Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) turned down an assault weapons ban that was approved by the state Legislature last month, along with several other gun control bills, during a 30-bill veto session on Tuesday.
“I promised to protect the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of Virginia, and that definitely includes safeguarding the right of law-abiding Virginians to own and carry weapons,” Youngkin stated after vetoing the bills.
However, the governor did enact two more limited gun regulations into law — one that prohibits gun trigger switches that can make firearms fire automatically and a second that allows criminal charges against parents who allow children deemed threats to have access to weapons.
“I am happy to approve … public safety bills which are sensible reforms with significant bipartisan support from the General Assembly,” he added.
Tuesday posed a rare challenge for Youngkin on gun control, as the previously divided state Legislature did not move forward with any significant gun control measures until Democrats gained control of both chambers last year.
The trigger switch ban prohibits the device known as an “auto sear,” a simple modification that effectively changes semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic ones. The devices have received a lot of attention in recent months as a focus for gun control activists.
The city of Chicago took legal action against Glock, the handgun manufacturer, earlier this month over the devices, alleging the company is criminally negligent in allowing its firearms to be so easily modified.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives documented a 400 percent increase in recoveries of illegally modified machine guns from 2020 to 2021 and a 570 percent increase in auto sears from 2017 to 2021 compared to the previous five-year period.
Youngkin also suggested six amendments to gun control measures rather than outright rejecting them.
Advocacy groups for gun control commended Youngkin for approving the two gun control bills but urged him to take further action.
“Obtaining approval for two gun safety bills from Governor Youngkin is a step in the right direction. It demonstrates that we don’t have to view America’s gun violence crisis as unavoidable,” Students Demand Action volunteer Grace Varughese stated in a declaration. “While we’re pleased these bills are now law, we can’t overlook the fact that the governor also rejected many other bills that could have saved lives.”
“Our efforts don’t end here,” she added. “Young people in Virginia are dedicated to making our state safer so the next generation doesn’t have to grow up in constant fear of gun violence.”
Nonetheless, the activists acknowledged the progress in getting Youngkin to approve the bills, recognizing his campaign stance as a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.
“It speaks volumes about the changing political considerations around gun safety that the Republican governor of Virginia, which is the long-standing home of the [National Rifle Association], just signed legislation to prevent gun violence,” Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt stated in a declaration.
