Just Weeks After Governor Youngkin Vetoes Dozens of Gun Safety Bills, Mass Shooting in Spotsylvania County Kills Three People and Wounds Three Others

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. – Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statement in response to a mass shooting in Spotsylvania county, where three people were shot and killed and three people were shot and wounded. As of Wednesday morning, four teenage suspects were in custody, and the shooting is believed to be the result of an illegal gun sale and robbery. One day prior, a gun went off in the backpack of a third-grader at a Spotsylvania elementary school after the student found the unsecured handgun at home. 

Both of these shootings come just weeks after Governor Youngkin vetoed dozens of lifesaving gun safety measures, including legislation that would have required the secure storage of firearms, gotten weapons of war like the AR-15 off of our streets, banned all rapid fire devices, prohibited the carry of guns in hospitals and college campuses, created a five-day waiting period to purchase a firearm, and kept more guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

“Yesterday’s shooting is another senseless tragedy that our communities in Virginia have been forced to endure because of our gun violence crisis, and a reminder of why we need to strengthen our gun laws and support community violence prevention programs,” said Shantell Rock, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We need state leaders who will take our gun violence crisis seriously, and take every step necessary to save the lives of our loved ones. Governor Youngkin has refused to do this, and that’s why we’re going to continue to push for a safer Virginia this November in spite of his inaction.” 

“Three young Virginians were shot and killed, and three others wounded outside of their homes last night.” said Grace Varughese, a student leader with the Hayfield Secondary School Students Demand Action chapter. “We need a Governor who will actually take action when our loved ones are being killed and our communities are being traumatized. That’s why we’re committed to voting for one this November.”

Gun sense lawmakers in both chambers of the legislature have prioritized gun safety for the past two years, sending dozens of bills to Governor Youngkin’s desk. Ahead of the 2025 elections, gun safety advocates are prepared to re-elect a gun-sense majority in the House of Delegates and elect a gun-sense Governor who will finally sign these bills into law. During the last statewide elections in 2023, voters flipped the House of Delegates and maintained a gun sense majority in the Senate – all while sending nine Moms Demand Action volunteers to the House of Delegates. 

In an average year, 1,200 people die by guns in Virginia and 1,624 are wounded. With a rate of 13.6 deaths per 100,000 people, Virginia has the 34th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Gun violence costs Virginia $14.2 billion each year, of which $288.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Virginia is available here.