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The most sweeping "assault firearms" bill yet

5K views 65 replies 27 participants last post by  airslot 
#1 · (Edited)
The first really scary anti-gun bill in VA, SB 16, has just been pre-filed. I think it should be of interest to everyone, because I think it may be the most restrictive proposed "assault firearms" bill in any state yet and if it works here, it could have "legs" for other states and the federal government. As you probably know, VA will face a Democratic trifecta in January, with the governor and several of the legislators being rabidly anti-gun. This bill is sponsored by one of the most senior Dem Senators we have. This could pass.

Some general things to know about the bill.
  • Even the liberal, anti-gun Washington Post says this bill goes too far.
  • There is no grandfathering.
  • It covers sale, purchase and possession of "assault firearms."
  • There is no time delay. As written, it would be effective on passage. So there will be a lot of felons the day it passes.
  • There are no instructions on enforcement. I guess they figure that will get worked out later. Who knows what they might come up with?
  • It not only includes the guns themselves as described below, it also includes any parts and accessories that could convert a firearm into one of the definitions below.
  • A firearm is illegal if it has even one of the characteristics below, as well as some other characteristics I am not listing for brevity.
  • Violation is a Class 6 felony.
The bill bans some semi-auto rifles, pistols and shotguns as "assualt firearms." Below are some highlights, not all, of the definitions of that term. There are more restrictions, but I am just concentrating on the worst, IMHO. A semi-auto gun is an assault firearm if it has any one of these characteristics:

Rifle
  • More than a 10 round mag
  • Pistol grip, front or rear
  • Thumbhole stock
  • Threaded barrel
  • Flash suppressor, muzzle brake or compensator
  • Folding or telescoping stock
Pistol
  • Magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip (presumably like a Tec 9)
  • Shroud or pistol grip that enables the non-trigger hand to grip the front of the weapon without being burned (so no AR pistols)
  • More than a 10 round mag
  • Weight of more than 50 oz,
Shotgun
  • Detachable mag
  • Revolving mag
  • Folding or telescoping stock
  • Thumbhole stock
  • Pistol grip, front or rear
  • Capacity of more than seven rounds
And please don't say this will get shot down in the courts. History shows that is very unlikely. And even if it were true, a lot of people could go to jail and lost their gun rights in the meantime.

A Red Flag bill and a UBC bill should drop any minute now.
 
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#2 ·
“Pistol - Mag that protrudes out of the pistol grip (Does that include the Wilson Combat 8-round 1911 mags I just bought? Does it include pinky extensions?)”

By this statement are you referring to line 414?
“(iii) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand”

If that is what you are referring, then I think the “held by the non-trigger hand” is an important differentiation that clarifies that it is not pinky extensions. Although, it is definitely vague enough to bring into question extended mags that add a couple inches to the grip.

If you are referring to something else then can you please specify.

For those interested in reading the actual bill:
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB16+pdf
 
#3 ·
“Pistol - Mag that protrudes out of the pistol grip (Does that include the Wilson Combat 8-round 1911 mags I just bought? Does it include pinky extensions?)”
Does it mean that a Glock 17 magazine is okay in a Glock 17 but illegal in a Glock 19?

Again, the end goal is citizen disarmament don't let anybody tell you different
 
#5 · (Edited)
I was focusing on "(iv) the capacity to accept a magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;" but to your point, I see now that I read that wrong...it was late and I was pretty stunned by the bill. I think what they are talking about is something like a Tec 9. So apologies for that one.

I fixed it in the original post.
 
#6 ·
Out of curiosity, since the new legislature will take over in January will the Bill have to be reintroduced? Not such a necessity would stall action for long but it might buy some time for opposition to publicly make its points before the bill is reintroduced.
 
#7 ·
No, a sitting legislator who has been reelected can pre-file a bill before the session starts. Then as a soon as the new legislature is seated, it is automatically in the queue.
 
#8 ·
I see a most uncivil war on the horizon. Or, if not, people will meekly surrender their arms and freedom will be dead.
 
#15 ·
You're not the only one. Here's a video from John Mark who sees this as a potential flash point. The 2A is becoming a line in the sand for many on the right and the things said by the VA left wing legislators and AG, contrasted by the turnout of pro 2A Virginians at county meetings, is quite stark.

 
#14 ·
I feel your pain
 
#19 ·
Only problem is if they are successful in Virginia, it will give them the boost they need to bring this to our States next.
Enough is enough.
We need to draw a line in the sand and stop this madness.
It can still be done peacefully at the present time, but that window is closing rapidly and revolution will be the only recourse
 
#23 ·
jmf552;

I just copied your opening message and sent it out to a bunch of people on my contacts list. Hope that is okay with you.

This is worse than a disaster. If they get this through and signed, God knows what else they'll attack. My guess is eliminating pre-emption, disbanding shall issue, making open carry a crime, controlling the teaching of "tactical" armed self-defense training, and a host of other items on their wish list. The old adage, "elections have consequences" has just been driving home in spades.
 
#35 ·
Basically its what we have in NY with the ""SAFE ACT""... Might be a few differences, but its close from what I could see.
The voters of Va. have spoken and the majority has gotten what they demanded.. It will be the law of the land next democrat president we have, no doubt in my mind.. Like millions of people over the world have done for centuries, they DEMANDED tyranny, and thats what they got.

No grandfathering either on the mags.. In NY they had to be turned in, destroyed, sold out of state, or permanently modified for no more than 10 rounds.. Getting caught with an operable 12 round magazine is a FELONY, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.. Its going to happen to more state as they go blue.

Fla, Ga, Texas,, some of the midwest states are all on the cusp.
. Fla almost voted in a radical for gov last year, as did Georgia.. next cycle might be the charm... I am sad to say, at this point it looks inevitable. We have too many citizens that are totally dependent on government handouts and want the free cheese and hovels to continue unabated. Freedom is being pushed to the side in the name of "safety" and "security".. NO ONE thought it could happen here in NY either.. Until it did-, and we voters that wanted no part of it were outvoted 3 to 1, and there were cheers and dancing in the street when tyranny became state law.. Same way when legal abortion AFTER live birth became state law here.. There were big smiles, clapping , singing, hugging and glad handing in the state capital building when it became law.. I watched it on TV and was sick to my heart. These people are radicals, but its what our fellow citizens are demanding in much of our once great nation.

Never in my life thought this could happen to our dear friends in Va. Until it did.... bob
 
#37 ·
Blaming non-white voters is the easy cop-out and what the anti-gunners want to happen, because that continues to perpetuate the racial divide and the attitude that most 2A supporters are white males who are also racists. That whole attitude is counterproductive.

If you really want to blame someone, then the blame should be on apathetic gun owners who were “too busy” to vote. Some have woken up in shock and are the ones showing up to the 2A Santuary meetings, but some of them are same ones who still think gun control isn’t going to succeed despite the Democrats being in full control. There are a lot of ignorant gun owners who may not wake up until they’re being to.d if they don’t turn over their gun, then they are going to be a felon and lose all of their gun rights for the rest of their life.
 
#41 ·
NOVA couldn't do it on their own. Tidewater, Richmond, Roanoke and Charlottesville have gotten pretty lefty also. And while most Virginians may enjoy their guns, they are mostly not willing to fight for their RTKABA. Less than 0.5% of VA gun owners are members of the VCDL, the organization who has gotten the most done for VA gun rights. I was trying to sign people up at the Richmond Gun Show, right after the election and while people were all worried about what what going to happen, they still wouldn't sign up. My guess is a lot of them didn't show up to vote either.
 
#40 ·
The District of Columbia screws up Virginia, Chicago screws up Illinois, New York City screws up New York State, and Los Angeles and San Francisco screw up California.

Now you understand why the Founders mistrusted Utilitarianism*, and created the Electoral College. Long may it wave!


*Utilitarianism: "The greatest good for the greater number." That is, the majority always rules and the minority always loses.
 
#46 ·
The Virginia AG is pushing back. The AG (like many other people) is talking "safety" to justify the laws but if these politicians truly believe in safety they'd be banning automobiles, baseball bats, poisons, knives, etc along with firearms. Banning firearms that don't pull its own trigger is a bogus argument. And yet there are a lot of people that buy into these ridiculous laws.

It is my understanding that most prison systems are already at or exceed capacity and yet we have these politicians that want to put more people in jail that don't comply with unconstitutional laws. As Spock would say: That's illogical.

https://bearingarms.com/cam-e/2019/12/08/virginia-ag-new-gun-control-laws-will-enforced-followed/
 
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#49 ·
I would hope that the VCDL and others in VA are already working on the legal challenges to this. Tie it up in the courts until the next election cycle and hope they can correct the electorate.
 
#50 ·
The issue there is the VCDL is not the NRA, the GOA or the SAF. We operate on a shoestring, all volunteer budget. We have fought a few cases and we get some pro bono attorney work, but we can't fight big court battles. And the legislature may drop a dozen new laws on us all at once. Whereas the state has an unlimited taxpayer funded budget and whole AG's office to defend these new laws. It is David and Goliath and we can't even afford a slingshot.
 
#53 ·
Sanctuary cities are a move to block the enforcement of unjust gun laws. I believe jury nullification is another way to block enforcement of unjust gun laws. It only takes one juror to stop the conviction of a person under these unjust gun laws. Perhaps the VCDL and other pro gun rights groups should consider handing out information about jury nullification at the court house when people are tried under these unjust gun laws.

Yes continue to work to change or prevent the enactment of unjust gun laws, but use all legal means to block the enforcement of unjust gun laws that do get enacted.
 
#54 ·
I guess its just a matter of how much infringement the citizens of Virginia are willing to accept.

It's obvious that calling the Legislators, emailing them, texting them, talking to them, voting against them or anything else that might be a peaceful resolution isn't going to work.

The socialists won't stop until they are forcefully removed from office. Now that they have a party majority, they have been emboldened to the point that they will not cease.

Some prove me wrong.

I'll wait.
 
#55 ·
Gun Owners of Maine (GOME) was able to do pretty much what you're saying isn't going to work earlier this year against a Democratic trifecta that was proposing similar slate of anti-gun bills. I have corresponded with Rock and Glock about it. It was every bit as bad as this situation. They got all but one bill killed in committee and the one that passed they got significantly improved. I have updated the VCDL leadership on what they did and they are putting it into the plan. Also, the VCDL is already doing some things now in addition to what GOME did.

Frankly, defeatist attitudes are not very helpful to us right now.
 
#64 ·
Phil Van Cleave was on Liz Wheeler's "Tipping Point" news show on One America News last evening. He said he knew the Democrats would offer compromises to calm all this down, such as the grandfather clause, but the VCDL will not accept those compromises. The mantra is "No new gun control - period."
 
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