THE SECOND AMENDMENT

The Constitution contains statements about our God-given rights and enumerates freedoms that we have in the United States, including the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Over time, these rights have become restricted as laws – such as those prohibiting felons from possessing guns, requiring background checks, or setting a minimum age to own a firearm – have been passed.

After each tragic act of violence, one response is usually to encourage gun ownership so that a “good guy with a gun” can stop a “bad guy with a gun.” The other is to crack down on gun rights across-the-board by banning types of guns and banning some people from owning them altogether.

People cry out for their government to “fix” the issue through legislation; to just do something. Thus, the special session of the General Assembly was convened, and a number of bills were filed that would ban so-called “assault weapons” such as hunting rifles, create mandatory waiting periods, and all but prohibit private sales.

Here’s the problem with that approach: gun control laws are intended to stop murder – but murder is already illegal. For the majority of mass murderers, more laws will not stop the behavior, and might even cause them to commit violence with other tools, like knives, vehicles, or bombs.

You know it, I know it, and so do many of the conservative candidates running for the General Assembly this year. Their focus? The motivation and mental illness behind the action… and they’re right. What causes a person to commit acts of massive violence? How can we stop violence at the source without taking away the rights of law-abiding people like you and me?

We encourage you to support candidates who protect our rights, and take to task those candidates who want to take those rights away. After the bill listing below we have added prompts and resources to assist you in telling YOUR STORIES to candidates, friends, the media, to counter the current media frenzy.

A few things we can (and should) all ask:

  1. How do “red flag” laws not violate citizens’ constitutional rights?
  2. If the potential for harm allows for confiscation of a firearm, does the potential for drunk driving mean we should ban alcoholics from owning cars?
  3. Does the small number of shootings using “assault style” weapons justify a total ban on many hunting rifles and other guns that fit that category?
  4. Does limiting magazine size really have any impact on how many people are shot by someone intent on killing?
  5. Are video games and movies desensitizing young children to violence?

But most importantly… where does “common sense” end with gun laws—is the argument now that it is “common sense” that nobody should own a gun? Do those candidates and elected officials believe that ordinary citizens should not be able to defend themselves?

Here are the bills that were presented, their status, and their chief patron:
Please note: bills not active at this time can (and will) be resurrected for the upcoming regular session!

  1. HB4002 Concealed handguns; carrying with a permit by employees of any agency of the Commonwealth, etc.
    Delegate Mark L. Cole
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission
  2. HB4003 Firearms; removal from persons posting substantial risk, penalties
    Delegate Richard C. Sullivan Jr.
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  3. HB4004 Handguns; limitation on purchases, exceptions penalty
    Delegate Jeion A. Ward
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  4. HB4005 Firearms, ammunition, etc.; control by localities by governing possession, etc., within locality
    Delegate Marcia S. Price
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  5. HB4006 Firearms; allowing access to minors, penalty
    Delegate C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  6. HB4009 Protective orders; possession of firearms, surrender or transfer of firearms, penalty
    Delegate David J. Toscano
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  7. HB4011 Firearms; reporting those lost or stolen, civil penalty
    Delegate Jeffrey M. Bourne
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  8. HB4014 Sentence reductions; substantial assistance to prosecution
    Delegate E. Yancey
    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice – Referred by voice vote with letter to Crime Commission

  9. HB4015 Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty
    Delegate Kenneth R. Plum
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  10. HB4016 Firearms; use of display while committing felony, penalty
    Delegate Charles D. Poindexter
    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice – Referred by voice vote with letter to Crime Commission

  11. HB4017 DBHDS and VSP; mobile applications, mental health and public safety
    Delegate Roxann L. Robinson
    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice – Referred by voice vote with letter to Crime Commission
  12. HB4027 DBHDS and VSP; mobile applications, mental health and public safety
    Delegate Christopher P. Stolle
    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice – Referred by voice vote with letter to Crime Commission

  13. HB4021 Assault firearms. Certain firearm magazines, trigger activators, & silencers; prohibiting sale, etc.
    Delegate Mark H. Levine
    Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety with letter to Crime Commission

  14. HB4028 Capital murder; punishment
    Delegate C. Todd Gilbert
    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice – Referred by voice vote with letter to Crime Commission

Share Your Stories: Have you ever had to defend yourself from someone threatening to shoot? Have you had a loved one use a gun to hurt or kill himself or another? What did you learn from that experience? Do you have an example of irresponsible gun use that could have been avoided by actions by the gun owner? Would a law have made a difference? Has a young man you know been influenced by popular culture to either want or avoid a gun? Are there interventions you can identify that can redirect troubled folks away from creating mayhem? Are you a law enforcement officer with a unique perspective?

Supporters/Opponents (not comprehensive):
Supporters of gun control:  Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, Students for Changes, Brady United Against Gun Violence, Million Mom March, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence, Americans for Responsible Solutions, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, Violence Policy Center, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Stop Handgun Violence.

Opponents of gun control: National Rifle Association, Virginia Citizens Defense League, American Rifleman, Gun Owners of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Second Amendment Foundation, American Militia Association, National Association for Gun Rights, Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Socialist Rifle Association.

Resources (not comprehensive):
https://www.concealedcarry.com/law/constitutional-carry-and-permitless-carry-in-depth-overview/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081
https://www.thetrace.org/about-the-trace/
https://www.survivopedia.com/5-real-solutions-to-gun-violence/
https://www.heritage.org/staff/amy-swearer
https://www.wnd.com/2015/10/solutions-to-reduce-mass-shootings/
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a30024/mass-shooters-1014/
https://m.theepochtimes.com/its-long-past-time-for-national-discussion-about-mental-illness_3033126.html