Governor Ralph Northam announced seven legislative proposals today that aim to address gun violence and improve safety in Virginia.
Governor Northam is partnering with several lawmakers to introduce more stringent gun control measures in the Commonwealth. “Protecting the health and safety of our citizens as well as visitors to the Commonwealth is my number one priority,” Northam said.
Among other things, the bills would require universal background checks for all firearm sales and add a protective order to temporarily take guns away from people that courts deem dangerous.
Though Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League says that bill would violate the Constitution and wouldn’t prevent crime. “It takes away the assumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty,” Van Cleave said.
But Northam believes he can gain bipartisan support this session. Past versions of these bills have been rejected in the Republican controlled General Assembly.
