Strongly support this bill to disarmed Virginia citizens, they don't need guns or firearms, tomato and banana peels are better self defense tools then any weapons or better yet a pineapple can do alot of damage too.

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.

U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". These are a slap to the face of law abiding gun owners of the state of Virginia. I'm atonished at the blatan ignorance of a firearm and my rights, who voted for these idiots?

I agree with VCDL.

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 strongly support this bill.

Oppose every and all bills.

I stand with the VCDL on these bills.

I stand with VCDL on these bills.

I stand with VCDL on these bills. "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". End of story. Let me point you back to the part that states "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED".

I stand with VCDL on these bills.

I stand with VCDL on all firearms bills

I stand with the VCDL concerning these bills

Why is it when the world turns to shit all the elected representatives in the Democratic Party wants to pass nonsense firearm legislation Lets go after the actual criminals once Use the firearm laws already in the books and hold criminals accountable instead of creating criminals from law abiding firearm owners unless it’s part of the agenda to disarm the citizens Which is what it’s looking like. I am an independent voter just for reasons such as this

I stand with VCDL on these bills!

Gun control will not be tolerated. I have a ton of money and will see you in court.

I stand with VCDL on all the above bills

I stand with the VCDL on these bills.

I stand with the Virginia Citizens Defense League on these bills.

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 not going to sugar coat this.. the anti gun bills need to stop. As a Former Virginia Police Officer I urge you to support the 2nd amendment just as I did for many years serving Arlington, Virginia. Leave the guns alone, go after the criminals and let people carry their firearms. We as Cops can use the good guys.

I stand in full support of the VCDL against these unconstitutional bills! You folks were elected to serve the Virginia citizen, not turn them into you serfs!

I stand with the VCDL on all issues

HB101 – Support I support HB101 because it modernizes the concealed handgun permit process by allowing digital and online submissions. This bill improves access for law-abiding citizens, reduces administrative burden on local offices, and increases efficiency without compromising public safety or the integrity of background checks. Modern government services should reflect current technology, and HB101 moves Virginia in that direction. HB106 – Support I support HB106 because it reduces the maximum concealed handgun permit fee from $50 to $25 by lowering law enforcement background check costs. This bill promotes fairness by ensuring that permitting fees reflect actual administrative expenses rather than acting as a financial barrier to the exercise of a constitutional right. Responsible citizens should not be priced out of lawful compliance. HB540 – Support I support HB540 because it allows women with active protective orders against a family or household member to carry a firearm in locations that are otherwise restricted. This bill recognizes the heightened and immediate safety risks faced by victims of domestic violence and provides them with a lawful means of self-defense during a vulnerable period. It balances public safety with personal security and individual rights. HB623 – Support I support HB623 because it establishes a clear legal process to petition for the return of confiscated firearms. This bill strengthens due process protections by ensuring that law-abiding citizens have a fair and timely pathway to reclaim property once legal grounds for confiscation no longer exist. Transparency and accountability in this process benefit both the public and the justice system. HB691 – Support I support HB691 because it removes the option for localities to prohibit firearms in parks and at permitted events. This bill promotes uniformity in state law, ensuring that citizens are not subject to a patchwork of local rules that can create confusion and unintended violations. Consistent statewide standards improve clarity, compliance, and respect for lawful carry. HB692 – Support I support HB692 for the same reasons as HB106: it lowers the maximum concealed handgun permit fee to better reflect actual background check and administrative costs. This bill helps ensure that the permitting process remains accessible, equitable, and focused on public safety rather than revenue generation. HB696 – Support I support HB696 because it removes the prohibition on carrying a firearm in highway rest areas, stops, and government-run retail locations such as ABC stores. This bill acknowledges that these locations are often transit points where individuals may be traveling long distances and should be able to maintain lawful self-defense. It aligns carry laws with practical, real-world safety considerations.

I stand with VCDL

I support the VCDL's stance on these bills.

I side with the VCDL on these bills.

I agree with the VCDL

I agree with the VCDL on these bills. Thank you.

I agree with the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) on the bills selected. For further clarification: The stance that the VCDL takes on these bills, I also take the same stance.

I strongly support HB691. Virginians deserve clear, consistent firearm laws that do not change from one locality to another. This bill helps prevent confusion and accidental violations by maintaining uniform standards across the Commonwealth.

I want to speak about the gun control bills that are up for a vote.

Dear Committee Members, I urge you to appose all further restrictions on the right of law abiding Virginians to aquire, keep, and lawfully carry firearms. While this will likely fall on deaf ears, it is obvious that such unconstitutional bills do nothing to curb violence and are entirely intended to penalize law abiding citizens of apposing political persuasion. Even the most modest estimates of defensive gun use annually shows that citizens defend themselves with firearms far more often than do criminals commit murder with them. Only law abiding citizens are impeded by such overreach.

Members of the General Assembly, I submit this letter in response to several firearms-related bills currently under consideration, including HB101, HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, HB696, and HB702. While these proposals differ in scope, they collectively expand government control over the lawful exercise of a constitutionally protected right. That cumulative effect warrants careful scrutiny. The Second Amendment was not adopted as a policy preference or regulatory convenience. It was written as a structural safeguard, grounded in the Founders’ experience with centralized authority and their understanding of history and human nature. At its core, the Second Amendment exists to solve a problem the Founders knew well from history: free republics collapse when the government holds a monopoly on force. This concern was not abstract. British gun control policies played a direct role in sparking the American Revolution, including the 1774 import ban on firearms and gunpowder, the 1774–1775 confiscations of privately owned arms and powder, and the use of violence to enforce those confiscations. On the morning of April 19, 1775, British forces marched to Lexington and Concord for the explicit purpose of seizing firearms, ammunition, and powder from the colonists. The first shots of the Revolution were fired not over abstract theory, but over disarmament. The Founders carried these lessons forward. They distrusted standing armies and concentrated power, understanding that liberty survives only when authority remains restrained and answerable to the people. To them, the militia was not a narrow, state-controlled force, but the people themselves. George Mason stated plainly, “I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.” James Madison explained that an armed populace serves as a safeguard against abuse of power, writing that “the advantage of being armed… forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition.” This applied not only to foreign threats, but to domestic overreach. The goal was deterrence and prevention, not reaction after liberty has been lost. Alexander Hamilton likewise observed that a standing army could never threaten liberty so long as the people retained comparable access to arms and training. The Founders relied on balance and structure, not perpetual trust in future leaders. Samuel Adams made this understanding explicit during the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, stating, “The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” This reflects the Founders’ clear intent that lawful citizens retain arms independent of government discretion. The Bill of Rights restrains government power. The Second Amendment enforces those restraints. Rights that exist only at the discretion of the state are not rights at all. The Amendment’s language is declarative, recognizing a pre-existing right because a well-armed citizenry is necessary to the security of a free state. I respectfully urge the General Assembly to evaluate these bills not only individually, but for their combined impact on the constitutional balance between the citizen and the government. Legislation affecting a fundamental right should meet the highest standard of necessity and restraint. The preservation of liberty demands nothing less. Respectfully, Brad Rector, MSgt, USAF Ret Williamsburg, VA

I would urge the committee to support HB101, HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, and HB696. These bills will make it easier for citizens of the commonwealth to comply with firearms regulation by reducing costs and friction. Making compliance easier can only increase both the rate of compliance and the legitimacy of the law itself by ensuring that the citizens needn't jump through arbitrary hoops or bear unnecessary burdens. I hope the committee members will make it easier for the public to be active participants in their own safety. Thank you.

As a lifelong Virginia resident, landowner, taxpayer, and active voter in Fauquier County, I strongly urge this committee to support legislation that strengthens and preserves the constitutional rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth. The right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes—including self-defense, recreation, and sporting use—is explicitly protected by both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia. As duly elected representatives of the Commonwealth, you have sworn an oath to uphold and defend these rights. I expect that oath to be honored. This body should be working to make it easier, simpler, and more affordable for law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights—not placing additional financial, legal, or bureaucratic barriers in their way. The focus of public policy must be on addressing the real drivers of violence in our communities: untreated mental illness, repeat violent offenders, and a failure to enforce existing laws. This is a crisis of violence—not of lawful firearm ownership. Criminals, by definition, do not respect the law or human life. Punishing responsible citizens with higher taxes, increased restrictions, and diminished freedoms does nothing to deter those who already operate outside the law. The solution I expect from my elected officials is firm enforcement of existing statutes, tougher sentencing for violent offenders, and the removal of hate-filled, violent criminals from our communities—not the erosion of fundamental liberties. I strongly support the bills currently before this committee that advance these principles. I expect you to support them in committee and, should they reach the floor, to vote in their favor. As a voter, I am paying close attention.

I stand with the VCDL regarding our inherent Second Amendment rights. You took an oath to protect, defend, and uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Law abiding citizens should NOT have to have our rights stolen based on others unconstitutional views.

I agree with VCDL's position on all bills.

I fully support this bill. Please respect our 2nd amendment rights.

I am in strong support for House Bills 101, 106, 540, 623, 691, 692, 696. Not only do they ensure that our access to carry remain affordable to the average person, they expand options for women who have more of a need to conceal carry.

These anti -gun bills are unconstitutional. Under no circumstances should they be passed into law. “Shall not be infringed!”

I support VCDL’s position on the following bills. As one of the founding colonies, Virginia has a long history of firearms being kept, stored, and used by the average citizen and not relegated to an elite class. Virginias founders understood the importance of an armed population to protect against the dangers of tyranny and external maligned forces

I write today in support of sensible, practical reforms before the Virginia General Assembly that enhance public safety, uphold constitutional rights, and improve fairness and efficiency in the Commonwealth’s approach to firearms law. Specifically, I support HB 101, HB 106, HB 692, HB 691, and HB 696, each of which advances responsible firearm policy rooted in clarity, consistency, and respect for law-abiding citizens. HB 101 modernizes the concealed handgun permit (CHP) system by providing alternate methods for submitting applications. By expanding how eligible Virginians can apply for their permit, this bill promotes accessibility and administrative efficiency without altering substantive eligibility requirements. This change helps ensure that the CHP process is not unduly burdensome or outdated, particularly for individuals with limited mobility, transportation challenges, or work-related constraints.  HB 106 reduces the maximum fee that local law enforcement agencies may charge to process a concealed handgun permit, aligning the cost more closely with the actual costs of background checks and administrative work. This common-sense reform ensures that permit fees do not become a financial barrier for citizens exercising their lawful rights, particularly for lower-income Virginians seeking to responsibly obtain a permit. Delinking the fee from outdated cost structures helps simplify and standardize the system across jurisdictions. Complementing HB 106, HB 692 also revises concealed handgun permit fee structures, reinforcing the effort to streamline and reduce costs associated with lawful carry. Consistency in fee reform across related bills sends a clear message that Virginia prioritizes eliminating unnecessary financial obstacles while maintaining essential background checks and procedural safeguards.  HB 691 addresses disparities in local firearm regulations by removing the option for localities to impose broad bans on the possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms and ammunition in public parks, streets, sidewalks, or areas adjacent to permitted events. Uniform statewide standards respect both public safety and the rights of Virginians to engage in lawful self-defense and outdoor recreation without facing a patchwork of varying local ordinances. Far from “one-size-fits-all,” this reform reinforces predictability and fairness in the law.  HB 696 provides clarifications and exceptions for carrying firearms or explosive material into buildings owned or leased by the Commonwealth, particularly for highway rest areas and government stores. By refining such exceptions, this bill ensures that lawful firearm possession is not unduly penalized in low-risk environments where individuals have legitimate reasons for carry while traveling or conducting routine errands. Clarity in these exceptions enhances both public safety and respect for individual rights.  Together, these bills strengthen the balance between public safety and personal liberty by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, standardizing regulatory environments, and ensuring that law-abiding Virginians can understand and comply with state law. They focus government action on meaningful public-safety outcomes rather than on administrative complexity or inconsistent local regulations.

I stand with VCDL.

There shouldn’t be any fees associated with the right to carry a firearm. Permits are nothing but the state taking a right and selling you it back to you. There should be no restricted locations in which a firearm can’t be carried.

I agree with the VCDL on this bill. The 2nd Amendment shall not be infringed.

I support the bills sponsored by Delegates Ballard, Hamilton, Cherry, and Zehr. I recommend they all be reported out of the Firearms subcommittee. I believe the bill sponsored by Delegate Cole is a waste of my tax dollars and would recommend that it is not reported out of the subcommittee. Thank you.

HB106, HB692: My out-of-state concealed carry license costs me $50. I should not have to pay the Commonwealth of VA such a high fee to be my own security. This should cost $0, but $25 down from $50 at least makes an improvement. HB623: The rightful owners of any weapon should have the ability to retrieve property wrongfully taken from them. Once the justice system's need for the weapon has ended, keeping the weapon from the rightful owner, who committed no wrongdoing, only makes the Commonwealth of VA a thief itself. HB691: Prohibiting the carry of firearms in parks and publicly permitted events does not make either safer. Anyone who would do harm will not abide by such restrictions, and such restrictions only make others soft targets. I used to run the trail in one such park that now prohibits the carry of firearms. A brutal murder took place there, and the current ban only makes someone like me less safe and more vulnerable. Similarly, in highway rest stops, the more dangerous part of making a stop happens when outside of a vehicle. It makes no sense to un-holster a firearm, potentially in a tight space, only store the firearms in a somewhere in the vehicle while I walk to where I cannot access it. HB702: Destroying a working firearm makes no sense whatsoever. This bill creates a waste of resources. It wastes raw materials and energy. Vote this down and replace it with a bill that makes surrendered guns purchasable at a discount by low-income buyers or by retired military, law enforcement, or first responders.

HB106, HB692: My out-of-state concealed carry license costs me $50. I should not have to pay the Commonwealth of VA such a high fee to be my own security. This should cost $0, but $25 down from $50 at least makes an improvement. HB623: The rightful owner of any weapon should have the ability to retrieve his or her property wrongfully taken from them. Once the justice system's need for the weapon has ended, keeping the weapon from the rightful owner, who committed no wrongdoing, only makes the Commonwealth of VA a thief itself. HB691: Prohibiting the carry of firearms in parks and publicly permitted events does not make either safer. Anyone who would do harm will not abide by such restriction, and such restrictions only make others soft targets by prohibiting. I used to run the trail in one such park that now prohibits the carry of firearms. A brutal murder took place there, and the current ban only makes someone like me less save and more vulnerable. Similarly, in highway rest stops, the more dangerous part of making a stop happens when outside of a vehicle. It makes no sense to un-holster a firearm, potentially in a tight space only store the firearms in a somewhere in the vehicle while I walk to where I cannot access it. HB702: Destroying a working firearm makes no sense whatsoever. This bill creates a waste of resources. It wastes raw materials and energy. Vote this down and replace it with a bill that makes surrendered guns purchasable at a discount by low-income buyers or by retired military, law enforcement, or first responders.

I stand with VCDL.

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.

No new firearms laws will lower gun violence rates. Begin enforcing the existing laws and stop letting violent offenders off the hook. All of the firearms related bills being presented fly directly in the face of the 2nd amendment. Making guns harder to come by for law abiding citizens does not stop criminals from getting them. They don’t obey the law anyway! If you pass these bills it will be a direct statement that you do not care about the rights of Virginia residents and only seek to disarm all citizens. The second amendment is quite clear, “shall not be infringed”, stop infringing on our rights given to us by our creator God almighty. Please, truly think about what you are voting for. I think you will realize that the majority of Virginians do not want these new gun laws and that they will be ineffective at achieving your intended goals. Whether that be a sincere attempt to lower gun violence or an overt attempt to disarm law abiding American citizens. Thank you for the time you dedicate to serving our great commonwealth and for taking the time to read this comment.

I agree with VCDL on all these bills.

I support the VCDL stance on these bills.

I agree with the VCDL.

I support House Bills 101, 106, 540, 623, 691, 692, and 696. The 2nd amendment is a neccessary to prevent any government infringement on our liberties. It is particularly neccessary in the time that we are currently living through. With the current civil unrest throughout the country we should encourage more gun ownership and carrying of firearms. The Virginia Constitution in Article I Section 3 states that "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed...". I believe these laws lessen the infringements on the rights that so many Virginians died for. I strong oppose House Bill 702. I oppose the give-back program for two reasons. Firstly, I believe destroying these firearms will lead to the destruction of historical firearms. This has occured in many other states. It would be preferable to have them stored or resold. I also worry about the financial costs that a bill like this would have. The labor costs and cost of destruction could be better allocated in our schools, roads, or VIrginia State Police.

HB101: This allows for modern electronic methods of applying for concealed handgun permits. I strongly support this bill. HB106: The monetary burden for exercising your right to bear arms should be as low as possible so everyone can participate. I strongly support this bill. HB540: I strongly support this bill. HB623: There should always be a clearly defined route for having seized property of any kind returned. I strongly support this bill. HB691: Citizens should not have to choose between exercising their Constitutionally protected rights or enjoying the parks and other public facilities in their area - especially those of us that are parents and choose to bear arms to protect our families. I strongly support this bill. HB692: I strongly support this bill. HB696: Similar to HB691, I should be able to use the rest areas that my taxes help to pay for while peacefully exercising my right to bear arms in self defense. Lawful firearm owners are no danger to the other guests of these rest stops or government run stores. Criminals looking for easy targets will happily violate the law as it stands now to go armed in these areas knowing that their victims are disarmed. I strongly support this bill. HB702: Programs like the one that this bill are mainly used by family members to destroy heirloom firearms that are no longer wanted and in many cases rare or historic firearms are permanently destroyed with no option for museums, historians or collectors to rescue them. I OPPOSE this bill as it is written here and would prefer to see a program where the public is allowed access to purchase any abandoned firearms at fair market value before they are destroyed.

I am in favor of HB101,HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, and HB 696. I am against HB702 and any type of buy back program

HB101, Del. Ballard, this would be helpful and accessible to people with mobility impairments and stalking victims who fear leaving home HB106, Del. Ballard - this would make CHPs more accessible to the working poor living in expensive areas. HB540, Del. Hamilton - this will help victims of domestic violence far more HB623, Del. Cherry, - return of confiscated weapons should be automatic, but since it is not, this is the next best thing HB691, Del. Zehr, - courts have already ruled that laws restricting firearms in these areas are unconstitutional HB692, Del. Zehr, - this will help those whose budgets are already tight and is consistent with the reduction in charges based on court rulings that UBCs are unconstitutional for 18-21 year olds. HB696, Del. Zehr - stalkers only need to follow us into places where we cannot carry to complete their crimes. Let's reduce the availability of defense free zones HB702, Del. Cole, J., - this is an expensive program that lacks justification. There are services to dispose of unwanted firearms already, we don't need more government to achieve this.

I support VCDL’s position on this legislation.

The ability for localities to prevent citizens from being able to defend themselves in parks, roads, sidewalks, or any other area a typical citizen would normally go is reprehensible and entirely outside the scope of local government. These are not “sensitive areas.” No reasonable person would ever think these could be areas in which their rights are stripped. These laws are designed solely for the purpose of making it more stressful and difficult to protect yourself. As such, I urge you to support HB691 and prevent localities from stripping away the rights of you and your fellow Virginians.

All around Virginia, women are placed at risk by state and local restrictions on carrying guns. Please approve HB540, HB691, and HB696, which contain reasonable changes to allow vulnerable people to protect themselves when they are in public.

I am writing in support of HB101, HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, and HB696 and in opposition to HB702. Any bills returning us to the simple verbiage in the Constitution stating "shall not be infringed" is a bill that any representative should be happy to sign. HB702 is a nonsensical bill and unnecessary bill . Anyone no longer wishing to possess a firearm can very easily sell it to an FFL for compensation or destruction if it is beyond repair.

As a retired US Army Warrant Officer and avid gun enthusiast, I agree with the Virginia Citizens Defense League on these bills. Any infringement to our second amendment rights is unconstitutional and can not be allowed! This is a punishment to law abiding Virginians.

I agree with the VCDL positions regarding the above bills.

Comments Document

The attachment lays out reasoning and comments the committee should consider when reviewing House Bills 101, 106, 540, 623, 691, 692, 696 and 702.

I agree with VCDL. No infringement on my Constitutional Rights.

I agree with the VCDL on this bill.

I stand with VCDL on these bills, they are common sense and do no harm to law abiding gun owners.

We stand with VCDL

Please support these bills. As a Democrat and gun owner, we need to support common sense gun legislation that protects the rights of lawful gun owners and those seeking to purchase firearms for self-defense reasons. My girlfriend used a handgun to protect herself against a forced entry into her apartment. Without that firearm, which she did not fire, there is no telling what could have happened. Please support these bills - search your conscience.

I support HB101, HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, and HB696. I oppose HB702.

I agree with the VCDL on these bills. Any infringement to our second amendment rights is unconstitutional and can not be allowed!

I strongly support HB691. It is reckless to prohibit lawful carry in a public park. There is no secure perimeter, there are no metal detectors, and there generally are no security personnel. This means that the restriction only impacts law abiding citizens. Localities should not be allowed to disarm Virginians in any public space unless they take the necessary precautions to guarnatee their safety. In practice, this would require airport-like security to ensure that no person is armed. Otherwise, they are just creating a space where criminals know they can operate safely because they will not meet with armed resistance.

Chairman Clark and Members of the Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony regarding the several firearms-related bills scheduled for consideration on January 22nd. I submit this comment in strong opposition to any legislation that restricts the constitutional rights of law-abiding Virginians, including but not limited to HB540, HB691, HB696, and any bill that imposes new fees, new barriers, or expanded discretion over the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment is not a conditional privilege granted by the state — it is a pre-existing individual right that government is obligated to protect, not chip away at. This is not a matter of personal opinion; it is the settled law of the United States, reaffirmed in Heller (2008), McDonald (2010), and Bruen (2022). Under Bruen, any modern firearms restriction must align with this nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. None of the proposals in these bills satisfy that standard. On fee increases and permit limitations (HB101, HB106, HB692) Attempting to raise fees or add administrative hurdles to the concealed handgun permit process places a financial burden on the exercise of a constitutional right. Fundamental rights cannot be conditioned on a citizen’s ability to pay a government-imposed fee. That principle is well established across multiple Supreme Court rulings dealing with constitutional freedoms. On expanding local authority to restrict firearms (HB691) Allowing localities to create their own firearm restrictions guarantees inconsistency, confusion, and unequal treatment of Virginians depending on which side of a city line they stand. State-level preemption exists for a reason: constitutional rights should not be fragmented or subject to a patchwork of differing local rules. This approach is not compatible with constitutional uniformity. On forfeiture, reclassification, and new criminal penalties (HB523, HB696) These proposals do not target criminal behavior; they target lawful Virginians. Violent crime is already committed overwhelmingly by individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms. Adding new categories of liability or expanding restricted locations has no historical foundation and only burdens citizens who already comply with the law. On the Virginia Firearm Give-Back Program and Fund (HB720) While labeled as voluntary, state-funded “give-back” programs have repeatedly been shown nationwide to provide no measurable improvement in public safety. They serve only symbolic purposes while reinforcing the misguided narrative that lawful gun ownership is inherently problematic. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund ineffective strategies with no empirical foundation. I respectfully urge the Subcommittee to reject any bill that infringes upon the rights of law-abiding Virginians to own, carry, and responsibly use firearms. Public safety is not achieved by restricting the liberties of responsible citizens. It is achieved by enforcing existing laws against those who commit violent acts and by upholding the constitutional protections that every Virginian is entitled to. Thank you for your time and your attention to this critical issue. Respectfully submitted, Patrick McCormick Citizen, Commonwealth of Virginia

I strongly support HB101, HB106, HB540, HB623, HB691, HB692, HB696 and I respectfully request the members to Support these bills on behalf of the Citizens of Virginia. I am strongly opposed to HB702 I and respectfully request that Members oppose this bill on behalf of the Citizens of Virginia. Furthermore, I fully support the comments by VCDL- Virginia Citizens Defense League's on these proposed bills. Thank you, Chris McDorman

To the Honorable Members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am writing to you today to express my stance on several bills currently under review by this esteemed body. On Behalf of the People of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I agree with the Citizens Defense League on all these matters. And specifically, I disagree with HB 702. Not only is HB 702 a disgusting way to damage the environment with more trash, and encourages it, but the funds of the program are not correctly distributed back to where those taxes originally went. It also implies that the government gave me a product they did not and it's my responsibility to return it. Which is an inappropriate depiction of the government and certainly overreach. Thank You for reviewing my statement. Sincerely, A Concerned Citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia

These proposed bills are clear and direct violations of our 2nd Amendment Constitutional right. Virginia has been an upstanding example of bi-partisan gun ownership since its birth as a Commonwealth. At a time when many other constitutional rights are being directly challenged by the Federal Government, with little resistance from the Supreme Court & Congress, it is extremely ignorant and out of touch for Virginia representatives to even consider passing these unconstitutional bills. These proposed bills are clear and direct violations of our 2nd Amendment Constitutional right. Virginia has been an upstanding example of bi-partisan gun ownership since its birth as a Commonwealth. At a time when many other constitutional rights are being directly challenged by the Federal Government, with little resistance from the Supreme Court & Congress, it is extremely ignorant and out of touch for Virginia representatives to even consider passing these unconstitutional bills.

I agree with the VCDLs views on these bills. These bills seem to only be targeting law abding citizens, which i do not agree with nor believe Virginia resident's will be better off for. Laws such as these will actually make Virginians less safe.

I agree with the VCDLs views on these bills. They are government over reach. All gun laws are infringements on the second amendment. The bills give criminals an upper hand because they don’t follow laws.

I agree with the VCDL on this bill and VA should follow the 2nd Amendment and what is being established at the Federal Govt level.

I support the position of VCDL on this bill.

I support the VCDL on these bills. Recognizing and expanding the rights of peaceful carry and ownership of all sorts of firearms is an essential part of guaranteeing freedoms for all VA citizens.

I urge you to vote yes on these bills. These bills are moderate and common sense laws that help improve all Virginians ability to exercise their rights and protect themselves.

These proposed bills are clear and direct violations of our 2nd Amendment Constitutional right. Virginia has been an upstanding example of bi-partisan gun ownership since its birth as a Commonwealth. At a time when many other constitutional rights are being directly challenged by the Federal Government, with little resistance from the Supreme Court & Congress, it is extremely ignorant and out of touch for Virginia representatives to even consider passing these unconstitutional bills. Whether it is Republicans or Democrats it seems our rights are being pinched away, piece by piece. I ask our representatives and Governor to use "common sense" and not pass these blatant violations to our guaranteed constitutional right. You representatives cannot simply pick and choose which constitutional amendments apply to citizens or we may as well not have a constitution at all.