Moms Demand Action Responds to Virginia House Committee Advancing Gun Safety Legislation

The Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after the Virginia House Public Safety Committee advanced strong gun safety legislation, including legislation to close dangerous gaps in Virginia’s background check laws and empower law enforcement to seek extreme risk protection orders when an individual exhibits dangerous warning signs. The extreme risk legislation will head to the House floor. The background check legislation is expected to go to a conference committee.

“We’re closer than ever to seeing strong gun safety legislation become a reality in the Commonwealth,” said Michelle Sandler, volunteer with the Virginia Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We hope to see these life-saving policies advance through the House quickly and head to the governor’s desk.”

In November, gun safety was the number one issue for voters in Virginia and both chambers flipped to gun sense majorities — even in the NRA’s own backyard. Recent polling has continued to show that a bipartisan majority of Virginians favor gun safety laws, with large majorities supporting background checks and red flag laws.

On the first day of the 2020 legislative session, the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action held their annual advocacy day and had more than 70 meetings with lawmakers to show their support. In January, as gun extremists descended on Richmond, Virginia to intimidate lawmakers, Moms Demand Action held a phone bank to support lawmakers who have stood up for common-sense gun safety policies. More than 100 volunteers with Moms Demand Action from Virginia and 23 states made nearly 3,000 calls that day alone.