Democrats in Richmond successfully passed legislation in March to ban Virginians from owning everyday firearms.

by Bronson Winslow

Without restraint or even the slightest hint of accountability to the Constitution, Democrats in Richmond advanced legislation to gut the very essence of the Second Amendment.

In March, the legislature, dominated by a Democratic majority, sent SB 749 and HB 217 to the desk of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D)—a longtime ally of the anti-firearm movement. These measures would ban many commonly owned firearms and impose strict magazine capacity limits. Democrats continue to call the bills “safety measures,” but they clearly conflict with the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen decision at the United States Supreme Court—which affirmed every individual’s right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense.

The landmark Supreme Court ruling further affirmed that all firearm laws must be firmly rooted in the historical tradition of firearm regulation.

Virginia Republicans have warned the legislation will invite costly legal challenges, pointing to post-Bruen rulings in lower courts that have struck down firearm restrictions inconsistent with constitutional protections.

“The government did not give me the right to defend myself, to defend my family, or to defend my freedom,” said Del. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham. “[The government] cannot take it away, try though it may.”

On March 14, hundreds of pro–Second Amendment Virginians gathered at the state capitol to protest the legislation.

What Virginians should expect

SB 749 and HB 217 directly challenge to the Second Amendment—leaving Virginians with fewer options to defend themselves.

The bills target a broad category of commonly owned firearms, including many semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns widely used for self-defense, sport shooting, and hunting.

Democrats continue to frame the legislation as “moderate,” pointing to the inclusion of a grandfather clause for Virginians who already own so-called “assault weapons” and magazines holding more than 15 rounds. 

But that characterization is false.

The grandfather clause effectively prohibits future sales and transfers—meaning that owners cannot sell, gift, or pass down the affected firearms. Owners may retain possession, but they lose fundamental property rights.

Leaving Virginians defenseless

For years, Democrats have ignored the vast body of data showing that gun control always leads to an increase in crime.

It’s as if they don’t care about an increase in violent crime.

The entire foundation of the “gun violence” prevention movement assigns blame to the firearm rather than the individual. But the truth cannot stay hidden forever.

A 2019 study by the FBI showed that only seven percent of crimes committed with a firearm involved legally purchased guns. Half of all offenders had stolen the firearm, and 43 percent had purchased it from underground or black-market vendors.

In Colorado, Democrats passed numerous “gun violence” prevention laws claiming they would help reduce crime, but the plan backfired. Colorado has become the second most dangerous state in the country, with the highest number of bank robberies, highest number of car thefts, fourth-highest number of property crimes, fourth-highest number of rapes, and the highest use of cocaine.

Virginia cannot afford more crime. From 2019 to 2023, murder increased by 38 percent, aggravated assault increased by 29 percent, human trafficking increased by 60 percent, kidnapping increased by 17 percent, and motor vehicle theft increased by 45 percent.

Not only will these bills likely lead to a sharp increase in crime, but they will also remove a critical safeguard for Virginians to defend themselves against such an increase in violent crime.

New data from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows that 36 percent of active shooters are stopped by a law-abiding gun owner. Additionally, 52 percent of active shooters are stopped by law-abiding gun owners if shootings inside “gun-free” zones are removed from the data set.

“Of course, law-abiding citizens stopping these attacks are not rare. What is rare is not citizens stopping these attacks—it’s the national news covering it,” said Crime Prevention Research Center President John Lott.

Moving forward

Democratic lawmakers treat gun control like a religion—pushing radical gun control measures that directly attack the Second Amendment. They have an almost cult-like dedication to disarming law-abiding Virginians while doing nothing to stop criminals—who obviously ignore the law.

The Bruen decision by the Supreme Court set a clear constitutional standard for firearm regulations, yet Democrats continue to advance laws that blatantly exceed those limits. The bills sitting on Gov. Spanberger’s desk are expected to be signed, leaving Virginians to hope the courts get it right, after what promises to be a protracted and expensive legal fight.

This legislative overreach makes one thing clear: Democrats do not respect the Second Amendment. Virginians must remain vigilant as the inevitable legal challenges to these onerous new laws work through the courts—and remember to vote their values every time an anti-gun Democrat comes up for reelection.

Bronson Winslow is an Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in gun rights and criminal justice policy. This column has been republished with permission from Restoration News.