Issue Position: Firearm Violence Prevention

Issue Position

FIREARM VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Virginia has a long tradition of firearm ownership and hunting dating back to the founding of the Virginia Colony. Virginia also became the source for most firearms recovered in criminal activity in New York City. Because of this, Virginia led the way in developing instant background checks and instituting Virginia's One-Gun-A-Month rule that was signed by Governor Wilder in the early 1990's, but was repealed in 2011 by Governor McDonnell.

While the United States Supreme Court recently abandoned 200 years of predecent and held that Virginians have a Constitutional Right to gun ownership, it left open the question of how to balance the rights of owners and public safety.

The United States continues to have a higher firearm death rate than any other country in the world. Firearms kill more Virginians than automobile accidents and are the leading cause of death for children. Mass gun murders now occur with regularity in America with one of the worst occurring at our own Virginia Tech. While mental health and the federal and state government's failure to fully fund a robust mental health treatment system plays a role in these crimes, so do the easy availability of military grade weapons online, at gun shows, or in private sales.

Over 90% of Virginians support background checks for firearms transfers. While transfers between family members, pursuant to bequests, or the use of a weapon by someone in an emergency are acceptable, no person should have access to a firearm if there are a risk to the public.

While every Virginians has a right to hunt and protect themselves, their family and their home, the right to individual protection does not require military style weapons, bump stocks, undetectable 3D printed plastic guns, or large ammunition magazines.

Therefore, we must:

Ban bump stocks
Require background checks for all firearms transfers with reasonable exceptions such as family transfers, bequests, or gun shows.
Prohibit the sale and ownership of assault weapons
Prohibit the sale or possession of ammunition magazines that will hold more than 20 rounds
Reinstate Virginia's "One-Gun-A-Month" Rule
Prohibit concealed carry in restaurants, while consuming or under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Source