I am opposed to all of these unconstitutional and anit-american gun laws and regulations. There is no room for more gun laws and regulations in this state.

Contrary to how certain government officials treat it, the second amendment is written using plain, easy to understand language, and insists that government has no right to take away the right for ordinary people like us to defend ourselves, as the constitution and bill of rights do not simply give people rights, but protects them from government manipulation and control. It’s incredibly disappointing and a tragedy that people choose to commit acts of violence with these rights, but restricting those who wish to exercise their rights peaceably due to those who wouldn’t follow these rules in the first place is incredibly naive. I, as well as every other person in the United States, deserve to protect my family with the best technology available. While some people look at certain defense weapon setups as a “why do you need that” situation, 1) I have the right to defend myself with the best tool available, and so I will choose that every time, 2) why do you “need” anything other than basic necessities (fast car, Gucci clothes, etc)? The government has no place in deciding what I “need”, 3) people with the intent to harm will not care what laws govern peaceful people, so what would limiting the victim’s access to proper tools do? You may think that by “banning” or otherwise restricting access to a certain thing would mean that all of the “bad” things would magically go away, but they will not. Evil has always and will always exist, and I have every right to defend myself from it using the best tool available wherever I, or my family, choose to go. Restricting access on certain properties (the government isn’t actively protecting me everywhere), requiring certain training (who is paying for this?), limiting certain types of firearms (go ahead and define “assault weapon” in plain language please), and restricting ammo purchasing (I thought you wanted us to train; how does this help then?) are all means that end up hurting the average person and helping those who wish to hurt others, as the rest of us will be left in a position to insufficiently defend ourselves. I urge you to understand that while, yes, it is awful that evil people commit horrific acts, this right ultimately allows me to protect myself and my family from these evil people as well and as evil will always exist (we certainly like to delusion ourselves into believing that we live in a utopia, but we do not), I will protect my family accordingly. The government has no right to restrict this. Leave the peaceful citizens alone, more firmly punish those who hurt others, and help communities where this is an issue to prevent the upbringing of more evil people.

I oppose these bills that are attacking the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Please stop trying to make criminals of law abiding citizens who just want to protect themselves. Me and my partner have recently become firearm owners because of situations that have arisen in our day to day lives, such as harassment of my wife almost to the point of altercation, sketchy characters waiting in front of our door/ducking in and out of our bushes at all times of the night, people breaking into cars in the neighborhood etc (many times the police/security were called only to arrive 45mins to an hour later). with many of these nonsensical bills you condemn us to allowing any possible violence to happen to us without a chance of defending our selves. Instead of helping fix the problem, you seek to make criminals out of any Virginian who has followed the law and legal purchased a firearm. Shame on you. I am Virginian native and since I was 18 I voted leaning blue in local and state elections you all are making me think this was a mistake. I am not proud of Virginia “progressives” who would rather strip my wife of her chance and right to defend her self rather than try to address the root of crime. Don’t make law abiding people criminals. Do some actual work and address the criminals! 2 of the proposed bills would make in illegal to bring your concealed firearm into a restaurant and another makes it a crime to have the firearm in your vehicle…. Like really? This is literally just to fill jails and strip people of their rights.

State Legislature members, A right delayed is a right denied. Quoting the 2022 NYSRPA v. Bruen Supreme Court Case: 'The constitutional right to bear arms in public for self-defense is not “a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees.” McDonald, 561 U. S., at 780 (plurality opinion). The exercise of other constitutional rights does not require individuals to demonstrate to government officers some special need. The Second Amendment right to carry arms in public for self defense is no different.' The recent NYSRPA v. Bruen case highlighted the significance of individual self-defense, and it's crucial to consider the rights of law-abiding citizens in crafting firearm legislation. While the goal of enhancing public safety is commendable, an outright ban on certain firearms and magazines will disproportionately impact responsible gun owners who use these tools for legitimate purposes, such as self-defense and sport. It is essential to strike a balance between public safety and the preservation of individual rights. Instead of blanket bans, and bureaucratic obstacles that only harass lawful firearm owners, we should focus on comprehensive measures that address the root causes of gun violence. This approach respects the constitutional rights of citizens while fostering a safer society. Criminals are not deterred by restrictions on lawful purchase at federally-licensed FFL Dealers. They do not bother going through the process of applying for a concealed carry permit, because they do not intend to carry lawfully. People who want to use weapons to hurt innocent citizens of Virginia will not be impeded by these House and Senate Bills. Instead, the only individuals who will have their behavior modified are lawful men and women who are unable to defend themselves against those who will commit crimes regardless of what is written into law this Legislative Session. If you pass the above laws, it will only serve to waste hard-working Taxpayers' money fighting them in Federal Court. California and New York have lost their cases seeking to uphold unconstitutional gun laws, and the sponsors of these bills will lose too. Do the right thing - the hard thing - enforce the laws we already have, get the small minority of violent criminals off the streets of Virginia, and uphold the constitutional rights of your polity.

These bills infringe on the rights of the United States citizens given to us by the second amendment. The only thing these bills will accomplish will take the firearms out of the hands of law abiding citizens, while criminals will still have access.

I do not support any bill that removes any right from law abiding citizens to protect themselves from those who WILL NOT abide by these laws. These laws ONLY give CRIMINALS the upper hand.

There are approximately 47 bills regarding gun control between the House and Senate. Rather than fix issues that actually protect and enhance the lives of Virginians, many of these bills seek to disenfranchise and reduce the safety of the citizens in this great Commonwealth. Firearms are so fundamental to the founding and continued existence of our free society that they are listed just second to the freedom of speech in amendments to the constitution. It is plainly clear to all that countries and states who have banned or severely restricted firearms that violence does not end with their banning. Unjust deaths are not prevented. It simply ensures that law abiding citizens are left defenseless from those that wish to harm them, whether that be individuals or an organization. I write this knowing that it will be completely disregarded by the bills authors, but in hopes that others feel galvanized to speak up against unjust actions made in the name of progress. To those who wish to protect themselves with firearms while simultaneously stripping them from the common man, may you take heed of the Virginia state motto.

A lot of these laws contradict one another. I can’t support them. Both of our parties have failed us.

Stop trying to strip 2nd Amendment rights from law abiding citizens with a constitutional right to own and carry firearms. Not a single one of these laws/bills you’re trying to enact would have stopped any of the mass shootings we’ve seen.

I oppose all of these blatantly unconstitutional bills and wish our elected officials would actually get to work on fixing things that matter to Virginians.

It is obvious these elected officials want you to die at the behest of an anarcho tyrannical state where violent perpetual offenders are off with a slap on the wrist, while YOU tax payer are criminalized for not wanting to be a victim to these perpetual perpetrators. The elected officials funded by big Pro-Death lobby of Giffords and Bloomberg sit in their cushy NOVA HOAd mansions behind security while you plebs go to work everyday to pay their salary. These same officials effectively bribe the police state by giving them a way to pay off a mortgage and boat in exchange for your oppression. YOU citizen must morally oppose these pro-Death bills. Democracy has fallen and its only driven by money hungry Babylonians who swim in excess and delicacy while YOU PLEBS cant even afford milk, eggs or pampers. Remember these people do not hold dominion over you. Call your congressman/woman and CHRIST IS KING!

These proposed laws will do nothing but make more victims out of citizens that are exercising their 2nd amendment rights. Criminals do not care about these restrictions, these laws are merely an extension of the culture war. They are meant to punish anyone that the Northern Virginia and big city politicians don’t like. While violent criminals continue to arm themselves, the law abiding citizens of The Commonwealth would be left without defense. These laws are feckless and meant only to virtue signal. One with even a basic understanding of our constitution would see these as exactly what they are: illegal and Un-American.

There is no acceptable reason to infringe upon the Constitutionally-protected (both US and Virginia's Constitutions) rights of Americans and Virginians. None of these bills purported to reduce gun-related violence actually seem to prioritize the reduction of causal effects of overall violence. Many of these are merely attempts to curb the rights of the People to keep and bear arms, because our legislative bodies are full of corrupt, weak, and contemptible individuals. Show us the bills for addressing the root causes of violence: mental health, income inequality, social instability, lack of education and educational opportunities, drug & human trafficking, or employment & wages (this list is not all-inclusive).

Time and time again it has been proven that criminals do not care about or follow restrictive firearm laws. Virginia already has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the country ("B+" rating from Giffords), more unconstitutional infringements upon law abiding citizens is not the answer. We need to address the root causes (access to mental health resources for example) and not throw bandaids at it by punishing responsible, law abiding, gun owners. I oppose these bills and urge you to do the same.

As a fellow Democrat, it’s important to acknowledge the complexities surrounding gun ownership and the Second Amendment. 1. Self-Defense: Firearms can be a crucial tool for individuals to protect themselves, especially in high-crime areas or situations where law enforcement response times are slow. 2. Sport and Recreation: Many Americans enjoy shooting sports like hunting, skeet shooting, and target practice as a recreational activity, fostering a sense of community and skill-building. 3. Cultural Tradition: Gun ownership is deeply ingrained in American culture, with a rich history of hunting and marksmanship passed down through generations. 4. Economic Impact: The firearms industry contributes significantly to the economy, generating jobs and revenue through manufacturing, sales, and related services. 5. Civil Liberties: Upholding the right to bear arms is fundamental to preserving individual freedoms and safeguarding against government overreach. 6. Empowerment of Marginalized Communities: For historically marginalized groups, owning firearms can serve as a means of empowerment and protection against hate crimes or discriminatory violence. 7. Emergency Preparedness: In times of natural disasters or civil unrest, responsible gun owners can help maintain order and protect their families and communities. 8. Deterrence of Crime: Research suggests that the presence of armed civilians can deter potential criminals and reduce overall crime rates in certain contexts. 9. Veterans and Law Enforcement: Many veterans and law enforcement officers transition to civilian life with a continued appreciation for firearms, utilizing their expertise for civilian defense and security. 10. Balanced Approach: Instead of blanket gun control measures, we can advocate for comprehensive solutions that address root causes of violence, such as mental health support, poverty reduction, and community intervention programs.

I oppose the proposed firearms legislation put forward by this legislature and any legislation that violates the 1st, 2nd, and 4th, amendment rights of any Virginian. The desire for safer communities, a more united nation, and healing for our public health is something that we all can share in but these bills do not achieve that. Rather, they regulate and penalize. They unconstitutionally restrict the rights of the many in the name of safety and serve only to harm our rights. I would be doing a disservice to our state and my fellow citizens if I did not also provide potential solutions or remedies to the violence we face. First, we as communities need to promote voluntary storage facilities for those who are experiencing hardship and are concerned about suicide. Ideally making it easier to put firearms safely out of reach when suicide risks are greater. To do this it would need to be a system at the lowest level with minimum government involvement besides funding and partnership with local ranges. We would also need to reach out to those in our lives who are in a bad place and encourage the use of these facilities. Second, we should promote a culture of safe handling and respect for firearms through school courses and community organizations because assault weapons or not suicide, or accidents only take one bullet from a single action firearm. Lastly and more broadly we should focus on the issues surrounding the violence. Whether it is drugs and organized criminal activity or the mental health crisis as it has become known we should be working to fix these issues first. I.e. legalize weed, adapt police training, and push to root out organized crime, promote common social values and family cohesion, increase freedom, physical activity, and discipline in the school system.

These firearms bill are either redundant or unless in any meaningful way. If you care about reducing violence, please focus on criminals. Please stop trying to disarm families and law abiding citizen from protecting themselves.

I am a liberal through and through, I believe in individual rights and the opportunity for prosperity for all. I vote democrat because I care about my community, the rights of minorities, and women’s rights. The proposed legislation limiting the ability of free, law abiding citizens to purchase firearms, carry, and general use should not be limited further. I have witnessed violence at the hands of criminals, some later caught and it was shown that they did not legally acquire these firearms. The proposed legislation will effectively stop those who abide by the laws of Virginia from being able to properly protect themselves. It is known that police will not protect you, and they have no legal obligation to do so. This puts us at a dilemma, it’s either blindly trust the police to protect us and our families or have the ability to protect ourselves. I am not advocated for looser gun laws by any means, but I am advocating for more common sense gun laws. What do I mean by this you may ask? Well I mean background checks are a must and proper certification to conceal carry. I am a former Marine, I was a firefighter, and am a current student at a great university in our nations capital. I like to think I am reasonable in my thinking, but after looking and reading the propositions I checked above, I can’t help but feel betrayed by my own party. There is more than 5 guns for every American in this country. Gun control must target the people who do not follow the law and try to prevent violence from occurring, and the proposed legislation above does not help in that manner. I am hopeful that you will read this and reconsider the language in the legislation and I am even more hopeful that I can protect my family as necessary. I will always vote for progress but that’s not to say that I will always vote against my interests. Locally, crime has been on the rise and I have had to deal with it directly with little to no help from the police. I will (to the fullest extent of the law) protect myself as necessary from anyone who wishes to inflict harm on myself or family, and I hope you see that the average citizen in Virginia can not afford a security detail or rely on our police for protection. Thank you and have a great day.

Please stop infringing on our god given right, protected by the constitution of the United States (which you all have sworn to uphold and protect), to keep and bear arms. Responsible gun owners are not the problem in America’s gun violence epidemic. We follow the law. Criminals don’t. We use our firearms to protect ourselves, loved ones, and community. Chipping away at this right we have makes us more vulnerable to becoming victims of gun violence, not protect us from it. These laws only serve to empower those with evil intentions. Rather, might I suggest harsher penalties for those who commit senseless acts of violence with firearms instead of going after the good men and women of the commonwealth who wish only to use their firearms for lawful purposes.

Dear House of Delegates, I'm writing to you today as a concerned citizen. The introduction of bills aimed at heavily regulating firearms, is not warranted or wanted by the people of Virginia. Our nation stands at a crossroads, where the desire to address gun violence intersects with the constitutional rights affirmed by the Supreme Court. The Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms is not just a legal directive but a reflection of our commitment to individual freedom. In this context, the proposed regulations, while motivated by a commendable desire to reduce violence, raise significant concerns about their effectiveness and the potential consequences for law-abiding citizens. Research, including findings published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, suggests that the relationship between strict gun laws and the reduction of gun violence is not as straightforward as one might hope. Cities with stringent gun regulations continue to face challenges with gun-related crimes, indicating that those intent on violence often find ways to circumvent the law. This reality prompts us to question whether new restrictions will achieve their intended goal or merely place additional burdens on those who seek firearms for legitimate purposes, including self-defense. Moreover, the abundance of firearms in the United States presents a logistical challenge to the enforcement of such regulations. With more guns than people in the country, the task of significantly reducing the availability of firearms to criminals, without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens, is daunting. It is within this complex landscape that I urge you to consider the broader implications of the proposed gun control measures. The parallels drawn with other contentious issues, such as the regulation of women's healthcare, highlight the potential for policy decisions to inadvertently infringe upon individual freedoms and deepen societal divisions. Such outcomes not only detract from the intended goals of enhancing public safety but also risk alienating segments of the population whose support is essential for the advancement of our collective well-being. I respectfully ask that you consider the potential consequences of the proposed gun control measures, not just for the immediate future but for the legacy we leave for generations to come. It is my hope that, together, we can find a way to address the challenges of gun violence in a manner that honors our values, respects our freedoms, and genuinely enhances the safety and well-being of our communities.

STOP INFRINGING OUR RIGHTS. Get rid of every single gun control bill that is here and START ENFORCING THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE. Stop trying to turn law abiding citizens into criminals. I am disgusted that all of these nonsense bills have even made it this far. You can have these laws in Northern Virginia where everyone hates guns but don’t force this garbage into the rest of the state. GET RID OF ALL OF THIS GARBAGE and keep your noses out of everyone’s business. More government is not the answer.

Please stop attempting to infringe on my 2nd amendment rights. Responsible gun owners are not behind any gun violence. Maybe focus on bills that will actually keep guns out of the hands of those that should not have them rather than stripping the rights away of law-abiding citizens. Not a single one of those bills will stop criminals from breaking the law, all they will do is prevent me from being able to effectively defend myself and my family against said criminal.

Virginia already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. We can all agree violence is an issue but making more unconstitutional, on a national and state level, gun laws will not help with the rates of violent crimes and property crimes as we see from states with stricter gun laws. We need to increase access to mental health and community resources to address the root causes of issues rather than criminalizing responsible gun owners. I am opposed to this attack on the second amendment which is the fundamental backbone that protects the other freedoms guranteed in the constitution.

The second amendment is very clear in its intent that these rights “shall not be infringed”. Removing/ restricting law abiding citizens right to self defense and protection against unwitting organizations and persons is not only more harmful, but a clear violation of the rights this country was founded on.

Dear Honorable Members of the House of Delegates, I write to you today as a concerned citizen, deeply invested in the well-being and safety of our communities, and as someone who values the principles upon which our nation was founded. The issue at hand, the introduction of bills aimed at heavily regulating firearms, is one that I believe warrants a thoughtful reconsideration in light of its broader implications. Our nation stands at a crossroads, where the desire to address gun violence intersects with the constitutional rights affirmed by the Supreme Court. The Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms is not just a legal directive but a reflection of our commitment to individual freedom. In this context, the proposed regulations, while motivated by a commendable desire to reduce violence, raise significant concerns about their effectiveness and the potential consequences for law-abiding citizens. Research, including findings published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, suggests that the relationship between strict gun laws and the reduction of gun violence is not as straightforward as one might hope. Cities with stringent gun regulations continue to face challenges with gun-related crimes, indicating that those intent on violence often find ways to circumvent the law. This reality prompts us to question whether new restrictions will achieve their intended goal or merely place additional burdens on those who seek firearms for legitimate purposes, including self-defense. Moreover, the abundance of firearms in the United States presents a logistical challenge to the enforcement of such regulations. With more guns than people in the country, the task of significantly reducing the availability of firearms to criminals, without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens, is daunting. It is within this complex landscape that I urge you to consider the broader implications of the proposed gun control measures. The parallels drawn with other contentious issues, such as the regulation of women's healthcare, highlight the potential for policy decisions to inadvertently infringe upon individual freedoms and deepen societal divisions. Such outcomes not only detract from the intended goals of enhancing public safety but also ***risk alienating segments of the population whose support is essential for the advancement of our collective well-being.*** Constituents see this robust effort to "see what sticks" as a weakness within our party. Comparatively imbalanced with the diverse range of issues and concerns that we face everyday. A waste. As we move forward, I encourage you to approach this issue with a balanced perspective, one that recognizes the need for effective strategies to combat gun violence while also safeguarding the constitutional rights and freedoms that define our nation. The path to meaningful change is complex, requiring a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand and a commitment to policies that truly serve the best interests of all our citizens. In closing, I respectfully ask that you consider the potential consequences of the proposed gun control measures, not just for the immediate future but for the legacy we leave for generations to come. It is my hope that, together, we can find a way to address the challenges of gun violence in a manner that honors our values, respects our freedoms, and genuinely enhances the safety and well-being of our communities.

You guys need to stop attacking our 2nd amendment and get help for these kids growing up with identity crisis’s . You coming after law abiding citizens is appalling and the fact that your leaning towards becoming the despicable state of California is saddening. If the president can have security which uses firearms that even the normal civilian can’t have this raises the issue of how can a civilian defend against a tyrannical government with a featureless 10 round ar-15 ? Keep this up and we know exactly what your end goal is.

As a left leaning voter and citizen of Virginia, these new restrictions on our right to bear arms are sickening. Stop proposing so many bans and limits, and maybe a realistic bill, like the safe credit, won’t be universally protested. If you actually want to quell gun violence, keep focused on affordable mental and physical healthcare, improving the education system, and reducing income inequality. While the right may not support these real improvements, I cannot in good faith support or vote for any politician who supports banning or restricting the rights of law abiding citizens in our beautiful commonwealth. Thank you.

The 2nd amendment states "shall not be infringed". All of these bills are infringement and are therefore unconstitutional. Should we pass laws that people must pass a test before they can have freedom of speech? What about pass a test before you can vote? What about if someone does not have training they will be slaves again? Name one other right outlined in the constitution where a citizen has to jump through hoops before they can use that right? I oppose all of these bills as they will do more harm than good. I can understand wanting to keep people safe but gun control does the opposite. These bills will only make it harder for law abiding citizens to exercise their rights while criminals will still ignore the law. Criminals will still get illegal guns or weapons and will commit more crimes since they know the public is unable to defend themselves. Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." You writing bills saying "give up your rights and guns and we will protect you". Well ask the Native Americans how that worked out for them. Ask a Jewish person who was under Nazi control how that worked out for them. Well Hitler's first step was to take away the guns from the public so they could not protect themselves and over 6 million people lost their lives. Since you do not know history you are writing bills which will doom us to repeat it. You know 75 years ago when you could just buy a gun in a catalog and it was shipped to your house we did not have this issue. In the 60s and 70s when people would have a gun in their truck at school or take one in for show and tell we did not have a gun issue. This is a mental health issue. Deal with mental health and you will fix the public safety issue. Zero of my guns have killed people because guns do not kill people. People kill people. Look at Ukraine and Israel for just one form of example why we need LESS gun control. All of these gun laws are unconstitutional and should be thrown out. Do the right thing and let us law abiding citizens have their rights as outlined in the constitution. Do not pass laws which infringe on our rights. If the 2nd amendment falls, the 1st will follow . When the 1st and 2nd fall the 13th will fall and our country will be lost and we will be back in chains.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Whether or not a person chooses to exercise this right is up to them. Otherwise, it shall not be infringed.

I can not, and nobody should, support these unconstitutional laws. THROW THEM ALL OUT.

You guys make it harder and harder to vote Democrat every single cycle. Complete ban on Semi Automatics more or less making the state even stricter towards guns then states like Maryland? I oppose all these even the "herp common sense derp" ones because the states party has made it clear they don't give a crap about anything but putting hollow wins for politicians because hhheeeyyy punishing law abiding gun owners is a whole lot easier then creating jobs or reducing crime. If these bills die before getting to the governors desk, especially the bans, then I will gladly continue to vote DNC. But if Youngkin has to veto these and you make me say something I never thought I would "Thank god Youngkin won" then I look forward to blindly going down the ticket in 2024 and checking "R" on everyone. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I do not support more legislation infringing on my 2nd Ammendment rights. Please fund more enforcement for the proactive enforcement of existing laws and regulations pertaining to firearms.

I oppose this legislation.

The litany of gun control measures under consideration will do nothing to effectively reduce crime and violence, and will only further restrict the rights of law abiding firearms owners. Not to mention the countless examples from other locales across the country where these same measure have been put into place and the result is more violent crime as criminals can now feel safe that the general population is not armed. Strongly oppose all proposed bills.

The ridiculous litany of gun control measures under consideration will do nothing to effectively reduce crime and violence, and will only further restrict the rights of law abiding firearms owners.

We dont need MORE laws regarding firearms, we need to enforce the laws that are already on the books. If enforcement is done then these laws are redundant and not necessary. Don't pass more laws just for the sake of passing laws. They do nothing but make law abiding citizens confused and they dont do anything to stop problems.

I am writing to express my great concern, to the legislatures that continue to ignore their oath of swearing to protect and uphold the rights of the citizens as protected by the United States Constitution and the Virginian Constitution. "The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED". You beaurcrats do not grant that right to he people, it is God given. While you grandstand and ateemlt to make laws to hurt the everydayaw abiding American citizen, you turn a way and do nothing in these bills to punish criminals committing crimes. It is already illegal to murder people. To grandstand and think that any of these bills would stop someone from murdering or harming another person is laughable. Quite literally. You pander screaming about these firearm safety bills while you walk around with security and people with "guns" to keep you safe. Start enforcing the existing laws against criminals who commit crimes vs trying to turn law abiding people, who take training, are serious about protection of family, themselves and others, and trying to disarm them and make them criminals. Or we will vote you out! Uphold your Oath or be prepared for the consequences your actions lead to by the American people. Regards Mr. Harris

I know most modern politicians aren’t historians but the Bill of Rights is really simple. If you read that, you’ll also read the 2nd Amendment which is really simple as well. In the same docket you’re trying to give more benefits to police and take away more rights from citizens. You ought to be ashamed. What a farce freedom is anymore.

These anti gun laws are an infringement on all Virginian's 2A rights.

I am opposed to additional new laws or further regulations placed on firearms or other means of self defense, or which limit the ability to conduct commerce or carry such items. Not only does the constitution make it clear this is a violation of my rights, it does nothing to address or reduce the actions of criminals.

I am against all of these blatantly unconstitutional firearms restrictions. I'm strongly against: SB2| Deeds | Assault firearms certain ammunition, etc.; purchase, possession, sale, transfer, etc., prohibited. This tries to ban things that are in common use, which has never worked well for the government, remember Prohibition? Remember the war on drugs? Just like the last assault weapons ban, this will literally just make AR-15s more popular and easier to get illegally. And I am against: HB585 | Mundon King | Home-based firearms dealers; prohibited near schools, penalties. That specifically targets home-based FFLs whose house is somewhere near a school. This would put hundreds of Virginia residents out of business just because of where they live.

All infringements on the second amendment are acts of treason and should be treated as such. Acting in favor of such infringements makes you a traitor to this nation and th commonwealth.

All Virginians want our families to be safe from gun violence. However, passing such broad restrictions on firearms commonly used for self defense is not the answer. The updated definition of assault weapons and the associated prohibitions do little to nothing to stop criminals who are willing to illegally buy or steal firearms. There are plenty of firearms out there for criminals to access, with well over 400 million guns in civilian ownership in the United States. It is too late to round them all up. These bills will disproportionately affect those citizens who go out of their way to follow our commonwealth's laws; the people who are unlikely to commit a violent crime in the first place. The solutions to gun violence that stand a chance at working are community-oriented interventions that decrease poverty, drug use, gang activity, combat mental illness, and advocate for the safe storage of firearms. Sociologists know these factors correlate strongly with ALL types of violence. On average, two-thirds of firearms deaths are suicides, an assault weapons ban won't do a thing about those. Of the remaining 1/3 of firearms homicides, more than half are drug, gang, or domestic violence related. Let's pass bipartisan legislation that addresses these underlying problems, instead of preventing average Virginians from protecting themselves with firearms that are already ubiquitous.

I am Opposed to any limitations on the Second Amendment and any restrictive firearm laws. We have adequate, if not already overbearing, laws on the books now and should not be creating more laws restricting all the aspects of firearm use, sales, and any other aspects of the right to bear arms.

These firearm laws are mostly reactionary to the media response on firearms. This is a major infringement on the 2nd amendment and needs to be stopped.

An inordinate focus on the control of firearms only serves to infringe the rights of the law-abiding citizen in defense of his life and property. The State should instead focus on the apprehension and incarceration of individuals engaging in criminal behavior and associated misuse of firearms.

Any law that infringes on my Gods-given right to own and bear arms is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Any law passed that infringes this right will be answered with a lawsuit.

Hello. There are a plethora of bills that were proposed, which would clearly violate the second amendment rights of many law abiding citizens. First of all, considering concealed carry should be permit-less carry, it is counterproductive to increase the requirements for concealed carry. Restrictions on where law abiding citizens can lawfully carry their now “permitted” firearms is asinine, as well as the proposition of a bill that would make it a penalty to leave a firearm in your car. You would essentially be disarming a large number of people who wish to follow these unlawful order in a day and age where the democratic agenda is to act like there are mass shootings on a daily basis. Effectively disarming the majority and increasing the requirements and legal loopholes to carry is such a vulnerable state to be in and I hope we’re smart enough to avoid that. Restrictions on “Plastic firearms and unfinished frames etc” is not only terrible literature that does nothing to explain, but it is a direct violation of the 2nd amendment considering you have a federal right to make firearms for personal use, which would include additively manufactured parts. Wait periods are also a horrifying thing to think of, considering how many times it has been proven to be a terrible idea, keeping guns out of the hands that need them most to protect themselves and their families. “Assault firearms” and anything to do with them is nonsense considering the blatant inability to define said “assault weapon”. People who don’t understand guns, shouldn’t be making laws on guns. A shorter barrel does not make it more lethal, in fact it lowers the muzzle velocity, causing less force on impact and penetration, in turn causing less collateral damage. Any sort of “assault weapons” bills are targeting law abiding citizens who have every right to use the modern advances in firearm technology just as police officers and military. The only people these bills are effecting are the already law abiding citizens. The criminals who got their hands on said weapons illegally aren’t going to be making sure that their ALREADY ILLEGAL WEAPONS are fully compliant with state laws and regulations before they go commit another crime. In no way shape or form should someone need to disadvantage themselves in a life or death situation because political members with an armed security detail don’t feel the need for a gun. Why would I want to limit myself to a firearm that is going to be inadequate in home defense, or one that does not have a high enough capacity to protect myself from the ever growing threat of home invasion and the increased trend of multiple home invaders breaking in armed. If it was you alone in your house with 6 armed intruders who most definitely must have checked their local laws and firearm regulations and made sure their firearms aren’t violating any rules before they break into your house, would you want to limit yourself to a low capacity firearm that is going to be extremely difficult to use effectively in a high stress situation, or are you taking a rifle which for reasons that don’t make sense, must have a 16 inch barrel, with a larger capacity magazine, and a stock that you can use to safely brace the firearm to prevent stray shots and provide more accurate fire. Personally I’m going to take anything and everything I can get in a situation that means life or death for me and my loved ones EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. Focus on the mental health crisis.

These laws are mostly going to effect law abiding citizens like myself and all the people I know. WHEN HAVE CRIMINALS FOLLOWED LAWS??? The only thing these criminals that commit gun related offenses is some kind of force of action. Why are you going to try to take our 2nd Amendment Rights away from people who follow the laws and love our great country? We should be focusing on increasing penalties against those who commit the crimes. Stop focusing on the law abiding citizens and focus on the criminals that are terrorizing all of our towns. Our government is letting millions and millions of unknown people in our country without having a clue what kind of person they are. I'm sure most are good people like you and me but not all of them are. We need our guns to be able to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our country if needed. Our founding fathers have it right and put a lot of thoughts into our constitution and bill of rights. I thought Democrats were about equality and the working man/woman. If you all want good for us law abiding citizens, work together, make compromises, and start doing your duty. We do not need more "big government" taking more rights. What we need is a closed border so we can fight this drug crisis. Slow the flow of drugs and these gangs fall apart. Once they fall apart maybe these shootings would slow down. Please do the right thing and do not sign these gun bills. All this woke crap is ruining our country. Y'all need to please make changes and focus on what's going to help all of us not just the minority.

Gun laws do not prevent firearm homicides, based upon gun control organization's own data (Giffords) •No correlation between strict gun laws and firearm homicide incidents •.07 coefficient of determination (AKA R2) where .90 is a strong association •There likely would be a weak association showing gun laws driving the firearm homicide rate higher if Washington, DC was given a score and ranked by Giffords.

Hello, The right to own and bear firearms is intrinsic in the very nature of the founding of the United States. We must remember the spirit of the 2nd Amendment and the right of all civilians to own and bear arms. Firearms are the great equalizer and can allow and individual to defend themselves when they previously could not. Gun violence and the mental health epidemic are closely interlinked and one cannot pass restrictive firearm laws and expect gun violence to go away. Gun bans and the use of restrictive purchasing requirements, magazine limits, waiting periods, and red flag laws have been shown not to be effective in stemming gun violence. I urge anybody reading this message to say "NO" to 2nd Amendment restrictions.

I strongly, along with many fellow Virginians oppose any villainous disarmament bills disguised as "public safety". The second amendment clearly states "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED" and out of touch elitist politicians who enjoy the luxury of armed security are choosing to ignore the constitution and force us to rely on sub-par police protection. The same people who want to defund the police want to disarm us. Embracing the second amendment is what is keeping our crime rates low compared to New York and California. We have seen the blatant disregard that criminals have for these so-called laws; emboldened criminals who are not afraid of the consequences and innocent law-abiding people who are forced to live in fear because a bunch of tyrants are letting power corrupt them. I do not want to live in fear and neither do the rest of us. In addition; a lot of counties and cities have declared themselves as second amendment sanctuaries to protect the rights of free individuals from the overreach of tyrannical politicians. These bills are a Trojan horse that will lead to more crime. You anti-gun politicians should be ashamed of yourselves; give up your private security and train yourselves. Then you will change your minds; because in the end, nobody is coming to save you. I would rather have a fighting chance against armed assailants than die waiting for help to arrive. These bills are pure evil

I oppose all of these selected bills since I firmly believe they are in conflict with the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The Second Amendment clearly states that it shall not be infringed upon. Any and all proposed legislation that would place limits on how, where, and when responsible citizens arm themselves runs afoul of that. Our founding fathers correctly held the belief that all people have a natural born right to arm and protect themselves and that the government has no authority to interfere with that. While I agree with the sentiment of reducing violence among our society, gun laws only harm the law abiding citizen and leave criminals who already have a disregard for the law to still be armed. If our elected officials who proposed these bills actually cared about addressing our violence problem, they would focus more on addressing the root causes of violence and crime. More worthwhile pursuits in my opinion would be focused on addressing socio-economic problems that plague disadvantaged communities, creating a more robust and well-equipped mental healthcare system, and overhauling our educational systems to setup our children for better success in life. Thank you all for your time.

I'm against any unconstitutional law, and any law that strips Americans of their rights. These laws are an attack on the 2nd ammendment and hold NO facts in stopping crime. They are a punishment on law abiding people and in no way will make virginia a safer place.

I oppose all these unconstitutional, dangerous, and pointless laws.

I oppose all useless firearm changes. Criminals will not obey

HB113 | Sullivan | Handguns; possession, purchase, or transportation by persons convicted of certain drug offenses. HB1174 | Sickles | Assault firearms; age requirement for purchase, penalty. HB1195 | Hayes | Firearms; waiting period for purchases, penalty. HB12 | Jones | Handguns; firearm locking device required for sale or transfer, child safety warning required. HB1235 | Zehr | Concealed handguns; protective orders. HB1424 | Hope | Firearms; valid permit to purchase, penalties. HB1462 | Laufer | Firearm in unattended motor vehicle; civil penalty. HB158 | McClure | Firearm locking device; required for sale or transfer of firearm. HB16 | Garrett | Firearm or explosive material; carrying within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, etc. HB173 | Simon | Plastic firearms and unfinished frames, etc.; manufacture, import, etc. prohibited, penalties. HB175 | Simon | Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, penalty. HB183 | Simon | Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty. HB2 | Helmer | Assault firearms & certain ammunition, etc.; purchase, sales, transfers, etc., prohibited. HB22 | Jones | Auto sears; definition, prohibition on manufacture, importation, sale, etc., penalty. HB270 | Reid | Commonwealth Comprehensive Gun Safety Program; established, etc. HB319 | Helmer | Firearms instructors & safety prog.; removes reference to NRA & U.S. Concealed Carry Assoc. in Code. HB35 | Clark | Firearm safety device; expands definition of device. HB351 | Clark | Firearm; locking device required for purchase, households where minor resides, penalty. HB362 | McClure | Firearms; purchase, etc., following an assault and battery against an intimate or dating partner. HB454 | Callsen | Firearm/explosive material; carrying w/in Capitol Square or bldg. owned or leased by Commonwealth. HB46 | Bennett-Parker | Firearm; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. HB466 | Helmer | Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. HB791 | Henson | Pneumatic guns; Class 6 felony to possess. HB797 | Hope | Concealed handguns; demonstrated competence for a permit, firearms instructors and safety programs. HB798 | Hope | Firearms; purchase, possession, etc., following an assault and battery or stalking violation. HB799 | Hope | Concealed handgun permit applications; fingerprints required by local governments. HB861 | Hernandez | Weapons; carrying into hospital that provides mental health services. HB945 | Lopez | Firearm safety device; expands definition of device. SB100 | Ebbin | Plastic firearms and unfinished frames, etc.; manufacture, import, etc. prohibited, penalties. SB2 | Deeds | Assault firearms & certain ammunition, etc.; purchase, possession, sale, transfer, etc., prohibited. SB210 | Perry | Auto sears; prohibition on manufacture, importation, sale, etc., penalty. SB273 | Subramanyam | Firearms; waiting period for purchases, penalty. I oppose all these bills.

Everything we can do to keep our children and communities safe must be of the utmost priority. Our country has blood on its hands and state and federal leaders must open their eyes and hearts to pushing forward for what’s best for us as a society- that does not include firearms, ammunition, and hate. Mental health is but one part of the issue at hand here and it’s critical we solve the gun violence epidemic in a bipartisan and comprehensive fashion. I support all efforts to improve mental health services and school and community safety including eliminating access to automatic weapons, increasing the purchase age and increasing background check and screenings.

As a voter and active community member I support the right to responsible gun ownerships. For that reason I support that part of HB35 and all of HB1195. I also support HB861, as well as HB916 which establishes a Substantial Risk Order Reporting System so that government officials are better able to track incidents and determine appropriate legistlation. I support HB945, expands definition of a firearm safety device so that even more responsible gun owners may benefit from the tax credit.

As an American citizen whose rights are enshrined in the Constitution, I urge you to support and vote YES on these bills. HB 35 and HB945 level the playing field and enable those with lower incomes to be in a position to protect themselves as any American should be. HB 1230 allow school staff, should they want it, to train and be in a position to protect themselves and the students should a criminal or mentally unstable person attempt to commit a heinous act of violence. HB 1321 should actually be expanded to include concealed carry permit holders. HB 1325 removes an unnecessary burden. The weekly report most likely sits on a desk for many weeks/months before it is even looked at. In short, the bills above provide for the ability to protect one's self and his/her family. Any other "gun control" bills put up are simply working to emasculate the Second Amendment and only punish law-abiding American citizens. As others have stated, punish the bad guy and leave the good guys alone. Let the good guys keep their rights!

As a constituent, I urge you to SUPPORT the following bills: * HB 35, Clark, expands the firearm safety devices which qualify for a tax credit * HB 945, Lopez, expands the firearm safety devices which qualify for a tax credit * HB 1230, Zehr, allows approved school board employees with training to carry on school property * HB 1235, Zehr, turns a protective order into a temporary concealed handgun permit * HB 1321, Wyatt, allows off-duty law-enforcement to carry in state agency buildings and offices. A good start, but CHP holders should be allowed the same option * HB 1325, Taylot, removes an unneeded, outdated requirement for a weekly gun-sales report from gun dealers to the Virginia State Police Let me know how you are going to vote on these bills.

The following bills represent a positive benefit for the people of Virginia. They should be supported and moved forward to be voted into law. * HB 35, Clark, expands the firearm safety devices which qualify for a tax credit * HB 945, Lopez, expands the firearm safety devices which qualify for a tax credit * HB 1230, Zehr, allows approved school board employees with training to carry on school property * HB 1235, Zehr, turns a protective order into a temporary concealed handgun permit * HB 1321, Wyatt, allows off-duty law-enforcement to carry in state agency buildings and offices. A good start, but CHP holders should be allowed the same option * HB 1325, Taylot, removes an unneeded, outdated requirement for a weekly gun-sales report from gun dealers to the Virginia State Police These bills not only bring necessary improvements to the state's gun laws, they also represent an added level of protection for law-abiding citizens.

I am a volunteer with Virginia Moms for Change, a gun violence prevention group, and we support these bills.

I support these bills.

Apparently, you all think your authority comes from you; is deserved by you; and should be used to further your agenda in disarming law abiding citizens. SCOTUS decisions in Heller and Bruen have already decided the fate of your bills. You are likely going to get sued, your bills will lose and you will have done nothing whatsoever but waste taxpayer time and money on a frivolous pursuit. Which brings me to question what, exactly is the end result? Is it to weaponize laws against law abiding citizens in lawfare? Maybe you think we will run out of money or out of steam in defending our GOD GIVEN RIGHTS. Good luck with that, you will need it. The US Constitution has been argued multiple times regarding gun rights and clearly you either do not care about the rulings; about the Constitution as ratified and adopted by Virginia; nor the views of your constituents. You neither deserve, nor are owed, any kind of allegiance from us. WE DO NOT serve YOU. As a matter of fact our government, across the entire United States, is actually opposite your entitled, two-tiered justice, elitist hypocrisy; which is to say YOU SERVE US! Your lawfare tactics; constantly thumbing your nose at our RIGHTS because 'scary gun bad,' is not going to go in your favor. We are well aware of your marxist ideologies and how much you hate your country and how you believe that the rights of the individual are outweighed by your need to subjugate. We are well aware of your continuation to craft laws carving out, little by little, more power for yourselves and less freedom for us. God will not judge us for standing against you. You took an oath to support, protect and defend the Constitution. You have an opportunity, to simply admit you are wrong and turn away from this course of action. Impaling yourself because you'd rather do that than admit you are wrong is not the way to go. I understand an admission of wrong action will come with a swath of angry people jeering and cheering against you, however, redirecting course is still a better option than trying to force your constituency to rely on 'government,' to help which is tantamount to murder. The national average police response is around 12 minutes to a crime scene, coupled with the fact that SCOTUS has ruled many times that a law enforcement officer has no duty to place him/herself in harms way to protect anyone (DeShaney vs. Winnebago and Town of Castle Rock vs. Gonzales, and Warren vs. District of Columbia), and all you have done is place criminals at the top of the food chain offering up your constituency as nothing more than their next meal.

As a parent, I support these common-sense gun reform bills.

Tilting at windmills: The debate on whether an AR-15 is a military or non-military firearm is moot The anti-gunners panties are in a tight wad over AR-15s because they don’t like black guns, especially if those guns have various cosmetic features, such as a bayonet lug. You know - the scourge of drive-by bayonetings going on in Chicago? So, the anti’s latest tactic is to scream (that’s pretty much their main mode of communication) that an AR-15 is a weapon of war and should not be owned by anyone but the military, government agencies, and the police. So, if citizens don’t need so-called “weapons of war”, why exactly would the police and government bureaucrats need them? <Crickets chirping quietly in the background> Armies have not used AR-15s in war, so it’s hard to call one a weapon of war. The M-16/M-4 is superior for that purpose with its semi-automatic, burst, and fully automatic selector switch. That said, could one fight a war with an AR-15? Sure. AR-15s have a lot in common with their M-16/M-4 cousin. AR-15s use the same mid-power cartridge and the same 20 or 30-round magazine as the M-16/M-4. And the really scary issue for the antis is the AR-15 LOOKS LIKE an M-16! But all of this is totally moot. The Second Amendment and Article 1, Section 13 of the Virginia Constitution both protect the right of the People to own and carry bearable weapons of war! Even the Supreme Court back in 1939 in US v Miller made it clear that any weapon of use to a militia (think “weapon of war”) is protected by the Second Amendment. And American history and tradition back up that right. From the beginning, Americans have owned and carried weapons in use by the military: from muskets to revolvers, to pistols, to pump and semi-automatic shotguns, to lever-action, bolt-action, and semi-automatic rifles, and, to a lesser degree, both fully-automatic rifles and pistols. So, to my anti-gun friends: I am tired of arguing with you about whether an AR-15 is a sporting gun or a “weapon of war.” Call it what you want, but it is protected by the Second Amendment either way.

I ask the subcommittee to support these bills.

I, Carolyn Kochard, on behalf of Virginia Moms for Change support the above bills because data shows that these laws help reduce gun-related deaths.

Dear Members; What part of 'shall not infringe' do you not understand ? Donald Trump on the ballot and let's go Brandon. My congressmen Bobby Scott and my delegate Cia Price do NOT represent me ! Thank you John Zielanski

I moved to Virginia 15 years ago after I retired. I chose Virginia because of the reasonable, common sense gun laws, among other reasons, as compared to where I came from. I am an avid competitive shooter and hunter and made Virginia my home on that basis. I pay considerably more in taxes, with the exception of real estate, to support my state and county governments and ask and get little in return. In the last 8 years the state of Virginia has enacted a myriad of new firearms regulations that do nothing to prevent crime or make us safer. The new laws being considered will have the same effect. Your focus should be on crime and how to punish criminals, not law abiding taxpayers exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Where I live we realistically have a 25 to 45 minute response time for fire, ambulance and sheriff’s deputies. We have an excellent sheriff’s department and volunteer corps of fire and first aid responders but sheer numbers of staff and size of our county make it what it is. People need to be self reliant and not have to worry about being punished for inadvertently breaking an ineffective gun law. Again, your focus should be be on crime and how to punish criminals and not law abiding citizens. Thanks for your time.

Comments Document

I support HB 35 and 945 as I think they will make it easier for Virginians to afford secure storage options. Quality gun locks and safes are expensive, so making those more accessible could really help and could encourage more people to properly secure their firearms. I wish HB 797 did not include anything about license plates. I think that is muddying topics, and more likely to strike partisan nerves. I do not support a change to laws regarding license plates. I do support requiring live fire training for a concealed weapons permit. As a Virginia resident, prior Marine, gun owner, and someone directly exposed to the pain and death gun violence causes I recently made a video on what I thought was important regarding gun safety, locks, and laws. I wrote it down first to keep me on topic. I am sure its is more than most of you have time to read, and I am sure there are more informative guides for legislature. That being said, it summarizes what I think we need to concentrate on with civil conversation, safety training, safe storage, and laws to reduce gun violence (and no, I do not think more guns will make us safer). I will attach it for reference.

These bills should all be passed as they are in support of free Americans' right to defend themselves. We have one tragic example from Hawaii where a law such as HB1235 would have saved a mother's life. Some politicians would not only veto this bill out of nothing more than ideology, but would support a bill with the opposite intent such as mandatory waiting periods. Virginia residents have a right to defend themselves at all times and in all places. They also have the right to own firearms for any and every other lawful purpose as well in addition to self-defense. Any bill aimed at supporting and encouraging armed self defense should be unanimously supported, including these.

I think there should be a law that allows us, the citizens of Virginia, to remove officials from office who violate their constitutional oath to protect our 2nd amendment and other constitutional amendments. I cannot for the life of me understand what the point is of swearing into office as servant to the public and take an oath only to turn around and purpose laws under the guise of reducing crime that further restrict already law abiding citizens. These laws will never EVER stop criminals, it will never EVER slow or stop people with nefarious intentions and only limit already law abiding citizens. Frankly I grow so tired and more and more disappointed in certain officials in office that don't keep their oath and just lie to the public that gun control stop criminal. IT DOES NO WORK, armed law biding citizens scare criminals from making people into victims because it creates uncertainty to the criminal's actions not knowing if people are armed would they other wise take criminal actions. Why is it people who support gun control fail to make connects to the correlations that place with security are less likely to be targeted for that very reason, because the person would face resistance to their actions. I do not support any of these gun control bills, I do support the pro gun bills and will not comply with any of these gun control bills should they pass as they are unconstitutional and violate my rights as a US citizen.

Please quit making new laws when we don’t enforce what is on the books now. Target criminals not the everyday law abiding citizens of Virginia!

As a constituent, I urge you to OPPOSE the following gun-control bills: * HB 175, Simon, unconstitutionally prohibits the carry of certain firearms in public * HB 270, Reid, creates a three day waiting period for a firearm purchase, making a mockery of Virginia's "instant check" system and breaking a promise to Virginia's gun owners * HB 318, Helmer, ridiculously makes the firearm industry liable for criminal misuse of firearms * HB 319, Helmer, greatly reduces the number of places where concealed handgun permit holders can get training. A solution in search of a problem * HB 362, McClure, takes away gun rights for misdemeanor battery in a nebulous "dating relationship." Misdemeanors should never take away basic, protected civil rights for any reason * HB 797, Hope, greatly reduces the number of places where concealed handgun permit holders can get training and increases requirements to get a permit. A solution to a non-existing problem * HB 798, Hope, takes away gun rights for a misdemeanor conviction of a simple assault, assault and battery, and stalking * HB 799, Hope, requires fingerprinting for getting a concealed carry permit. Permits are only revoked for any reason at a minuscule rate of one-tenth of one percent! A solution in search of a problem. * HB 861, Hernandez, prohibits firearms in hospitals, unconstitutionally violating the rights of people to be able to protect themselves * HB 1195, Hays, creates a five day waiting period for a firearm purchase, making a mockery of Virginia's "instant check" system and breaking a promise to Virginia's gun owners * HB 1462, Laufer, creates a $500 civil penalty and towing for an unattended vehicle where a handgun is visible, punishing good people for what criminals do Let me know how you are going to vote on these bills.

As a constituent, I urge you to OPPOSE the following gun-control bills: * HB 175, Simon, unconstitutionally prohibits the carry of certain firearms in public * HB 270, Reid, creates a three day waiting period for a firearm purchase, making a mockery of Virginia's "instant check" system and breaking a promise to Virginia's gun owners * HB 318, Helmer, ridiculously makes the firearm industry liable for criminal misuse of firearms * HB 319, Helmer, greatly reduces the number of places where concealed handgun permit holders can get training. A solution in search of a problem * HB 362, McClure, takes away gun rights for misdemeanor battery in a nebulous "dating relationship." Misdemeanors should never take away basic, protected civil rights for any reason * HB 797, Hope, greatly reduces the number of places where concealed handgun permit holders can get training and increases requirements to get a permit. A solution to a non-existing problem * HB 798, Hope, takes away gun rights for a misdemeanor conviction of a simple assault, assault and battery, and stalking * HB 799, Hope, requires fingerprinting for getting a concealed carry permit. Permits are only revoked for any reason at a minuscule rate of one-tenth of one percent! A solution in search of a problem. * HB 861, Hernandez, prohibits firearms in hospitals, unconstitutionally violating the rights of people to be able to protect themselves * HB 1195, Hays, creates a five day waiting period for a firearm purchase, making a mockery of Virginia's "instant check" system and breaking a promise to Virginia's gun owners * HB 1462, Laufer, creates a $500 civil penalty and towing for an unattended vehicle where a handgun is visible, punishing good people for what criminals do Thanks Garry Dudley

I urge you to SUPPORT these bills as a citizen of VA .

It continues to puzzle me as to why the General Assembly continues to hamper the rights of law abiding gun owners with silly legislation (some of which is clearly unconstitutional) verses addressing the actual underlying problems. Until you do so, you'll continue to look like the political hacks and stooges that you are, beholden to party marching orders rather than what's good for the Commonwealth and it's citizens. Truly sad indeed!

Keep your hands off legally owned guns. Do more to get the bad gun guns. Why do not see the laws on the books get enforced? Uphold your oath of office and protect us from bad guys,illegals, and others.

I am writing to inform the tone deaf and those in this assembly that while they dither and equivocate over Constitutional "God given Rights" of a Free People, codified into law, 16,250 innocent children are "murdered", put to death, mutilated, in the state of Virginia each and every year and each and every new session of this Legislature 16, 250 more innocents die at the hands of the inaction of this body as a whole. And we thought the Germans of the 30's were criminal for their actions with deliberate DEATH and maiming. The crime of murder in any form is a serious crime and just because it is "legalized" it is still a Sin again against humanity and the People of Virginia, who apparently foot the bill for this atrocity. Just as you should not be legalizing "Firearm Control" murder is still a unjustified morally and should be rejected as normal. If there are still anyone on the Democrat side of this body that understands morality and stands up for LIFE and LIBERTY of the People, consider well how and what you vote in favor of. May the punishment of this heinous crime be published and stopped before another thing is done, legally or illegally in this body. Sincerely, Peter Buckingham 301-646-5300 Crozet, VA 22932

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed

HB35 - promotes actual firearms safety without imposing upon the rights of innocent gun owners for the crimes of others. Absolutely worth the support of the legislature. HB1230 - a step in the correct direction, towards making schools LESS of a soft target, LESS attractive to mass-murderers compared to how they are now. This permits some of the people we never needed to worry about in the first place to be armed against the possibility of someone wanting to murder them in a place which was previously a victim-disarmament zone. HB1235 - this shouldn't even be a QUESTION to support it. A protective order is a mere piece of paper, and it is well known that such a piece of paper has failed miserably in defending some people from their attackers. Permitting them to carry is the ONLY proper choice. HB1321 and 1325 do not earn my support or disapproval. ALL other bills being proposed for this day's consideration should be rejected - HB175 - ANY prohibition on so-called "assault firearms" is AT BEST meaningless and worthy of opposition for that reason alone. Add to that the fact that owners and users of these firearms are overwhelmingly peaceful VA citizens innocent of any wrongdoing and this bill CANNOT be passed. HB270 - more nonsense restrictions on so-called assault weapons" and standard-capacity magazines, which are unConstitutional on their face under both the US and VA Constitutions. Nuke this proposal. HB318 - proposes to hold "firearms industry members" responsible for crimes committed by third parties due to govt's inability or unwillingness to enforce EXISTING laws already covering the crimes detailed in this bill. This is a prima-facie attempt to execute lawfare against retailers and manufacturers innocent of any actual wrongdoing. Nuke it. HB319 - a petty attempt to remove NRA and USCCA instructors and ranges from certification at what they are literally the class-of-the-world in doing, teaching firearms safety and the legalities of carry, because the proposer doesn't LIKE those groups. The mere PROPOSAL is incredibly childish and unprofessional. Nuke it. HB362 - if you want to forbid ownership or possession of someone for a violent crime, that crime needs to be a felony. Period. And you'd better be able to JUSTIFY it being a felony crime. Nuke it. HB797 - another childish and unprofessional attack on the groups best-suited and -capable of instruction in actual firearms safety. NUKE IT. HB798 - see comments for HB362. NUKE IT. HB799 - This is tiresome. See comments for HB319 and 797. NUKE IT. HB861 - the only people who need to be restricted from carrying a weapon into a hospital already ARE prohibited from even TOUCHING one. Your inability or unwillingness to deal with that does not justify more laws. NUKE IT. HB916 - VA has had laws covering the issues of emergency TROs for YEARS already. So-called "red flag" laws are an abomination, violating most of the Bill Of Right and leaving someone you claim is a threat in the position to act on that threat. NUKE IT. HB945 - Not incredibly offensive, just wholly unnecessary. Nuke it. HB1195 - Any waiting period is Constitutionally-impermissible. A right delayed is a right denied, and the state seeks to delay here. NUKE IT. HB1386 - VA has no power to set workplace rules like this. NUKE IT. HB1462 - seeks to re-victimize victims of crime AND to make it impossible for people not a threat to anyone to carry outside of victim-disarmament zones. NUKE IT.

As a dedicated advocate for the Second Amendment and a lifelong Virginian, I am compelled to express my deep concerns over the direction of recent legislative efforts surrounding firearm laws. I have always placed a high value on security, freedom, and the principles of logical, effective policy-making. It has become increasingly apparent that in the wake of tragic incidents, there is a tendency among some lawmakers to resort to knee-jerk reactions, such as proposing bans or stringent registration requirements for firearms the list goes on and on. While these measures are often presented as solutions to reduce crime, they fail to address the root causes of violence and, instead, serve only to infringe upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens like myself. The proposal to ban or mandatorily register firearms under the guise of public safety is not only ineffective but also a clear violation of our Second Amendment rights. Such actions presuppose that restricting the freedoms of the majority, who are responsible and law-abiding, will somehow prevent the criminal actions of the few. This is not only a flawed premise but also a dangerous overreach that undermines the foundational liberties upon which our nation was built. Moreover, the creation of firearm-free zones and the push for restrictive gun laws are misguided attempts that offer a false promise of safety. History and evidence have shown that criminals do not adhere to such regulations; instead, these zones often end up as soft targets, inadvertently putting innocent lives at greater risk. In light of these considerations, I urge you and your colleagues in the Virginia House and Senate to: Stand firmly against the ineffective and reactionary proposals to ban or mandatorily register firearms. Reconsider and rescind policies that establish firearm-free zones, recognizing their failure to protect and their potential to harm. Focus on realistic, effective solutions that address the underlying causes of violence without compromising the rights and freedoms of Virginia's citizens. Our commitment to the Second Amendment is not a matter of political convenience but a fundamental principle that ensures our liberty and security. The right to bear arms is intrinsic to the American way of life, providing individuals the means to defend themselves, their families, and their freedoms. There are many egregious bills pending. firearm lock requirements, storage requirements, waiting periods, the list goes on and on I remind you democrats that you swore an oath to defend the constitution all these laws you are considering are contrary to the constitution itself and will be challenged and defeated because of the post bruen Supreme Court decisions. I am confident that with thoughtful consideration and a commitment to the principles of our Constitution, we can forge policies that genuinely enhance public safety without infringing upon our cherished liberties. I, alongside countless Virginia patriots, assert that we will not comply with laws infringing on our Second Amendment rights. This stance is rooted in a deep respect for the Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees. Thank you for your attention to my concerns and for your ongoing service to the people of Virginia. I trust that you will approach this issue with the gravity and respect it deserves, recognizing the importance of preserving our constitutional rights in all legislative actions.

None of the gun control bills being put forward will stop a single criminal event. Not one. They are designed to punish and harm Virginians exercising their natural right to self defense and are in conflict with the US and Virginia constitution. Stop. This is not in the best interest of Virginians.

The gun control bills being heard today all have one thing in common, that is to disarm the honest, law abiding citizen. There is no other reason and they will have no other effect. Gun control as a method to curb crime has failed everywhere it has been implemented. Gun control to advance tyranny , subjugation and genocide has succeeded. Please vote NO on these Unconstitutional bills.

A pro-gun vote is a vote for freedom. All the anti-gun bills are just solutions in search of problems. They thicken the code of Virginia and add nothing of value. Please, do NOT fatten the code for no reason. - Thank you

I support this bill to make locking devices tax exempt. I strongly encourage a positive vote for this bill.

Dear committee I am writing to respectfully but firmly implore you not to advance gun control bills HB 175, 270, 318, 319, 362, 797, 798, 861, 1195, 1462. These bills will not stop or reduce crime. They will only strip the rights from law abiding citizens. One example is HB 1195, which creates a 5 day wait period. A right delayed is a right denied; if someone in danger needs a firearm to protect themselves, they are in more danger as they now have to wait. Not only is this unfair in light of Virginia's instant check system, but a court ruled against it. HB 318 Makes the firearm industry liable for the actions of criminals. This is unfair. You would not sue Ford if someone misused one of their products. You also have 2 bills that would limit training and the amount of certified instructors. This is insane as it goes against gun saftey: you WANT people to be trained on proper firearms use. You have bills that limit where one can carry, which is Unconstitutional under Bruen. You have bills that punish people if a firearm if left in their car in sight. Why not go after criminals? And it's not fair to punish people with only misdemeanors. As for the dating partner? That is problematic as a jilted partner , or and partner, can make a false statement about the other person. None of these bills will deter criminals nor will they do anything to address the saftey of people or the mental health issue. The better course of action would be to address mental health system. I DO want to see the following pro gun bills passed: HB 35, 945, 1230, 1235, 1325. These bills help people in crisis and even encourage safe storage of firearms without punishing people. I like the bill that offers tax credits for trigger locks/ safes . It's an incentive to encourage people to secure their firearms when not in use/ unattended. This is a great way to keep children safe and even puts some money back in people's pockets. I like the bill that turns an order of protection ( for the person that needs it ) into a concealed carry for a limited time. This will help vulnerable people protect themselves when they need to be able to do so. There are many things that can be done to make people safe, but not at the expense of freedom and constitutional rights. I am urging you to say Nay to the anti gun bills and Yay to the pro gun bills. A better course of action would be to fund and train police, enact harsh penalties for criminals, address the mental health system ( as the governor has said ) and pass pro gun legislation to both protect the Second Amendment and to encourage safe storage, increase the availability of training instructors, and allow people to protect themselves. And this also includes commonly-owned firearms such as AR15 and AK pattern rifles. Commonly-owned firearms such as these are protected under the Bruen decision. Thank you Mr Raymond Pezzoli

Article 1 section 13 is a restriction on you, in order to protect the civil rights of all citizens but especially the minority. Whether it’s a racial minority or a religious minority or a political minority, we all have rights that cannot be taken away just because some group is in a majority. Even if it weren’t a right or a civil liberty, you would have to repeal article 1 Sect 13 of the Virginia constitution in order to have the authority to prohibit me from being armed, and not just with a firearm but armed in anyway I see fit. Gun control doesn’t work, we see the results in countless examples so this isn’t a new idea and it’s been proven to fail and actually harm the citizens. Gun control started with racist after the civil war and it continues today to be the same racist elitist ideology that says you’re not smart enough or responsible enough to protect yourself, you must have the government protect you, which of course is ridiculous because the police cannot be everywhere nor would we want that many police in our society Many victims will testify that being unarmed or having a waiting period or a background check did nothing to stop their attacker and only effected their ability to protect themself which lead to them being victimized by a criminal Murder is illegal, people are still murdered Speed limits are in place, people still speed Laws do not stop or prevent crime, the only thing that any law will do is establish a punishment AFTER you are caught, not before. There are no minority reports, there are no pre cogs you cannot stop a crime before it happens, the intended victim is the only one that can stop the crime when it happens and the only way to do that is to be armed

As a constituent of one of the Delegates of the Assembly, but not of your committee, I write to express my opposition to each/all of the anti-2A bills in this collection. Individually and collectively, they punish Virginia citizens who intend to comply with them, and fail to so much as deter those with criminal intent. While this is true of nearly all laws, these are a particularly vile assault on the innocent. I do not find any of you deplorable, for you have not yet cast a vote - but if you vote to send these bills onward (and I'll know, within hours...) then I will find you so, and will become your political enemy. I cannot wield a lot of power as an 80-year-old individual constituent, but that which I can, I will.

I would like to support this bill.

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

HB 35 Increasing the price only hurts lower income folks who can't pay for it. Why should only the rich have rights. HB 165 No subsidizing unions for POLITICAL POINTS. HB 396 How about tax credits to SINGLE people or the working instead of EVERYONE else? HB 1180 I can agree with this. HB 1223 Agree with this. HB 1234 Pro for this. HB 1275 Pro for this. Cheaper than being a state student. HB 1394 Nope. HB 1470 NO POLITICAL POINTS tax deductions.

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

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Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

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I represent the accredited Main Street America organization in Harrisonburg, Va., working to revitalize our historic downtown district. When considering HB960, please do not support a statewide cap of $75M on this program, which would harm Virginia's economic potential. A cap would force our communities to compete with each other instead of allowing all ships to rise. It will make the state historic tax credit incentive unpredictable. Without a cap, the tax credit can remain a highly effective economic development tool. • In Harrisonburg, since our revitalization started 20 years ago, we have had 27 historic tax credit projects and over $61M in investment. • Since 2003, our total private investment was $139.4M in our 40-block historic downtown. • Therefore, just over half of our total private investment since 2003 was made possible by the historic tax credit. • Since 2016, Virginia has exceeded $75M in tax credit projects five times. Dozens of transformative projects may not have happened if there was a cap in place. Many of Harrisonburg's historic tax credit projects were under $5M. However, the 1934 Casco Ice House rehabilitation, was over $5 million. It was a complex project that turned a historic ice manufacturing and storage facility into housing, offices, and commercial space for several locally owned businesses. It takes up around 80,000 square feet on 2 acres. It was an eye sore for years while vacant, but today, it is a hub of activity, with dozens of apartments, three restaurants, a craft brewery, a yoga studio, four offices (including our office), and a vintage jewelry manufacturer and boutique. Historic photos of the Ice House line our walls and heavy machinery “decorate” the site, helping to tell our history as we enjoy the vitality that this project brought to our downtown. This project happened because of an Industrial Revitalization Fund grant and historic tax credits. Developers in our community are mostly locals who live and work here. They specialize in small to medium-sized projects in their own backyards. Developers in historic Harrisonburg are not large corporations who do projects throughout the U.S. An example of this is the family-owned 1913 Chesapeake Western Railroad Depot. It survived several fires but tax credits helped bring it back to life. When using the Secretary of Interior’s standards, the family had to rebuild the structure as it was originally built, which pushed the project price tag to $1 million. This was an expensive restoration but the family was able to take advantage of the tax credits. Tax credits can still keep our revitalization going. Two downtown property owners recently completed two multi-million dollar projects, which are in the final review stage to receive tax credits. We have two more historic buildings that are tax credit candidates just waiting to get started. If the state tax credit program had a cap on it, Harrisonburg’s success story would be years behind where we are today. We have a single-digit vacancy rate, a waitlist for apartments in our gorgeous historic rehabs, and a vibrant retail and restaurant scene. Our success has a direct line to the tax credit incentive. A cap means the credit's availability is not guaranteed. Projects will be too risky to move forward. The tax credit strengthens our local economies. Please don't limit the economic development potential in our older and historic communities.

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

On behalf of the 17 members of the Virginia First Cities Coalition, we urge you to please support HB 960. The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program has played an essential role in the preservation of thousands of historic properties since its inception 26 years ago. It has been perhaps the most seminal, positive step to revitalizing the Commonwealth's older, core cities --- many of them members of Virginia First Cities. The program statistics tell a powerful story of economic stimulus to local governments and to the state, of job creation and retention, of expanded housing options, In short the HRTC program has helped immeasurably and we need it to expand in order to help our cities get older, historic properties back into productive, tax producing use. The expanded HRTC program will do just that.

The City of Portsmouth strongly supports this bill and asks that this august body do the same. Our Economic Development Director stated that passing this bill into law will increase tax credit financing to Portsmouth revitalization projects.

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

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Hi I am writing to you on behalf of The Well Connection UK, a media and publishing company. We could easily get virginia.gov featured in various publications such as magazines, online blogs and news sites. This would undoubtedly help virginia.gov with publicity, reputation, domain authority and organic search engine rankings. We have a wide range of options including completely free collaborations, sponsored posts, guest posts and banner ads. If this sounds of interest, please reach out to the senior business development manager, Anita at info@thewellconnection.co.uk and whatsapp +447395206515 (GMT) Kind regards Clifton Junior Outreach Assistant

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

Please Support! The City of Portsmouth strongly supports this bill because it will increase the annual allocation of historic tax credit financing in furtherance of historic preservation and revitalization efforts in Portsmouth.

Hb1180 I had to send my child to private school. She has level 1 autism and having lots of sensory issues. The public school setting was not fit for her. She spent 6 hours a day in class and with the large classroom size it overwhelmed her. Can you imagine how hard it must be for those kids? The school told us we can’t get IEP unless she fails…. We do not want support after she fails we need the support so she does not fail. We will be not eligible for this bill but HB1164 will help lots of families like us to have more resources.

HB 35 Increasing the price only hurts lower income folks who can't pay for it. Why should only the rich have rights. HB 165 No subsidizing unions for POLITICAL POINTS. HB 396 How about tax credits to SINGLE people or the working instead of EVERYONE else? HB 1180 I can agree with this. HB 1223 Agree with this. HB 1234 Pro for this. HB 1275 Pro for this. Cheaper than being a state student. HB 1394 Nope. HB 1470 NO POLITICAL POINTS tax deductions.