The Liberal Gun Club (@theliberalgunclub.com)

Virginia Legislators Are Writing Gun Laws They Don’t Understand — And Virginians Must Speak Up Now Last week, members of the Liberal Gun Club DMV chapter traveled to Richmond to meet with Virginia legislators and attend committee meetings on proposed firearms legislation. We expected disagreement. We did not expect to witness lawmakers openly misunderstanding — or misrepresenting — the very bills they are asking Virginians to live under. What we saw should concern every Virginian, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. This Is Not How Responsible Lawmaking Works In multiple committee sessions, Democratic legislators advanced sweeping gun control bills while demonstrating a troubling lack of familiarity with their own language, implications, and constitutional consequences. A few examples stand out: SB 749 (Assault Weapons Ban): During committee discussion, a senator cited the killing of Alex Pretti as justification for banning commonly owned firearms — despite acknowledging that no “assault weapon” was involved. Blaming a victim of state violence to justify stripping rights from law-abiding Virginians is not only intellectually dishonest, it is morally indefensible. SB 323 (Home-Built Firearms Ban): The bill’s chief patron appeared unaware that his own legislation includes an exception allowing law enforcement officers to possess the very firearms it would prohibit civilians from owning. When questioned, he deferred explanation to a gun-control advocacy group representative. Legislators should understand their bills before presenting them — not outsource explanations to lobbyists mid-committee. SB 643 (Firearm Purchaser Licensing & Data Collection): Senators showed confusion over what personally identifiable information would be required and how it would be stored. Suggestions to use CAC, PIV, or USID cards reflect a dangerous misunderstanding of privacy, data security, and federal data systems. At a time when Americans are increasingly alarmed about government misuse of personal data, this should be a flashing red warning sign. These are not minor drafting errors. They are indicators of rushed, poorly vetted legislation with real consequences for civil liberties, privacy, and taxpayer dollars. Virginia Has Bigger Problems — And Better Ways to Address Them Let’s be clear: violence, suicide, and community safety are real issues. But poorly written gun laws that target lawful ownership do not meaningfully address them. Every dollar spent enforcing ineffective or unconstitutional firearms legislation is a dollar not spent on: Community mental health services Education and youth intervention Substance-use treatment Suicide prevention Economic stability and “deaths of despair” Virginia does not need symbolic legislation designed to signal virtue. It needs competent, evidence-based policymaking that addresses root causes without eroding fundamental rights. This Is the Moment to Act — Politely, Firmly, and Persistently If you live in the Commonwealth of Virginia, now is the time to contact your elected officials. Not to shout. Not to threaten. Not to posture. But to hold them accountable. We urge Virginians to: Call your state senator and delegate Email their offices with specific concerns Request meetings — virtual or in-person Attend town halls and committee sessions Ask direct questions about the bills they are sponsoring Tell them: You expect legislators to understand the laws they write You oppose legislation that infringes on constitutional rights You want taxpayer resources directed toward proven solutions You expect privacy, due process, and data security to be taken seriously Well-intentioned lawmakers can still cause harm when they legislate carelessly. Silence from constituents makes that harm easier. Protecting Rights Is Not a Partisan Act The Liberal Gun Club exists because civil liberties do not belong to one party. Gun ownership, privacy, and due process are not right-wing values or left-wing values — they are American values. Virginia legislators need to hear, clearly and repeatedly, that: Rights are not bargaining chips Ignorance is not acceptable And symbolic politics is not leadership If we want better laws, we must demand better lawmakers — starting now. Contact your representatives. Demand competence. Demand accountability. Demand better priorities for Virginia. If you live in the Commonwealth of Virginia, now is the time to contact your elected officials. http://dlvr.it/TQgllb