[ad_1]
Five of these were hard-fought bills to strengthen our commonwealth’s gun laws.
Physical distancing required a bill signing with less pomp and public visibility than such a momentous occasion would normally demand. But it did not change that this is a historic moment for our commonwealth, one made possible by the commitment of advocates who never took no for an answer and by voters who made gun-violence prevention a priority when casting their votes in November last year.
It’s no accident that Northam’s bill signing occurred so close to April 16, 13 years since the mass shooting at Virginia Tech. These new laws are the result of diligent and tireless work by survivors and advocates since that horrific day in 2007.
The mass shooting at Virginia Tech was the deadliest in modern U.S. history and remains the deadliest mass shooting on a college campus. The shooting claimed the lives of 32 people, injured another 17 and left countless families and individuals as members of a group that nobody wants to join but far too many of us do: the community of gun-violence survivors. Though Virginia changed some laws through administrative action in response, the meaningful legislative action sought by many legislators and then-Gov. Tim Kaine (D) did not pass the General Assembly.
Despite this, many Virginians remained clear-eyed about the need for change. And, while there were setbacks, we remained determined and engaged.
Unfortunately, Virginia Tech was not the last mass shooting and certainly not the last gun death in Virginia. More than 10,000 Virginians have lost their lives to gun violence since the Virginia Tech massacre, including in the mass shooting in Virginia Beach last year, which left 12 people dead and four others injured.
Following that shooting, Northam called a special session of the General Assembly to pass meaningful reforms to our gun laws. The General Assembly ended the special session after only 90 minutes, without considering any of the governor’s bills. Yet again, National Rifle Association-backed legislators showed that no amount of tragedy would stop them from putting gun industry profits ahead of our lives.
Voters didn’t forget that when they went to the ballot box last year. Heading into the election, polls found that voters ranked “gun policy” as their No. 1 concern, yielding a historic result: Virginia voters elected a gun-violence-prevention majority to both chambers of the General Assembly.
The voters had spoken and it was time for legislators to answer.
But that answer didn’t come without hurdles. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, typically celebrated by peaceful assemblies and a vigil remembering lives lost to gun violence, local militia and other fringe groups organized a protest at the State Capitol. Their fearmongering claims that the General Assembly was poised to deny Virginians their Second Amendment rights attracted people from across the country with calls of “if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”
Those same voices tried to block meaningful action, but the will of the voters prevailed, thanks to strong leadership from House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax), Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax), Northam and newly elected members of the General Assembly as well as those who have been fighting from the minority for years.
These bills are now laws because of their steadfast commitment and Virginia is safer because of their efforts.
These policies expand background checks; limit the number of handgun purchases to one gun per month; update Virginia’s child access prevention law to protect children and teens; require gun owners report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours; and establish an Extreme Risk Law, sometimes called a “red flag law.”
Gun laws, as with all public health and safety policies, work in concert. The sum total of these laws will help ensure that individuals who should not own guns cannot purchase them and that individuals undergoing times of crisis and who are a proven risk to themselves or others do not possess weapons. They will help reduce incidents when “lost or stolen” guns end up in the hands of those who would misuse them. They will keep our youth safe from unsecured weapons in the home, reducing incidents of family fire. In short, they will help to prevent gun violence in all of its forms and will be felt far beyond Virginia’s borders.
That is progress for all Virginians and progress for our entire country.
Of course, this effort isn’t finished. The General Assembly will reexamine a bill to ban the sale and transfer of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines in 2021, just as other states have done.
We are still in this fight and though the road may be long, we will prevail — both in Virginia and in many other states.
Indeed, if it can happen in Virginia, it can happen anywhere, and we will stop at nothing to make it so.
[ad_2]
Source link
38635 983641Keep up the amazing piece of work, I read couple of posts on this internet website and I believe that your web blog is genuinely intriguing and contains lots of superb details. 347477
909308 883431I feel other site proprietors ought to take this internet internet site as an example , extremely clean and wonderful user genial style . 373192
239410 148963Particular paid google internet pages offer complete databases relating whilst private essentials of persons while range beginning telephone number, civil drive public records, as nicely as criminal arrest back-ground documents. 639530
44267 23055I dont normally have a look at these types of websites (Im a pretty modest person) – but even though I was a bit shocked as I was reading, I was undoubtedly a bit excited as properly. Thanks for generating my day 351621
714886 814916I observe there is plenty of spam on this weblog. Do you want assist cleaning them up? I may well help among classes! 729495
619402 828417This is how to get your foot in the door. 947467
338213 976461Thanks for taking the time to discuss this topic. I actually appreciate it. Ill stick a link of this entry in my weblog. 780709
674624 151314Naturally I like your web-site, nevertheless you want to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I uncover it extremely silly to inform you. On the other hand I will definitely come once again once again! 10582
903414 523268Hi, you used to write superb articles, but the last several posts have been kinda lackluster I miss your super writing. Past couple of posts are just just a little out of track! 453425
671627 229769This write-up contains wonderful original thinking. The informational content here proves that points arent so black and white. I feel smarter from just reading this. 722
456722 787127Very good day. Really cool blog!! Man .. Outstanding .. Incredible .. Ill bookmark your website and take the feeds additionallyI am glad to locate numerous beneficial info correct here within the post. Thank you for sharing.. 701990
386085 111609Im impressed, I must say. Genuinely rarely do you encounter a weblog thats both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail about the head. Your concept is outstanding; ab muscles something that too few individuals are speaking intelligently about. Im delighted i found this in my hunt for something about it. 636171
822521 82204Excellently written post, doubts all bloggers offered the identical content material since you, the internet has to be far better spot. Please stay the top! 10539
230355 198703I truly treasure your piece of function, Great post. CHECK ME OUT BY CLICKING MY NAME!!! 907757
384407 454651Wohh exactly what I was searching for, regards for putting up. 551552
990777 853603This style is steller! You clearly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own weblog (nicely, almostHaHa!) Amazing job. I actually enjoyed what you had to say, and far more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! 428865
155365 496719really nice post, i definitely enjoy this incredible internet site, persist in it 882782
786947 658487Read more on that great Post, I linked to you Thank you. 831114
3005 129302Typically I do not read post on blogs, nonetheless I wish to say that this write-up extremely forced me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite excellent post. 444785
550611 425808noutati interesante si utile postate pe blogul dumneavoastra. dar ca si o paranteza , ce parere aveti de inchiriere vile vacanta ?. 700542
559948 828989Its essential to have having access to the expertise posted here 529144
755146 161374Definitely composed content material material , Really enjoyed examining . 434299
375255 967720Chaga mushroom tea leaf is thought-about any adverse health elixir at Spain, Siberia and a lot of n . Countries in europe sadly contains before you go ahead significantly avoidable the main limelight under western culture. Mushroom 297360
193134 195827you might have a wonderful weblog here! would you wish to make some invite posts on my weblog? 881773
25418 196969Most heavy duty trailer hitches are designed utilizing cutting edge computer aided models and fatigue stress testing to ensure optimal strength. Share new discoveries along with your child and maintain your child safe by purchasing the correct style for your lifestyle by following the Perfect Stroller Buyers Guideline. 805864
660309 113144Jeden Tag stellt man sich die Frage Was Koche Ich Heute?! Zerbrechen Sie sich nicht den Kopf, besuchen Sie uns am besten direkt auf unserer Webseite uns lassen Sie sich inspirieren 237150
89837 413792I just added this blog to my rss reader, outstanding stuff. I like your writing style. 757402
328426 610702Outstanding blog here! Also your internet site loads up quickly! What host are you employing? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my internet site loaded up as quickly as yours lol 662808
58693 112540Its difficult to get knowledgeable individuals within this topic, however, you appear to be guess what happens you are dealing with! Thanks 656784
886387 324944Hey there! Great stuff, please do tell us when you post once more something comparable! 619405
331782 450325You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for that issue and located most people will go in addition to with the web site. 609271
891905 604803Excellently written article, doubts all bloggers offered exactly the same content material because you, the internet is a greater place. Please keep it up! 826175
471187 829580Hey there guys, newbie here. Ive lurked about here for just a little although and thought Id take part in! Looks like youve got quite a very good spot here 971807
309199 333439I enjoy reading post. Hope i can discover far more articles like this one. Thanks for posting. 652039
563412 188455We stumbled more than here coming from a different internet page and thought I may check points out. I like what I see so now im following you. Look forward to exploring your internet page yet once more. 403464
735625 44206Merely wanna state that this is quite useful , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 608160
105397 121397I love reading via and I believe this site got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! . 562665
263908 782123magnificent issues altogether, you just received a emblem new reader. 491685
269177 722664Hey, you used to write great, but the last couple of posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just just a little bit out of track! come on! 682112
50571 978050I gotta bookmark this internet site it seems very beneficial . 517224
48033 246067Youve really written a quite good quality article here. Thank you really a lot 814906
964926 188875Some genuinely superb blog posts on this site , regards for contribution. 713278