Washington, D.C., April 10, 2020 - Today, Brady applauds Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for signing five gun violence prevention bills, passed by the Virginia General Assembly this winter, into law. These laws, part of the ‘Governor’s Package,’ are common-sense policies that will make Virginia communities and families safer. Brady thanks all of the lawmakers who worked to draft and pass these bills, particularly Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn and Virginia Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw.
Brady President Kris Brown shared:
“This is a historic day for the Commonwealth, a victory for the entire 95 corridor and a victory for public safety. These bills are common-sense and include policies such as expanded background checks on gun sales and provisions to keep guns out of the hands of children and those at an elevated risk of harming themselves or others. As the current pandemic has shown us, evidence-based public health policies that can reduce injury and harm are incredibly important. These laws will do just that.
My message to Virginians: WE DID IT!
— Kris Brown (@KrisB_Brown) April 10, 2020
Today, @GovernorVA signed 5️⃣ lifesaving bills into law. This is a HUGE victory not just for Virginia, but for the country. The gun lobby had mobilized against us. But armed militias couldn’t intimidate us. #GunReformNow #EndGunViolence #VAleg pic.twitter.com/dG3dBPoo1L
Today’s action delivers on the promise that Governor Northam and both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly made to voters last November. A majority of Virginians cited gun policy as their number one concern when heading to the polls. Those voters sent a gun violence prevention majority to the Virginia legislature for the first time in a generation, including over 80 percent of Brady-endorsed candidates. Today, we saw democracy in action and the will of the voters enacted.”
The five bills signed into law today constitute the majority 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.
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.
Brown concluded:
“This is a victory, but our work isn’t done. There are two remaining policies, on local preemption laws and protective orders, that must be voted on again by the General Assembly after receiving technical amendments from the Governor. Brady urges the General Assembly to do so quickly and send these bills back to the Governor for his signature.”
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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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