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Virginia House Advances Sweeping Gun Control Bills
The Virginia House approved a sweeping package of gun control bills expanding firearm restrictions, industry liability and storage rules, as Democrats advanced the measures over Republican warnings of constitutional and legal challenges.
Gun safety advocates at the Moms Demand Actions rally in Richmond in 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday approved a sweeping set of gun control measures that would include an assault weapons ban, expanded liability for the gun industry, new storage and carry restrictions, and other firearm-related rules, drawing sharp objections from Republicans who said the proposals could face constitutional challenges.
House Bill 21, sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer, would set new standards of “responsible conduct” for members of the firearm industry and allow the attorney general, local prosecutors or injured individuals to bring civil actions against manufacturers and sellers who fail to implement reasonable safeguards, including preventing straw purchases, theft and unlawful marketing. Republican Del. Jay Leftwich of Chesapeake argued the bill conflicts with the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and is dangerously vague, warning it could lead to a “tsunami of litigation” that drives firearm businesses out of Virginia.
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As part of the legislative push, the House also passed several additional bills. House Bill 229, by Del. Phil Hernandez, would ban firearms and certain weapons in hospitals that provide mental health or developmental services; House Bill 626, by Del. Katrina Callsen, would narrow exemptions for carrying firearms in state-owned buildings and on college campuses; and House Bill 871, by Del. Mark Downey, would require firearms to be locked in homes where minors or prohibited persons are present, though Republican Del. Eric Zehr said this measure could criminalize gun owners even in emergency situations.
The chamber approved House Bill 40, by Del. Marcus Simon, targeting so-called ghost guns and plastic firearms, and House Bill 93, by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, tightening rules around firearm transfers by individuals subject to protective orders. House Bill 110, by Del. Amy Laufer, would impose civil penalties for leaving visible handguns in unattended vehicles.
In addition to these measures, Democratic legislators have advanced an assault firearm ban under House Bill 217 that would prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase and transfer of assault firearms and large-capacity magazines, with violations punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor and future restrictions on firearm possession following conviction; the bill also bars individuals under 21 from possessing assault firearms with limited exceptions.
Gun safety advocates praised the House’s actions as a significant step in curbing gun violence. Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, said passage of priority bills reflects a broad commitment to banning assault-style weapons, cracking down on hard-to-trace ghost guns, holding the gun industry accountable and strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence, characterizing the votes as a turning point in the state’s approach to gun violence prevention.
Republicans warned the measures could face legal challenges, with some members saying certain provisions “blatantly defy” U.S. Supreme Court precedent and raise unresolved constitutional questions.
With Democrats controlling both legislative chambers and the governor’s office, the gun control package now moves forward in a legislative session that contrasts with prior years when similar bills stalled or were vetoed.
Editor’s Note:
This article reports on legislative action taken by the Virginia House of Delegates and reflects statements and positions expressed during floor debate and by advocacy groups. It is intended to provide a factual, chronological account of the bills passed and the arguments raised for and against them as the measures move forward in the legislative process.
