Virginia Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Governor-Elect Northam’s Call for Expanded Background Checks on Gun Sales on Commonwealth

In 2017 Election, Everytown and Moms Demand Action Endorsed Northam Because of His Commitment to Gun Violence Prevention

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the below statement in response to reports that Governor-Elect Ralph Northam is calling for an expansion of background checks in Virginia.

Last year, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action endorsed Northam, who ran on gun safety and won, even in the NRA’s backyard. Exit polls demonstrated that gun issues were the second most important issue in the governor’s race.

STATEMENT FROM JENNIFER HERRERA, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“For too long in Virginia, felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses have been able to avoid background checks by going to an unlicensed seller they meet online or at a gun show rather than a licensed firearms dealer who must conduct background checks. Ralph Northam campaigned on strengthening our gun laws, which is why Moms Demand Action volunteers worked our hearts out to elect him and other gun sense champions. We applaud his call to expand background checks in the Commonwealth.”

Under current Virginia law, background checks are required for all gun sales at federally licensed gun dealers, but not for sales by unlicensed sellers, like those arranged online or at gun shows.

In states that go beyond federal law and require a criminal background check for every handgun sale, there are 47 percent fewer women shot to death by intimate partners and 53 percent fewer law enforcement officers are shot and killed in the line of duty.