Virginia’s annual Reconvened Session, commonly known as the Veto Session, saw Governor Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes on numerous firearm-related bills upheld, reflecting a significant legislative defeat for gun control measures proposed by the Democratic majority in the General Assembly.

During the session, held on Wednesday, April 17, the Virginia General Assembly revisited legislation that Governor Youngkin had vetoed or amended. None of the governor’s vetoes were overturned, and several key bills concerning firearms and gun control failed to secure enough support for reconsideration, as reported by both the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL).

Among the defeated proposals were SB 2 and HB 2, which sought to ban the sale of semiautomatic firearms labeled as “assault firearms” and high-capacity magazines, those holding more than 10 rounds. The NSSF highlighted that such magazines are commonly owned by law-abiding Americans, with over 717 million produced since 1990.

Other notable bills that were thwarted include SB 273 and HB 1195, which would have established a five-day waiting period for the purchase and transfer of firearms, and SB 327, targeting the rights of young adults aged 18 to 20 to purchase certain semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. The NSSF has criticized these measures as unconstitutional.

Additionally, legislative efforts to impose new civil liabilities on the firearm industry, including SB 491 and HB 318, and HB 585’s proposed zoning restrictions for home-based licensed firearm dealers were also unsuccessful.

The VCDL noted that while the Senate made attempts to override some of Governor Youngkin’s vetoes, they failed to achieve the necessary majority. The House of Delegates did not attempt to challenge the governor’s decisions. Furthermore, of the bills modified by the governor, only SB 363, which aligns with federal law by making altered serial numbers on firearms illegal, was passed into law, effective July 1.

This year’s session underscores a significant standoff in Virginia politics, where a Democratic-led initiative to enforce stricter gun control clashed with a Republican governor’s commitment to safeguarding Second Amendment rights. Despite the outcomes of this session, both the NSSF and VCDL anticipate that similar legislative efforts will resurface in future sessions as ongoing debates over gun control continue to polarize the very purple Commonwealth.