Va. Gov. Northam signs new gun control measures into law
FILE – In this April 8, 2020 file photo, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam gestures during a news conference at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
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UPDATED 5:50 PM PT — Friday, April 10, 2020
Despite the current global health crisis, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam recently signed multiple pieces of gun control legislation into law. On Friday, he signed five bills aimed at expanding background checks, mandatory reporting of stolen firearms and so called ‘red flag’ laws.
Virginia will also limit gun purchases to one a month.
In a statement, the governor claimed the state loses too many citizens to gun violence and voiced his belief these new measures will save lives.
Starting July 1, Virginia will have background checks on all firearm sales, an Extreme Risk Protective Order, a one-handgun-a-month rule, and other commonsense gun safety measures.
I am proud to sign these new laws. They will save lives, period.https://t.co/nfL4aGwmwY
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) April 10, 2020
However, the new controversial laws are already raising concerns with residents about their rights as gun owners.
“You know, just the basic right of taking away the due process, taking away people’s basic civil rights,” said gun store manager Jim Wood.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signs a peice of legislation in his conference room inside the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Va., Friday, April 10, 2020. Northam has a midnight Saturday, April 11, deadline to either sign, amend or veto all legislation passed by the General Assembly. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
Residents have spent months voicing their fears of measures infringing on their Second Amendment rights. In January alone, more than 20,000 gun rights activists rallied in the state’s capitol of Richmond to protest these measures.
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” stated gun rights activist Cam Edwards.
Several thousand gun owners and #2A supporters in downtown Richmond. Everyone I’ve talked to says there here to peacefully protest Ralph Northam’s anti-gun agenda. pic.twitter.com/oV0H1t0d2O
— Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) January 20, 2020
A number of local governments in the state have passed firearm sanctuary resolutions to protect gun owners from any state or federal gun control laws that could be considered unconstitutional. Members of these communities feel many of these bills passed will impact law abiding citizens more than criminals.
“Fellas don’t come into gun stores and buy guns anyway,” explained Wood. “They buy illegal guns, things that are stolen, from individuals that are not necessarily responsible.”
FILE – In this Oct. 9, 2018, file photo, Illegally possessed firearms seized by authorities are displayed during a news conference in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
The state legislature’s attempt to pass a ban on so called ‘assault weapons,’ which received the most pushback from gun owners, has failed.
Despite the ongoing feud, the laws are set to go into effect on July 1st.
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