I oppose HB10. I have a concealed handgun permit and the small $10 fee to process the application is minor and appropriate. Service is not free and this small fee is better spent by the people applying for the permit rather than paying for the mailing/printing/background checks/clerical work through tax payer money. All things considered, the $10 is too low to cover all of the work done for these permits to exist.

I'm writing in protest of HB 25, in which anyone convicted of first offense of possession of child pornography will not be eligible to earn enhanced sentence credits. The bill is choosing to deny citizens an opportunity to demonstrate improved behavioral conduct, participating in assigned programs while incarcerated and receiving requisite enhanced sentence credits. Please do not pass this bill. Thank you.

I am Randy Carter, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the City of Suffolk and representing the Virginia Court Clerks Association (VCCA). We are opposed to HB 10. We Clerks process all resident concealed weapons applications. We have seen a steady increase over the last several years of concealed weapons applications. There is a considerable amount of work goes into processing these applications which goes far beyond the $10 fee we receive. And as you are well aware we are under a statutory time deadline to complete the application process so we must track these matters to insure compliance with the time requirements. A number of Clerks have obtained and us equipment using Technology Trust Fund money that allows us to issue plastic cards rather than the paper ones. Removing the $10 Clerk’s fee converts the concealed weapons application into an unfunded mandate. Government should at every opportunity endeavor use reasonable fees to pay for the services we render and not just seek General Revenue funds to accomplish this Our fear is should this become an unfunded mandate there will be a move to make other services we provide such as marriage licenses, for example free. An applicant must pay the DMV to obtain a license or other registration documents. We acknowledge that this bill would also affect local law enforcement whether the police or the Sheriff who would have to do the check for free. It is our opinion that a maximum $50 is not excessive and is necessary to compensate us for the work we do to process these. We would respectfully ask that you vote against this measure. Thank you for your consideration and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I may be reached at this email address or at 757-284-8333. Thank you, Randy Carter Clerk, Suffolk Circuit Court

Gambling is bad social policy; it is bad economic policy; and it is bad governmental policy. Moreover, it undermines the moral foundations of society and invites corruption in government. Gambling destroys families. Gambling is a major cause of family neglect. Many of the social costs associated with gambling come from its mindset. As people get caught up in a gambling frenzy, they begin to neglect their families. Money spent on lottery tickets or at horse tracks is frequently not risk capital but is income to meet family needs. In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul says that a person who refuses to care for his family is worse than an infidel. Parents must provide for their children (2 Corinthians 12:14) and eat the bread of their labors (2 Thessalonians 3:12). When gambling is legalized it tempts people to neglect their God-mandated responsibility to care for their families, and these families often end up on welfare. Gambling destroys the work ethic. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” And 2 Thessalonians 3:7,10 says, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. . . . For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” Gambling breeds a form of covetousness. The Tenth Commandment admonishes us not to covet. Coveting, greed, and selfishness are the base emotions that entice us to gamble. We should be concerned about gambling if for no other reason than the effect it has on the weaker brother and how it will affect the compulsive gambler. State-sponsored gambling makes it harder for the compulsive gambler to reform. Legalized gambling becomes an institutionalized form of greed. Gambling is a form of state-sponsored greed. Romans 13 states that government is to be a minister of God. Government should provide order in society and promote public virtue. Legalized gambling undercuts government’s role and subverts the moral fabric of society through greed and selfishness promoted by a state-sponsored vice. The Twentieth Century Fund Research Group: “Gambling’s get-rich-quick appeal appears to mock capitalism’s core values: disciplined work habits, thrift, prudence, adherence to routine, and the relationship between effort and reward.” These core values of the work ethic are all part of the free enterprise system. Gambling corrupts these values and replaces them with greed and selfishness. Rather than depending upon hard work, gamblers depend instead upon luck and chance.

My family and I strongly support Constitutional Carry. The Constitutional Right to protect oneself should not be burdened by permit requirements and fees. Eliminate these permit requirements and fees!

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I support bills 399, 590, 1306. Invisible, undetectable guns--ghost guns--should be banned. Similarly, firearms with the serial numbers removed should be banned. Firearms in homes with a minor MUST be secured. How many toddlers have to die before firearms are required to be secured?

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

RE: HB 399, Delegate Simon I write to oppose this bill. Supporters of this bill argue that banning possession of so-called “ghost guns” will close a background check loop hole through which a prohibited person may acquire or possess a firearm, specifically the un-serialized component of a firearm (i.e. frame or receiver) because a background check isn’t required to purchase or possess such a component. The claim here is that if only serialized components are available in the marketplace, then no one will be able to acquire an un-serialized version of such a component. Some sections of Virginia law define firearms, e.g. 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms. "Firearm" means any handgun, shotgun, or rifle that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material. "Handgun" means any pistol or revolver or other firearm originally designed, made and intended to fire single or multiple projectiles by means of an explosion of a combustible material from one or more barrels when held in one hand. but omit any requirement for a serial number, leaving such requirement to the BATFE. Current Federal law allows the private manufacture of firearms by an individual, not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession, for their own use, and does not require that such a firearm be serialized. The owner may request a serial number from the BATFE. However, the un-serialized firearm may never be transferred. It is impossible to know who has these un-serialized components, their quantity, when they were produced or purchased. Any law prohibiting their possession will not eliminate the current or future supply. It is also impossible to ban the sale or possession of such components (e.g. 80% receivers) as quite literally any sample of material could be so designated and such an item must be accurately described. Imposing a requirement to serialize a piece of lumber doesn’t determine if it will become a chair or a baseball bat. These issues beg the question of enforcement. How exactly would this be accomplished, or is it even feasible? It is most likely that prohibited individuals found in possession of such firearms or components will be discovered by conventional means, i.e. committing the usual crimes involving firearms. Discovery of the source of these “ghost guns” under these circumstances would likely involve plea bargaining, which rewards the dangerous criminal for revealing the less dangerous illicit manufacturer. Doug Peterson Newport News, VA 23608 Virginia Citizens Defense League

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

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

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I would like to speak to support HB590. I have recently closely experienced gun violence in my community. It has been as horrific as anyone can imagine. The accused who was a minor had easy access to a gun. I think if it would have been stored more securely while It may not have been fully prevented it, it would have made it more difficult. A talk with a minor is just not enough. We need to do more to keep weapons safe and prevent both gun violence as well as the accidents that continue to happen. If there is any opportunity to keep our guns stored more safely and out of minors hands, I don’t understand why others wouldn’t support that. Please support this bill. Thank you

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I support bills 399, 590, 1306. Invisible, undetectable guns--ghost guns--should be banned. Similarly, firearms with the serial numbers removed should be banned. Firearms in homes with a minor MUST be secured. How many toddlers have to die before firearms are required to be secured?

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

SUPPORT - My friend's 13 year old daughter was recently murdered in my neighborhood by a young teenager who had access to a gun and ammunition. The owner of this gun was not convicted of any wrong doing because it was determined that a "safety talk" was a sufficient step in trying to keep the gun away from this murderer. A "safety talk" is a completely inadequate step when trying to protect the access of a murder weapon. I work in education where I am exhausted from all the drills and from actual events responding to potential firearm situations. Where are these kids getting these guns?? A "safety talk" and a drill have not and will never be enough to keep our children safe. How many more innocent lives need to be lost? When will the rights of our most vulnerable, our own children, start to become prioritized? This bill is asking for the bare minimum in keeping our children safe. It is not taking away or infringing on anyone's second amendment rights but it is asking that with the second amendment right comes the responsibility to do everything in one's power to keep that right from killing innocent victims. Please help to prevent access to weapons and ammunition by children and teens so that we don't continue to lose loved ones by gun violence.

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

On March 26th, 2021 my neighbor and close friends' daughter was murdered by a teenager who was able to access a gun and ammunition from his home. The owner of the gun faces no consequences because he "gave a safety talk" to the killer, but still let this young man, with a history of violence and mental illness, know where the gun and trigger lock key was kept. It was this gun he used to kill our friend. It was not locked away separately from the ammunition. It was not loaded but kept in a fingerprint safe. It was a murder weapon and my friends and family and neighbors have been dealing with the horrific aftermath ever since. Just this morning my daughter's school went into a "lock and teach" situation because a student brought a gun to school. Fortunately, other students informed staff and the student was arrested. Where did this student get the gun? And why are lawmakers so content to let our kids continue to be traumatized, terrorized and murdered like this? Why are our lawmakers refusing to do the bare minimum to keep guns out of the hands of kids and teens? We are not asking for anyone to have their guns removed. We are not asking for any changes to the second amendment or your right to own weapons. We ARE asking that lawmakers do the bare minimum and pass a law that requires parents, guardians and anyone with children in their home to keep their weapons from being able to be accessed by anyone under 18. We cannot continue to risk the safety and mental health of our kids this way. Please do the very simple, humane thing and help prevent access to weapons and ammunition by children and teens. I do not want to go to another funeral for another gun violence victim, but at this point I'm just hoping my daughter graduates from high school without being shot at. Please have some empathy for us and our children.

Dear House Public Safety Subcommittee, I am asking that you vote AGAINST this unconstitutional bill, bill HB590, submitted by tyrant and control hungry Delegate VanVaulkenburg. This bill infringes on our Second Amendment rights and violates our Virginia Constitution. This bill will make it almost impossible for homeowners to defend themselves because an unloaded and hard to get to gun in self defense makes it useless. When seconds count it would take minutes, which could cost the life of my precious child or my family. As a wife, mother, and domestic violence survivor, I am asking you to pre against this bill. I am looking forward to mid-terms and voting out the tyrants who wrote and pass such Unconstitutional bills, and so so many of my neighbors. Only a power hungry wimpy man could support such a bill.

Opposed - this bill is not common sense. This outlandish bill effectively bans home-defense firearms for anyone with a minor in the home. Many Virginians currently keep a loaded handgun, rifle, and/or shotgun locked in a quick access safe by the bed, ready to deploy immediately if needed, but still secured from access by children. Many who carry a handgun for self-defense also store them in a quick-access safe when at home. That will not be permitted under HB 590. Instead, if the person needs their firearm for home defense, they must open two sets of locks, retrieve a firearm from one container and ammunition from another, and then load the firearm. In addition, the bill will effectively end youth hunting. It imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction on parents to prevent them from making their own decisions on when their children are ready to hunt on their own.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

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

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

Please vote yes for HB929. This only waves the redundant Virginia background check that should not be needed by any current FFL03 to purchase any firearm. Still will need to do a Federal Background check to purchase a modern firearm. No Virginia or Federal background check is currently required for any current FFL03 to purchase any firearm that is a C&R which is at least 50 years old

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

Please move to report HB70, HB509, HB1078, HB1339. Thank you.

HB10: Please remove all State and local government fees for obtaining a CHP. Provided a person is eligible to possess and/or carry a gun, there should be NO cost burden imposed by government, if they require a background check to exercise the Right, especially if it is to determine the Right to carry concealed, where there is NO government approval required to openly carry. This additional cost to exercise a Right is wrong. Sometimes the cost burden is another impediment to some citizens who could more benefit from concealed carry than others who can more readily absorb the cost. Avoid this whole question by passing Constitutional Carry, preserving CHPs for the excepted venues and latitudes. HB11: Remove all penalties for carrying a concealed handgun, provided a person is not otherwise precluded from carrying a handgun. Pass Constitutional Carry. HB204: Change from five days to three. HB325: How a person determines something -- including a firearm -- is "lost" may not be anywhere near how the Commonwealth's Attorney decides it was "lost". If you look for it for two weeks, and then decide it's "lost", report it, and the prosecutor decides it was lost two weeks ago -- when one may have started the 'due-diligence' search -- and then criminalize the reporting citizen, this is counterproductive and victimizing. With that peril, why would one then report it? HB399: Criminalize crime, not possession. HB590: Stop prescribing and micromanaging how one -- or a family -- keeps firearms. Encourage responsible possession and storage, and have investigations of responsibility determine liability and penalties. HB 1078: Exempt Gift transfers, and offer NO-cost background check options for those. That way, if someone prefers that surety for a Gift, they retain a no-cost option. Thank you for receiving my comments, and for your service to Virginians.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I oppose these bills.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, and committee members: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 16 and thank you, Delegate Fowler, for your work updating our state’s Safe Haven law. We, Virginia is for Children (an advocacy group for the lives of vulnerable children in our state), are following the Safe Haven law efforts and are fully supportive of the extension to thirty days of age for infant relinquishment. This is a reasonable, standard amount of time for a mom/parent to conclude that they cannot parent their baby OR, change their mind and decide they can parent their baby. Such a significant, life-altering decision does not need to be rushed or hurried. We know that moms who have just given birth, especially those who are alone, need time to recover physically and emotionally. Moms can experience postpartum depression after the birth of child, this typically occurs within the first 1-3 weeks after birth, parents can be in desperate situations- experiencing homelessness, abuse, addiction and need time to get help. Twenty-one states are now at thirty days for age of relinquishment. Utah just extended their law to thirty days in February, 2020 and approved funding for safe haven law awareness. Extending this law can potentially save more infants from abuse, neglect, and abandonment and give parents the time they need to make important decisions. We hope the committee will approve the extension and consider providing state funding for safe haven law awareness and promotion of safe haven locations or “safe baby sites”. Not enough parents are informed about the law’s existence and the process involved. Our group is especially interested in a state funded, DSS promoted, 24-hour confidential, crisis hotline that would provide intervention and support for women in crisis pregnancies and struggling parents, so that they can get the help they need to parent their baby. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and committee members for your time and for the opportunity to voice our support of this bill. Sincerely, Leah Kipley VA is for Children

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

I support bills 399, 590, 1306. Invisible, undetectable guns--ghost guns--should be banned. Similarly, firearms with the serial numbers removed should be banned. Firearms in homes with a minor MUST be secured. How many toddlers have to die before firearms are required to be secured?

I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 10 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 11 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 204 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 325 I STRONGLY SUPPORT HB 399 I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 590 I STRONGLY SUPPORT MODIFIED BILL HB 1078 I STRONGLY SUPPORT BILL IF IT IS FIXED AND COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL LAW OTHERWISE I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 1306

Delegates, HB 10, Delegate Anderson, removes all fees for a person to get a concealed handgun permit (CHP). It’s bad enough that gun owners need a permit to exercise their right to self-defense using a concealed handgun, they certainly shouldn’t have to pay a fee to do so. The fee is similar to a “poll tax" and I think it should be eliminated. I support this bill. HB 11, Delegate Anderson, reduces the penalties for carrying a concealed handgun without a CHP. The first offense is up to a $100 civil penalty, which avoids criminalizing someone who is innocently carrying a concealed handgun and is unaware of the requirement for a CHP or is unaware the method of carry is considered “concealed.” The second offense is raised to a Class 2 misdemeanor, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. If a person acquires a valid CHP while awaiting trial, which the bill allows for, the judge may dismiss the charge. I support this bill. HB 204, Delegate Wachsmann, changes the number of days that the state can delay a firearm transfer from five days to three days, matching federal law. I support this bill. HB 325, Delegate Freitas, repeals the requirement that a person who has their gun stolen must report it within 48 hours after the person discovers the loss. This law is unenforceable, as how does the Commonwealth know when a person discovered their gun missing, if they realized it at all? HB 399, Delegate Simon, makes the possession, transfer, sale, or manufacture of a homemade gun a crime, unless at some point federal law requires a frame to be serialized and a federal firearms importer or a federal firearms manufacturer has serialized the frame. This bill would make existing homemade guns illegal and would make 80% receivers illegal, turning innocent citizens into criminals overnight, with no compensation for the loss of their previously legal gun or 80% frame. This bill is tinkering with extremely complicated gun laws. It is also unconstitutional. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 590, Delegate VanVaulkenburg, requires a gun owner in a house where there is a person under 18 to either have a firearm under their immediate control or to store the firearm unloaded in a locked container and the ammunition in a separate locked container. This would make it illegal for someone to have a loaded firearm in a locked container, such as a biometric safe, for use in case of emergency. Also, this is a one-size-fits-all, not recognizing the difference in maturity levels children can have. Children under the age of 18 have used firearms to stop violent home invasions or other serious crimes taking place in their home. I strongly oppose this bill. HB 929, Delegate Batten, exempts holders of a federal “curios and relics” license from a background check when purchasing a firearm. I support this bill. HB 1078, Delegate Cordoza, clarifies that a transfer, but not a sale, between family members does not require a background check. I believe this should be expanded to not punish any transfer of personal property. HB 1306, Delegate Simon, updates the current law to add possession or sale of a firearm which has had its serial number removed or obliterated a crime. As written I oppose this bill. There are some changes that could be made that would be acceptable.

HB10 - I strongly agree with this as getting rid of CHP fees rectifies a violation to our constitutional rights, a fee on carrying a firearm is equivalent to a poll tax and should be immediately removed HB11 - I strongly agree with this as someone should have the opportunity to at least complete their CHP while they have a charge and people should not be going to jail in general for carrying a firearm in otherwise permitted places as it puts a further strain to our prison system and makes bad people out of nonviolent or ignorant people HB325 - I strongly agree with this bill as this rectifies the issue of punishing the victim (aka the person who had their firearm stolen) by removing the civil penalty. Having a fine on top of having your property stolen is just not common sense HB399 - I strongly oppose this terrible bill, it is unconstitutional as creating your own firearm has been protected since the beginning of America's existence. This bill will created felons out of ordinary people overnight. This will also not stop the manufacturing of firearms as material like polymer is available everywhere and will become even more accessible with the availability of 3D printers HB590 - I oppose this bill as safe storage laws are just another impediment for defending your own residence. The proper solution is to leave the discretion up to parents and to educate children to proper firearm safety and to always assume a gun is loaded HB1078 - I support this bill as it gets rid of unenforceable language in Virginia law HB1130 - I oppose this bill on the principle that all citizens should be treated the same HB1306 - I strongly oppose this bill for the reason that it will make lawful citizens illegal overnight and will not be followed by criminals anyway

Dear Delegates, I support all bills that remove restrictions on firearms and oppose all bills that add restrictions to firearms. Anti-gun bills serve only to disarm innocent, law-abiding citizens. They make it easier for real criminals to do harm. Why is this so hard to see? It's obvious. I illustrate why we must protect the rights of gun owners in a song a wrote called Good Folks. You can listen to it and watch the music video here: https://carlahowell.com/product/good-folks/ Thank you for hearing my concerns. Respectfully yours, Carla Howell

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