More Gun Control Bills Introduced in House of Delegates

Now that the session has started, bills are starting to drop in bunches.  At least 6 more gun control bills appeared on the Legislative Information Service (LIS) and have been posted on the VSSA Bill Tracking Form.

The latest list of new bills, courtesy of Bearingarms.com are

• HB 871, which "[r]equires any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present to store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person," or else face a mishttp://Bearingarms.comdemeanor charge. 

• HB 901, which expands the state's "red flag" law to allow a "licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical psychologist, licensed clinical psychiatrist, licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychiatric physician assistant, psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, certified evaluator, designee of the local community services board, immediate family or household member, intimate partner, or school administrator or a school administrator's designee of any school in which the person against whom the order is sought is currently enrolled or has been enrolled in the six months preceding the filing of such petition" to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order petition. 

• HB 916, which expands the requirements for a Virginia concealed carry permit to include "a handgun shooting class or course that teaches (i) efficient, effective, and responsible use of a concealed handgun for self-defense outside of the home; (ii) state laws pertaining to handguns; and (iii) proper handgun storage techniques".

• HB 919, which imposes an 11% tax on the sale of all firearms and ammunition "by a dealer in firearms, firearms manufacturer, or ammunition vendor," with the proceeds going to the "Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund."

• HB 969, which establishes the "Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center" with a mission of serving as "the primary resource for research, best practices, and strategies for the implementation of firearm violence intervention, community-based intervention, and group violence intervention programs designed to reduce violence in communities."

• HB 1094, which imposes another 11% tax on firearms and ammunition on "the gross receipts from the sale and distribution of any firearm or ammunition by a firearms or ammunition manufacturer."

There will be more bills on the way.  We're still waiting to see the Senate's version of a ban on so-called "assault firearms", as well as a possible "permit-to-purchase" that's been discussed by Democrats, even participating an a webinar hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solution on the topic. 

Keep checking the VSSA Legislative Tracking page for updates.  January 23rd is the last day to introduce legislation.