Brady Celebrates Historic Day For Virginia As Over 10 New Gun Violence Prevention Laws Take Effect

Washington, D.C., July 1, 2020 - Today, Brady celebrates the hard work of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, and the tireless work of Virginia residents and activists over multiple decades, as over 10 new gun violence prevention laws go into effect across the Commonwealth. This is a historic day for Virginia and one borne directly from the tireless efforts of many engaged Virginians over many years, as well as demanded by the majority of voters in the 2019 election. Brady thanks the General Assembly for answering the voters’ call and for making Virginia a safer place to live.

Brady President Kris Brown shared:

"Today more than 10 gun violence prevention policies go into effect, seven of which Governor Northam championed well before this session started. Today is a victory for all Virginians, but in particular for the activists and concerned residents that have advocated for these laws for decades and for the voters who demanded this change last November. Brady is particularly grateful to the General Assembly and the leadership of Gov. Ralph Northam, Speaker of the House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw.

Gun violence is a complex and multifaceted public health crisis. These laws address that reality and work in concert to prevent gun violence in all of its forms. This is real change, and will make our Commonwealth tangibly safer. I am proud to be a Virginian today and am proud to bear witness to the change that concerned Americans and voters can create. This is a victory for democracy in action.”

Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn shared:

“The laws going into effect today are the result of decades of grassroots action from Virginians all across the Commonwealth who want to see an end to gun violence in their communities. Each of these bills will have a direct and immediate impact on Virginians and their families, establishing universal background checks, helping to keep recklessly unsecured guns away from minors, and reinstating Virginia's successful one-handgun-a-month policy to help combat gun trafficking out of the Commonwealth, among many others.

Last November, voters called for decisive, impactful action to make their communities safer. We have delivered on that mandate. Our actions this session will make Virginia safer today and for generations to come. I am grateful to my colleagues in the General Assembly for taking action to pass these laws and to Governor Northam for his leadership on these issues."

These new laws are thanks to the tireless efforts of many lawmakers, citizens, and activists. This includes considerable and years-long work from both the Virginia Center for Public Safety and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The new laws include seven of the “Governor’s Package,” a suite of eight common-sense gun and public safety bills that were proposed by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam during the 2019 special session but did not receive a vote that year in the General Assembly. That these are now law in the Commonwealth, less than one year later, speaks to the power of mobilization and voting, as Virginians demanded change at the ballot box in November. Today, they can see that change in action.