This week in Richmond has been deeply concerning. What should be a legislative session focused on economic relief, affordability, and protecting individual liberty has instead been dominated by an aggressive push that threatens the constitutional rights of law-abiding Virginians and places new burdens on hardworking families.
Rather than addressing the real challenges facing our Commonwealth like runaway inflation, the rising cost of living, and excessive regulation, the Democrat majority has chosen to prioritize a slate of gun control bills that undermine the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. I serve on the Public Safety Committee where these bills are coming through. I have voted and will continue to vote against measures that threaten our Second Amendment rights. Several of these proposals are especially troubling:
*HB 21 exposes firearm manufacturers, wholesalers, and dealers to civil liability through vague and undefined “standards of responsible conduct.”
*HB 110 establishes civil penalties for leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle.
*HB 217 would ban the sale, manufacture, importation, and transfer of a broad range of commonly owned semi-automatic firearms based on arbitrary features and magazine capacity, with violations classified as Class 1 misdemeanors.
*HB 229 criminalizes lawful possession in certain hospital settings, even for citizens simply visiting a loved one.
*HB 871 imposes criminal penalties related to firearm storage within the home when minors are present.
These bills are being advanced with little regard for constitutional limits or their impact on everyday Virginians. Republican members have consistently warned that this approach invites costly legal challenges while trampling on the Second Amendment rights of responsible citizens.
As your Delegate, I am fighting back against these extreme policies. My Republican colleagues and I remain committed to advancing good policy, protecting individual liberties, and delivering meaningful tax relief for Virginia families.
Legislation and Resolutions
On Friday, I am happy to say that HB1053 passed the House floor and is heading to the Senate. As I mentioned last week, this reinstates a previous law that allows localities to use Tobacco Commission grants as matching funds for GO Virginia grants. This helps our region and many projects that are coming down the pipeline.
