As a committed voter who has lived in Virginia for almost 50 years, I truly value the sensible gun safety laws that were put in place under Governor Northam. We need to keep them in place to combat the suicides, accidental shootings and fear invoked by gun carriers so that Virginia remains a safe place where people want to live. No one needs to buy more than one handgun a month. More guns do not make a safer environment. Helping people with jobs, providing better training for police, making mental health care more available---these make a safer environment. Please keep that in mind as you consider the new budget for 2022 and beyond.

I am a committed voter, have lived in Virginia for 30 years. I truly value the sensible gun safety laws that were put in place in the last four years, under Governor Northam. We need to keep them in place to combat the suicides, accidental shootings and fear invoked by gun carriers so that Virginia remains a safe place where people want to live. No one needs to buy more than one handgun a month. Do we really think repealing that law is necessary? More guns do not make a safer environment. Helping people with jobs, providing better training for police, making mental health care more available - these things make a safer environment. Please keep that in mind as you consider the new budget for 2022 and beyond.

Please support the proposed budget item for $27.4 million to address gun violence in Virginia. The funds will establish the Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention at the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which will work across public safety and public health sectors to collect data and publish reports on violence caused by firearms. The information will be shared with state and local agencies, higher education institutions, research institutions, hospitals and other medical care facilities, and community-based organizations. The center will also establish model policies for law-enforcement personnel. Senator Jennifer McClellan is submitting legislation with Delegate Marcia Price to establish the center.

For 3 long years I lived in fear of a repeat violent felon who obtained a firearm via a "straw man" purchaser, a relative, who knew well the danger he was contributing to. Despite law enforcement awareness of the situation, sadly, one of the bullets I believe was meant for me shattered the leg of a five year old, another narrowly missed her brother's head as they huddled in terror behind a locked bathroom door. Stories like this are all too common and they can be prevented but only when adults have the political courage to take a stand for public safety. We all know of brave law enforcement officers, soldiers, sailers, and Marines suffering post traumatic stress from gun battles. Imagine the impact on an innocent child. Please support the proposed budget item for $27.4 million to address gun violence in Virginia. The funds will establish the Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention at the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which will work across public safety and public health sectors to collect data and publish reports on violence caused by firearms. The information will be shared with state and local agencies, higher education institutions, research institutions, hospitals and other medical care facilities, and community-based organizations. The center will also establish model policies for law-enforcement personnel. Thanks goes to Senator Jennifer McClellan and Delegate Marcia Price for submitting legislation to establish the center.

Please support the proposed budget item for $27.4 million to address gun violence in Virginia. The funds will establish the Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention at the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which will work across public safety and public health sectors to collect data and publish reports on violence caused by firearms. The information will be shared with state and local agencies, higher education institutions, research institutions, hospitals and other medical care facilities, and community-based organizations. The center will also establish model policies for law-enforcement personnel. Senator Jennifer McClellan is submitting legislation with Delegate Marcia Price to establish the center.