(RightWing.org) – Virginia’s State legislature recently delivered dozens of gun bills to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). The conservative governor took final action on them and several other bills on March 26, vetoing dozens that would have imposed harsher restrictions and penalties on firearm owners. He amended several others and signed two into law.
Dozens of Vetoes
Youngkin exercised his power of veto on 30 gun bills, much to the frustration of Liberals. Among them:
HB 454/SB 383 would have criminalized possession of a firearm on college campuses. The governor rejected it on the grounds that schools already have their own authority to prohibit weapons on their premises.
HB 466 moved to alter the state’s reciprocity laws on concealed handgun permits. Youngkin felt that the move would have discouraged permit holders from visiting their state because they couldn’t bring their legally owned firearms.
HB 585 would have tackled home-based firearms vendors operating within 1.5 miles of an elementary or middle school. Youngkin found the proposal “unconstitutional, retaliatory, and arbitrary.”
HB 637 proposed the Department of Criminal Justice programs implement a Substantial Risk Order Training Program, but previous similar offerings suffered from a lack of interest and proved a waste of money.
HB 797 would have amended the requirements for concealed handgun permits. The governor determined it would have created too much red tape, pushing residents to find ways around the rules. He also felt it would have taxed the Department of Criminal Justice Services, which would have become responsible for all permit-related training.
Other vetoes involved bills proposing wait times for gun purchases, adding civil penalties to firearm manufacturers in cases of negligence and product defects, forcing gun owners to keep all their weapons locked in a safe when minors were present, and similar restrictions.
Six Amendments
Youngkin amended six of the bills he received. They included:
HB 861/SB 515 proposed changes to restrictions on guns in hospitals. The governor altered the text to focus on the movement of firearms to people in hospitals specifically for mental health treatment.
SB 363 moves to align state laws with federal regulations on defining firearm serial numbers.
HB 173/SB 100 moves to make manufacturing, transferring, selling, or importing plastic guns a felony.
SB 225 proposes a workshop to compose a parental rights and responsibilities list for homes that store firearms.
Two Bills Passed
Two bills passed Youngkin’s approval without the need for changes:
HB 36/SB 44 prohibits parents from allowing firearm access to any child who is a clear violence threat.
HB 22/SB 210 prohibits the possession, transfer, or manufacturing of auto seers, which can convert some firearms into automatic weapons.
Youngkin signed into law 27 additional bills covering a wide range of other state issues.
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