): This bill will expand risk orders to include family/household members and certain licensed mental health practitioners to the list of those who can petition the courts. We SUPPORT this bill as we acknowledge that those closest to a person can often be the ones who are able to spot causes for concern. ✅ Security for Firearms Dealers, HB907, Del. Shin (D): This bill will require dealers in firearms to enact certain security measures. We SUPPORT this bill as it should help to deter “smash and grab” incidents. ✅ Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center, HB969, Del. Price (D): This bill creates a center within the Department of Criminal Justice Services that would gather research, strategies, and best practices for Community Violence Intervention Programs and grant funds for community-based programs. We SUPPORT this bill as CVIs have proven to be incredibly effective in deterring gun violence. ✅ Disarm Hate, HB1015, Del. Tran (D): This bill will not allow anyone convicted of a hate crime to own a gun, We SUPPORT this bill as we believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth. ✅ Firearm Purchaser Licensing, HB1359, Del. Hope (D): This bill will require individuals to obtain a license before buying a firearm. We SUPPORT this bill as it would reduce gun violence by ensuring only eligible, vetted individuals can purchase firearms, and it would also help to prevent impulsive or high-risk purchases.

A misdemeanor is not cause for removal of constitutional rights. How can you be in favor of reducing sentencing for violent crimes but in favor of taking away rights? Do you view hate crimes as being limited to one demographic that you plan to target? I agree with the VCDL and all gun rights organizations.

When did our state government decide that they do not have to follow our Constitution of the United States of America? The 2nd Amendment is an individual right under the Constitution that states clearly that it shall not be infringed on which in simple terms means that no government official or group has the ability to take a person's right to keep and bear arms in the United States of America. This Amendment was so important to our forefathers that it is the second thing they wrote to establish that the government does not have the ability to take your right to defend yourself against all enemies and this includes a tyrannical state government that doesn't understand plain text that our country was founded on. It doesn't matter what others opinions or feelings on the subject of the right to bear arms is because it is my right and not their's that we are talking about at this time. As a society of individuals in our country that have never agreed on things of this nature since the invention of the modern firearm we have to look no farther than our own Constitution to see that this is not a collective right of certain people that agree or disagree with the principle of firearms but infact a Constitutional right of an individual to determine there views of their personal right to bear arms. With the world in the state it is in at our present time this Constitutional right is needed more then ever because we are facing people that think that the can completely ignore the Constitution and its not even on a national level but a state level. This is also a truly sad moment of our state that is the founding place for our country as it exists from the time that we settled in this new land of an unknown world at the time but to disrespect our founding Document that started it all on top of it is the worst thing that could happen in our state for these elected officials to look at the Bill of Rights and say to themselves that those Amendment are not worth following because I have a different opinion, belief or feeling on that Amendment that I am personally going to take the individual right of every person in Virginia just because I don't want to follow these Amendments as they are written. Do you understand how this is being a tyrannical government just like the British were when they were trying to control the entire population at the time that we had the Revolution in this great land to start this great country. When people say that the 2nd Amendment is dated and need to be revised but can see the actual beauty in how our forefathers predicted that this Amendment would be necessary throughout time to even to the year 2026 were we have a government that is looking at this exact Amendment and saying no we don't have to follow that anymore because we have all these people that don't like the fact that a free person of the United States of America can purchase anything that has to do with their ability to not only protect themselves in self defense but also to protect themselves from the tyrannical government that is before us today. I'm sorry but as a person that has no affiliation to a political party or any other organization on this subject in our country I believe in our Constitution and the Amendments that were written in the Bill of Rights to protect myself, my family and my friends from people that think that they know what is best for everyone in our country on the basis that they either think they are smarter, richer or elected.

I as a resident of The State of Virginia agree and stand with the positions of the VCDL, GOA, and every other gun rights organization in opposition to all of the firearm restriction bills that you have proposed ,as each are unconstitutional and violate our God given rights.

I am a resident of Ashburn in Loudoun County. I respectfully submit this written testimony in opposition to HB101 and HB1015. I oppose HB101 because changes to concealed handgun permit application submission methods risk introducing inconsistent standards, administrative delays, or discretionary barriers for otherwise qualified applicants. Virginia’s existing permitting framework has functioned effectively by maintaining clear, uniform procedures that balance public safety with due process. Altering submission methods without clear safeguards may disproportionately burden law-abiding citizens without addressing criminal misuse of firearms. I also oppose HB1015 due to concerns regarding proportionality, due process, and the broad scope of misdemeanor hate crime classifications. Extending long-term firearm prohibitions based on misdemeanor convictions risks imposing lasting consequences without sufficient consideration of context, rehabilitation, or individualized assessment. Policies based on offense categorization rather than demonstrated ongoing risk may result in unintended or unequal impacts on individuals who have completed their sentence and are otherwise law-abiding. In both cases, I am concerned that these bills emphasize procedural or categorical restrictions rather than focusing on enforcement of existing laws, accountability for violent conduct, and protection of due process. I respectfully urge the committee to oppose HB101 and HB1015. Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony for the public record and for your consideration.

I strongly oppose this bill!

I support HB871 because keeping guns out of the hands of kids is vital. I support HB901 as I acknowledge that those closest to a person can often be the ones who are able to spot causes for concern. I support HB907 as it should help to deter “smash and grab” incidents. I support HB969 as CVIs have proven to be incredibly effective in deterring gun violence. I support HB1015 as I believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth. I support HB1359 as it would reduce gun violence by ensuring only eligible, vetted individuals can purchase firearms, and it would also help to prevent impulsive or high-risk purchases.

A misdemeanor treated like a felony? Absolutely disgusting!

I stand strongly with the VCDL on these proposed laws. VA has always been a bipartisan state on gun issues, and although the second amendment has may purposes- it must be preserved to protect the citizens of this state. Overreaching federal law enforcement, and all threats domestic and foreign are kept in line by responsible firearm ownership. Gun control also impacts lower income groups, impoverished populations, and people of color disproportionately. We must preserve the 2nd amendment.

I strongly oppose this bill.

A misdemeanor shouldn't cause someone to lose their civil rights.

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the recently proposed bills on gun control. While I understand the intent behind these bills—to enhance public safety—I firmly believe that they will have unintended consequences that infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. The Second Amendment guarantees "the right of individuals to keep and bear arms", and it is a fundamental part of what makes this country free. These bills being proposed would place unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on responsible gun owners, making it harder for Virginians to exercise their rights in a lawful and safe manner. Rather than focusing on restricting access to firearms, I urge the General Assembly to consider measures that target criminals and illegal activities, such as enforcing stricter penalties for those who use firearms in the commission of crimes, or improving background checks for gun purchases. It is essential to address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues and gang-related activity, rather than punishing responsible gun owners who follow the law. Furthermore, these proposed bills could create significant logistical challenges for gun owners, particularly those who rely on their firearms for self-defense, hunting, or recreational activities. The financial burden and potential legal ramifications of complying with these new regulations would be overwhelming for many Virginians. I strongly urge you to reconsider these proposals and to focus on policies that protect both our rights and our communities. I trust that you will make the best decision for all Virginians, and I sincerely hope that you will oppose these bills.

I support the presented gun laws that will improve the Commonwealth’s safety

In 2021, my elderly stepmother shot through a closed door during an argument with my elderly father, striking him in the back and paralyzing him. My father has spent the past five years in extreme physical agony, unable to walk, paying caretakers out of pocket to hoist him in and out of bed, unable to care for himself. The lack of movement in his life has led to horrific bed sores, which become bone infections, which lead to extended hospital stays and a horrible quality of life. All this because my stepmother was allowed to have a gun. There are countless stories like this of the bullet's aftermath: of the lifelong physical and mental damage that comes from guns. It has been a horrific five years, full of physical pain and mental anguish for our entire family. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. The bills before you now will not only save lives, they will spare whole swaths of our neighborhoods from needing to deal with these horrors. One bullet, lodged in my father's spine, didn't kill him. Instead, it has shattered the life he had, his ability to work and care for himself, and his family. Each bullet we allow in our communities has the ability to do the same. His care has bankrupted him personally, and now he relies on state care and Medicaid, an avoidable burden on taxpayers. There are numerous reasons guns have no place in our society, and I hope my father's story is just one that helps make change. Please support all bills that make guns harder to access, harder to keep. Please do everything you can to keep guns out of the hands of our society. Thank you for the great work you are doing to keep Virginians safe.

I am writing to oppose the current slate of firearm restriction bills before the General Assembly. While these proposals are framed as public safety measures, in practice they disproportionately harm marginalized Virginians — including racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals (especially trans people), immigrants, and low-income residents — who often face higher risks of targeted violence and slower or unequal police response. These bills add costs, delays, and bureaucratic hurdles to exercising a fundamental right. Increased fees, mandatory waiting periods, feature bans, and expanded disqualifications fall hardest on people with limited financial resources, unstable work schedules, or justified concerns about their personal safety. For many vulnerable individuals, the ability to lawfully and promptly acquire a firearm is not about ideology, but about self-defense. History shows that restrictive gun laws are most aggressively enforced in minority communities, amplifying disparities in arrests, prosecution, and legal exposure — even when no harm has occurred. Expanding civil liability, criminal penalties, and subjective risk standards increases that risk. Public safety should not come at the expense of civil rights or equal access to self-protection. Policies that price people out of their rights or delay lawful self-defense do not address the root causes of violence and instead leave the most vulnerable less safe. I respectfully urge you to oppose these bills and support approaches that protect both public safety and the rights of all Virginians, regardless of income, identity, or background. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Such bills if passed would provide little benefit to the safety of Virginia citizens. Gun violence is not a major concern in Virginia, and criminals will neither abide nor be limited by such legislation. Instead, many responsible citizens would lose their rights. There is no reason to pass such measures. In addition, many of these bills are not written to an excellent level of clarity and will spur much confusion on what remains legal or illegal.