The Northam gun package is reminiscent of some of the most despotic, dictator-run regimes of the past 100 years. The gun ban (SB 16) would turn over a million Virginians retroactively into instant felons. Contrary to the Constitution, they would receive no compensation for their “taken” property. The Universal Gun Registry Bill (SB 2) would provide police with a list of homes to raid. And the “red flag” gun confiscation bill (which will most likely be reintroduced) would authorize unannounced raids in the middle of the night -- which the gun owners may or may not survive. This is Virginia, not Nazi Germany or Communist Cuba. This entire agenda needs to be rejected.

I urge you vote against SB 16, introduced by Senator Saslaw. During the most recent election, I do not recall any legislator informing the public that they planned to ban most, if not all, semi-automatic firearms as this bill does. “Semi-automatic” simply means one trigger pull releases one bullet. They are not machine guns. This bill also seeks to ban threaded barrels which are common on rifles and handguns thus turning law-abiding gun-owners into felons to be punished by five years in jail if the gun is not dispossessed, sold, given away or destroyed. Again, I do not recall this matter ever being discussed during the election campaign. No other state, including New York and California, has such an extreme law. If you intend to vote for SB 16, which does not even include a “grandfather” clause, I would like you to please explain why, and tell me when you made public statements indicating your intention to confiscate such firearms which are legal as of today in all 50 states. Clearly, the Governor is already considering confiscation of commonly-owned firearms. When asked at a November 6th press conference whether he supports confiscating so-called assault weapons from gun owners, Northam demurred. “That’s something I’m working [on] with our secretary of public safety,” he said. But federal courts have found that a semi-automatic (one trigger pull releases one bullet) and certain handguns are protected under the Second Amendment in order to defend one’s family and homestead. Please let me know how you intend to vote and fully explain why. I will be sharing your response with my family, friends and neighbors.

I urge you vote against SB 16, introduced by Senator Saslaw. During the most recent election, I do not recall any legislator informing the public that they planned to ban most, if not all, semi-automatic firearms as this bill does. “Semi-automatic” simply means one trigger pull releases one bullet. They are not machine guns. This bill also seeks to ban threaded barrels which are common on rifles and handguns thus turning law-abiding gun-owners into felons to be punished by five years in jail if the gun is not dispossessed, sold, given away or destroyed. Again, I do not recall this matter ever being discussed during the election campaign. No other state, including New York and California, has such an extreme law. If you intend to vote for SB 16, which does not even include a “grandfather” clause, I would like you to please explain why, and tell me when you made public statements indicating your intention to confiscate such firearms which are legal as of today in all 50 states. Clearly, the Governor is already considering confiscation of commonly-owned firearms. When asked at a November 6th press conference whether he supports confiscating so-called assault weapons from gun owners, Northam demurred. “That’s something I’m working [on] with our secretary of public safety,” he said. But federal courts have found that a semi-automatic (one trigger pull releases one bullet) and certain handguns are protected under the Second Amendment in order to defend one’s family and homestead. Please let me know how you intend to vote and fully explain why. I will be sharing your response with my family, friends and neighbors.

I urge you vote against SB 16, introduced by Senator Saslaw. During the most recent election, I do not recall any legislator informing the public that they planned to ban most, if not all, semi-automatic firearms as this bill does. “Semi-automatic” simply means one trigger pull releases one bullet. They are not machine guns. This bill also seeks to ban threaded barrels which are common on rifles and handguns thus turning law-abiding gun-owners into felons to be punished by five years in jail if the gun is not dispossessed, sold, given away or destroyed. Again, I do not recall this matter ever being discussed during the election campaign. No other state, including New York and California, has such an extreme law. If you intend to vote for SB 16, which does not even include a “grandfather” clause, I would like you to please explain why, and tell me when you made public statements indicating your intention to confiscate such firearms which are legal as of today in all 50 states. Clearly, the Governor is already considering confiscation of commonly-owned firearms. When asked at a November 6th press conference whether he supports confiscating so-called assault weapons from gun owners, Northam demurred. “That’s something I’m working [on] with our secretary of public safety,” he said. But federal courts have found that a semi-automatic (one trigger pull releases one bullet) and certain handguns are protected under the Second Amendment in order to defend one’s family and homestead. Please let me know how you intend to vote and fully explain why. I will be sharing your response with my family, friends and neighbors.

Governor Northam claims he is proposing “common sense” gun control by outlawing all firearms and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds, as Senator Saslaw’s SB 16 does. This bill is anything but “common sense.” Please vote against this bill. Please let me know if you support or oppose SB 16. If this measure passes with your support, Virginians will not be allowed to even possess such firearms which are perfectly legal today in all 50 states. Please be aware that crimes have been prevented using guns holding more than ten rounds. A federal court has held that firearms with magazines greater than ten rounds cannot be prohibited for self-defense and protection of one’s home. SB 16 does not even have a “grandfather clause.” Even liberal California allowed gun owners to keep their old magazines! A ten round limit helps felons, not law-abiding Virginians. Felons do not obey gun laws, but they will certainly benefit from the constraints put upon law-abiding gun-owners. These laws will make Virginia more unsafe. The murderer at Florida’s Stoneman Douglas High School in February, 2019, used more than a dozen ten round magazines to kill and injure 34 students and teachers. If Florida had a bill similar to SB 16 in place it would not have outlawed the magazines used or prevented this slaughter. Please share with me any studies that prove ten round magazines limit or decrease crime. The overwhelming number of homicides as well the horrible killings in Virginia Beach this year were carried out with handguns, not an AR15’s. The Governor’s gun control “recommendations” came in response to the Virginia Beach tragedy. Yet, during the Boys State meeting at Radford, “Northam conceded that his proposals wouldn’t have necessarily prevented the Virginia Beach Shootings.” (Roanoke Times, 6/21/19) This bill is no solution to violence. I am anxious to receive your position on this measure backed up by facts rather than opinions from liberal gun control groups. While there is an exemption in this bill for law enforcement, most of us cannot afford to hire armed bodyguards, similar to the kind of protection that our Governor has to safeguard himself and his family.

Governor Northam claims he is proposing “common sense” gun control by outlawing all firearms and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds, as Senator Saslaw’s SB 16 does. This bill is anything but “common sense.” Please vote against this bill. Please let me know if you support or oppose SB 16. If this measure passes with your support, Virginians will not be allowed to even possess such firearms which are perfectly legal today in all 50 states. Please be aware that crimes have been prevented using guns holding more than ten rounds. A federal court has held that firearms with magazines greater than ten rounds cannot be prohibited for self-defense and protection of one’s home. SB 16 does not even have a “grandfather clause.” Even liberal California allowed gun owners to keep their old magazines! A ten round limit helps felons, not law-abiding Virginians. Felons do not obey gun laws, but they will certainly benefit from the constraints put upon law-abiding gun-owners. These laws will make Virginia more unsafe. The murderer at Florida’s Stoneman Douglas High School in February, 2019, used more than a dozen ten round magazines to kill and injure 34 students and teachers. If Florida had a bill similar to SB 16 in place it would not have outlawed the magazines used or prevented this slaughter. Please share with me any studies that prove ten round magazines limit or decrease crime. The overwhelming number of homicides as well the horrible killings in Virginia Beach this year were carried out with handguns, not an AR15’s. The Governor’s gun control “recommendations” came in response to the Virginia Beach tragedy. Yet, during the Boys State meeting at Radford, “Northam conceded that his proposals wouldn’t have necessarily prevented the Virginia Beach Shootings.” (Roanoke Times, 6/21/19) This bill is no solution to violence. I am anxious to receive your position on this measure backed up by facts rather than opinions from liberal gun control groups. While there is an exemption in this bill for law enforcement, most of us cannot afford to hire armed bodyguards, similar to the kind of protection that our Governor has to safeguard himself and his family.