Youngkin vetoes Virginia assault weapons ban, signs 2 gun control measures

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed an assault weapons ban that passed the state Legislature last month, along with several other gun control bills, during Tuesday’s 30-bill veto session.

“I have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia, including, absolutely, the right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms,” ​​Youngkin said in a statement after vetoing the bill. It is included in the

However, the governor signed two more limited gun restrictions into law. One would ban trigger switches on guns that can cause the firearm to fire automatically, and the other would allow criminal charges against parents who allow their children, who are considered a threat, access to weapons.

“I am pleased to sign the Public Safety Act, a commonsense reform, with significant bipartisan support from the General Assembly,” he added.

Tuesday was an unusual test for Mr. Yonkin on gun control, as the divided state Legislature didn’t advance any significant gun control measures until Democrats took control of both chambers last year.

The trigger switch ban bans a device known as an “auto sear,” a simple modification that effectively converts a semi-automatic gun into a fully automatic weapon. These devices have come under intense scrutiny in recent months as targets for gun control activists.

The city of Chicago sued handgun maker Glock earlier this month over the device, alleging the company was criminally negligent in allowing simple modifications to the firearms.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reported 400% increase Recoveries of illegally modified machine guns increased from 2020 to 2021, and the number of auto repairs from 2017 to 2021 increased by 570 percent compared to the previous five years.

Yonkin also proposed six amendments to gun control measures instead of vetoing them outright.

Gun control activist groups praised Yonkin for signing two gun control bills, but called for more action.

“Governor Yonkin’s signing of two gun safety bills is a step in the right direction. It shows that we don’t have to accept America’s gun violence crisis as inevitable.” volunteer Grace Varghese said in a statement. “While we are glad these bills passed, we cannot ignore that the governor also vetoed many other bills that could have saved lives.”

“Our work doesn’t end here,” she added. “Virginia’s young people are committed to making our state safer so the next generation doesn’t have to grow up in constant fear of gun violence.”

Activists nevertheless credited Youngkin with making progress in urging him to sign the bill, pointing to his campaign position as a strong defender of the Second Amendment.

“This speaks volumes about the changing political calculus surrounding gun safety among the Republican governors in their longtime home state of Virginia. [National Rifle Association]We just signed legislation to prevent gun violence,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement.