VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Governor Youngkin Signs Bill to Expand Tax Credits for Secure Storage Devices; Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond 

Governor Youngkin Also Signed Measure to Fund Youth Violence Prevention Programs Into Law Earlier this Week; Follows Two Other Gun Safety Measures Signed Into Law The Other Week

RICHMOND, VA – Today, the Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements applauding Governor Youngkin for signing additional gun safety measures into law this session, including a bill to expand Virginia’s secure firearm storage tax credit to include more devices such as cable locks, HB 35 (Del. Clark), further encouraging firearm owners to securely store their guns. Earlier this week, Governor Youngkin also signed a bill to create the Community Builders Pilot Program and Fund for Roanoke and Petersburg public schools to deter youth gun violence HB 626 (Del. Rasoul) and SB 484 (Sen. Aird). These bill signings come after Governor Youngkin signed two other measures into law last Tuesday that will strengthen gun violence prevention laws in the Commonwealth. 

“Today’s signing is a recognition of the lifesaving power of secure storage for firearms and another bipartisan step forward to make Virginia safer from gun violence and strengthen our gun safety laws,” said Amanda Faulkner, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Bolstering the tools to encourage the secure storage of firearms is critical and will ultimately save lives in the Commonwealth and we’re grateful to Delegate Clark for championing this bill. We will continue to push for progress in Virginia to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have access to them.” 

Today’s victory builds upon progress from last year where lawmakers enacted HB 2387, which gave gun owners the ability to receive a rebate of up to $300 a year on their state taxes when they buy a secure firearm storage device including gun safes, lock boxes and cases. With today’s enactment of HB 35, the definition of a firearm safety device will be expanded to include any device that, when installed on a firearm, is designed to prevent the firearm from being operated without first deactivating the device. 

This follows a legislative session where gun sense majorities in both the Senate and House of Delegates showed tremendous leadership by sending dozens of gun safety bills to Governor Youngkin’s desk that would strengthen the gun violence prevention laws in Virginia. Just last week, Governor Youngkin signed two of them into law following the tireless advocacy of volunteers all session, including bills to prohibit auto sears, which are devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, HB 22 (Del. Jones)/SB 210 (Sen. Perry) and to hold gun owners accountable for allowing children under their care with certain dangerous histories to access firearms, HB 36 (Del. Willet)/SB 44 (Sen. Van Valkenburg). 

Last year, gun-sense candidates swept in the elections in Virginia, with nine Moms Demand Action volunteers winning their races, flipping the House of Delegates in the process. Moms Demand Action volunteers now make up nearly 20% of the Virginia House Majority caucus as gun safety has become a leading – and mobilizing – issue in the Commonwealth.

In an average year in Virginia, 1,121 people die by guns and 1,911 people are wounded. 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.