We MUST have stricter gun laws. At this point its common sense. Please protect our children and have stricter gun laws in order to keep our children safe at school and beyond.

Stop this gun control crap you people don't know what the difference between a true assault weapon is I carried one during the gulf war and it's not like the one I have in my gun cabinet AR-15 sold in gun shops is not a assault weapon so give public the true information or better yet put it to a vote by the people let the people decide

I SUPPORT this bill because I believe that hate has no place in our state, I want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth, and it should be common sense that someone convicted of a hate crime should not own a gun.

I am writing in support of HB1597 and the safe storage of a firearm in a vehicle. This is a common sense safe storage gun law to prevent a firearm getting into the hands of a minor. I am writing in support of HB1977 in prohibited possession of a firearm in a hospital with mental health services. I am a nurse in a Richmond city hospital that does provide mental healt services. It is very important that fire arms are prohibited from theses areas to protect the health care workers and patients at this hospital. I am writing in support of HB2064 the providing of locking devices with the sale of a fire arm. This is a common sense and easy safe storage bill. It will provide the purchaser to have easy access to a locking device to keep anyone entering their house or vehicle safe from using this fire arm. I am writing in support of HB2241. I SUPPORT this bill because I believe that hate has no place in our state, and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

I support this bill. We have seen the awful/lethal impact of hate crimes in Virginia and I support any common sense approach to addressing this issue.

I believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

We support this bill because we believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth

I support these bills as they prevent those that may not have clear mental faculties from having access to firearms while they are working on treatment for those issues. Many items for purchase in Virginia require that we have safety measures purchased in order to use them - including cars and alcohol. Requiring a gun lock for firearm purchases is common sense to ensure that those that should not be using the gun don't have access to it. Those that have been convicted of a hate crime should also not have access to guns as they have been convicted of criminal act that is motivated by bias against a person or their property. If immigrants are being deported because they are criminals, then citizens that are criminals shouldn't have access to firearms.

We SUPPORT this bill because we believe that hate has no place in our state, and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

I support this bill because I believe that hate has no place in our state and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

On HB1977. Please pass this bill. Prohibiting weapons in any facility is common sense and a way to keep people safe including mental health or emergency medical care. Commonsense restrictions on gun access is important to Virginians and in this case we should do all we can to protect the safety of our medical care providers and those in their care. On HB2064. How this is not already a law is shocking? People who own firearms should automatically be given a way to lock up their weapon. All firearms in Virginia should come with a warning label about keeping it out of the hands of kids. Guns are the #1 cause of death in children, we must make this law. On HB2241. There is no space for Hate in Virginia or anywhere. Now more than ever, we must make sure that criminals especially those convicted of a hate crime are never able to own a gun. Minority communities - and all Virginians should be protected in every way possible.

I am writing in support of HB2241. Hate has no place in Virginia, and people convicted of hate crimes should not have access to lethal weapons.

We SUPPORT this bill because we believe that hate has no place in our state, and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

We SUPPORT this bill as commonsense restrictions on gun access and believe in protecting the safety of our medical care providers. Guns are the #1 cause of death in children, we SUPPORT this bill. We SUPPORT this bill because we believe that hate has no place in our state, and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

We SUPPORT this bill as commonsense restrictions on gun access and believe in protecting the safety of our medical care providers. Guns are the #1 cause of death in children, we SUPPORT this bill. We SUPPORT this bill because we believe that hate has no place in our state, and want to protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

HB2064: A gun is huge responsibility and having a mandatory lock would help prevent accidental injuries and death, especially among the most vulnerable, the children. #1 cause of death among children is gun violence. HB2241: A hate crime indicates malice towards others. Allowing guns into the hands of people who commit hate crimes is inviting even more egregious crimes to be committed.

I support this bill. Hate has no place in our state, and we should protect minority communities in our commonwealth.

Hoping for common sense policies from democrats who think of all Virginia citizens first. Please keep the hard working people in mind because we are the ones paying for it.

Please oppose HB2241. It would be wrong for Virginian's to lose constitutional rights based on misdemeanor hate crimes. This would be abused. Would someone lose their gun rights for wearing an NRA hat or patch? If there was a felony charge for the hate crime, yes, but not a misdemeanor. This could easily conflict with 1st Amendment issue depending on the persons mindset. Please oppose this bill.

Good afternoon, Thank you Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Erin Earp and I'm a Senior Policy Attorney with the GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Prior to working for GIFFORDS, I was an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Alexandria, VA for 8 years. I write to express my, and GIFFORDS, support for Del. Tran's bill, HB2241, which would prohibit individuals from possessing firearms if they have been convicted of simple assault or assault and battery as a hate crime. Research shows that people who have been convicted of violent hate crimes tend to continue or escalate their behavior, and hate crimes are on the rise. In recent years, the FBI has elevated “racially motivated violent extremism” to a top-level priority threat, and identifying white supremacy as a major driver of mass casualty attacks. Between 2014 and 2021, hate crimes increased 94%. Each year, over 10,000 bias-motivated attacks are committed involving firearms. Those who have attacked someone because of their race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation should not be permitted to purchase or possess firearms. These individuals have shown that they are a danger to marginalized communities, and these communities deserve to be protected. I urge you to favorably report this bill. Thank you.

As a mom, former social worker, and gun owner, I believe in supporting gun legislation that underscores the responsibility of gun ownership and provides protection for our children and loves ones in our communities. I support HB 1869, HB 2064, and HB 2241. I oppose HB 1559, HB 2412 and HB 2414.

HB1559 (SUPPORT) clarifies that you don't need to furnish proof of training when renewing your CHP HB1869 (OPPOSE) expands the prohibition of rights for people convicted of *misdemeanor* assault and battery HB2064 (OPPOSE) requires dealers to post warnings and supply warnings with firearms, as well as supply locking devices HB2145 (SUPPORT) would remove the 30-day wait to purchase for those with new VA driver's licenses that are Real IDs HB2242 (OPPOSE) would prohibit the rights of someone convicted of a *misdemeanor* "hate" crime HB2412 (SUPPORT) would remove the carry ban in VA rest areas and ABC stores HB2414 (SUPPORT) would define in-person training for CHP to include online platforms like Zoom, etc., where the instructor and student can see each other and interact in real time

I am a clinical psychologist who has worked in forensic and correctional mental health for over forty years in Virginia. As such, I have extensive experience evaluating and treating both juveniles and adults who have engaged in gun violence, including mass murder. I have also worked as a police psychologist and have been trained to use firearms. I can confidently assure you that a “good guy with a gun” can at any moment become a danger to society, and laws that limit access to firearms do indeed deter both self-harm and harm to others. For that reason, I support each of these bills that provide for greater ‘good sense’ gun safety. Perhaps more to the point is the fact that most individuals who kill are not interested in nor are they amenable to mental health treatment- regardless of how much this would appear to make sense. Unfortunately, portraying gun violence as a mental health issue will do nothing to reduce the problem. Controlling access to weapons, mandating thoughtful training and registration, and placing safety and the sanctity of life above all else is the only reasonable, respectful and PROVEN response to the threat of impulsivity, entitlement and rage. After spending my professional lifetime with violent offenders, let me assure you that the vast majority of folks who are viewed as “crazy,” still remain very much aware of credibly serious and consistent consequences for bad behavior. Gun violence is NOT a mental health issue but good sense laws and human life are a right above all others.

I strongly oppose the bill that prohibits individuals convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes from possessing firearms, making it a Class 6 felony. This legislation is overly punitive, infringing on Second Amendment rights as established in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008). It disregards the principle of proportionality in punishment, highlighted in Graham v. Florida (2010), by equating a misdemeanor with felony-level consequences. The bill lacks a rehabilitative approach, ignoring the potential for personal growth, contrary to the ethos discussed in Roper v. Simmons (2005). It's too broad, risking misapplication, similar to concerns in Wisconsin v. Mitchell (1993). It also undermines self-defense rights, a core Second Amendment purpose, as seen in Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005). Furthermore, it raises due process issues by not allowing for appeals or reassessment of risk, violating principles from United States v. Salerno (1987). The potential for biased enforcement, akin to issues in Batson v. Kentucky (1986), and the hindrance of societal reintegration, as discussed in Padilla v. Kentucky (2010), are significant concerns. This bill should be rejected for its lack of balance between public safety and individual rights.

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I support this bill.