Delegate Levine claimed at a January 25, 2020 Town Hall that his so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban (HB 961) largely mirrors the 1994 federal ban on commonly-owned firearms. That is false. The federal 1994 ban listed 670 semi-automatic firearms which citizens were allowed to purchase after the weapons ban was imposed. Delegate Levine has no list in HB 961 of semi-automatic firearms which are legal to buy after July 1, 2020, because there are none! Delegate Levine claimed that passage of the federal “assault weapons” ban caused a reduction in mass murders from 1994-2004 which he claimed had been increasing. However, a federally-funded study of the 1994 assault weapons ban, concluded that “we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation’s recent drop in gun violence. And, indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence, based on indicators like the percentage of gun crimes resulting in death or the share of gunfire incidents resulting in injury.” (National Institute of Justice, 2004, AW Update, C. Koper, p. 96) Neither the first or recently amended version of HB 961 will make Virginia safer despite Delegate Levine’s claims. Banning the possession of hundreds of types of firearms by law-abiding citizens, will increase, not decrease crime. Criminals will find it easier to commit crimes when the citizenry is disarmed to any extent. Delegate Levine benefits from the protection of the Capitol Police and could also purchase personal protection from professional law enforcement who are allowed to use the same guns Delegate Levine doesn’t want us to have. Vote NO on HB 961 and any other so-called assault weapons bill that may come before you during the 2020 legislative session and let me know how you vote. Gun Owners of America will let me know how you vote.

Delegate Levine claimed at a January 25, 2020 Town Hall that his so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban (HB 961) largely tracks the 1994 federal ban. It does not. Under the federal “assault weapons” ban, gun owners were able to keep any of their large gun magazines. Delegate Levine’s bill makes it a felony to keep magazines greater than 12 rounds. The Virginia Constitution states, “the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby … private property shall be damaged or taken for public use without just compensation to the owner thereof.” Del. Levine’s bill mandates that 12+ magazines and suppressors and certain other accessories be destroyed or turned into police without receiving any monetary compensation. This is a violation of justice to say the least. According to Gun Owners of America, it appears that HB 961 demands that a broken firearm may not be repaired with any part either from Virginia or out-of-state. The bill treats mere parts of “assault weapons” the same as it treats the banned firearms. After July 1, 2020, both “assault weapons” and “parts” of the “assault weapons” are all banned. So, if a person legally owns a firearm before July 1, 2020, the bill appears to ban that person from purchasing a part to fix your firearm. How does this make any sense? This means that a $1,700 firearm becomes worthless because a $3.00 part to repair it is illegal to purchase! Delegate Levine disrespects gun owners who bought their firearms legally. His radical and arbitrary gun ban will have serious consequences, including financial consequences, for gun owners like me. But Delegate Levine is protected by the heavily armed Capitol Police who act as tax paid personal bodyguards and who use the very guns he wants banned from the people. This is a duplicitous double-standard. HB 961 does not protect public safety, and does everything to promote distrust of elected officials who have no regard for our inalienable rights, including the Second Amendment. This bill will completely ruin sport shooting competitions in Virginia. How can a shooting range possibly stay in business if they cannot comply with the deficient “transfer” provisions of HB 961 regarding renting firearms? How could they handle the financial impact of not being allowed to repair broken firearms without risking a Class 6 felony? Why would anyone want to eliminate or hurt the legal shooting sports businesses which serve to increase safety and proficiency skills of law-abiding citizens? Why would anyone seek to reduce firearm competency if you want to preserve civilian gun ownership? I will be watching closely how you vote on HB 961 and similar bills and let my neighbors know as well. We do not want to be disarmed and are deserve to have our inalienable rights protected which are enshrined in both the Virginia and U.S. Constitutions. And we expect you to obey the Oath you took to uphold these rights.

Del. Levine’s amended version of HB 961 does nothing to protect civilian ownership of guns from the fact of gun confiscation that was present in the original version of his bill. While it does not “ban” guns purchased and owned prior to the date of enactment of the law, July 1, 2020, it effectively reduces the number and limits the types of firearms that are deemed “legal” to own. Sorry, but this is a huge violation of our Second Amendment and will do nothing to cut crime in Virginia. Delegate Levine intentionally confuses a firearm with the killer as if the gun itself commits the crime. That’s like saying we have to confiscate cars because they kill people in accidents. The Governor, Delegate Levine, and Mayor Bloomberg who funded many of the General Assembly members elections, have not wavered in their support for gun registration and gun confiscation. According to Gun Owners o America, more than 90% of mass shootings have been in gun free zones. Murderers choose areas without armed opposition, where they can freely commit multiple homicides without challenge. Other than the complete disarmament of civilians in Virginia, what is the reason for turning law-abiding citizens into felons simply for purchasing a $10 part to fix a gun that might be worth a several thousand dollars? HB 916 provides that “It is unlawful for any person to import, sell, transfer or manufacture or purchase an assault firearm.” Does HB 961 really consider a mere part the complete assault firearm? This bill appears to be written to entrap innocent gun owners who would never harm anyone. Please do not impose confiscation by attrition or by any other scheme in Virginia. I will closely monitor your vote on this bill and all so-called “gun control” legislation.

Delegate Levine claimed at a January 25, 2020 Town Hall that his so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban (HB 961) largely mirrors the 1994 federal ban on commonly-owned firearms. That is false. The federal 1994 ban listed 670 semi-automatic firearms which citizens were allowed to purchase after the weapons ban was imposed. Delegate Levine has no list in HB 961 of semi-automatic firearms which are legal to buy after July 1, 2020, because there are none! Delegate Levine claimed that passage of the federal “assault weapons” ban caused a reduction in mass murders from 1994-2004 which he claimed had been increasing. However, a federally-funded study of the 1994 assault weapons ban, concluded that “we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation’s recent drop in gun violence. And, indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence, based on indicators like the percentage of gun crimes resulting in death or the share of gunfire incidents resulting in injury.” (National Institute of Justice, 2004, AW Update, C. Koper, p. 96) Neither the first or recently amended version of HB 961 will make Virginia safer despite Delegate Levine’s claims. Banning the possession of hundreds of types of firearms by law-abiding citizens, will increase, not decrease crime. Criminals will find it easier to commit crimes when the citizenry is disarmed to any extent. Delegate Levine benefits from the protection of the Capitol Police and could also purchase personal protection from professional law enforcement who are allowed to use the same guns Delegate Levine doesn’t want us to have. Vote NO on HB 961 and any other so-called assault weapons bill that may come before you during the 2020 legislative session and let me know how you vote. Gun Owners of America will let me know how you vote.

Delegate Levine claimed at a January 25, 2020 Town Hall that his so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban (HB 961) largely mirrors the 1994 federal ban on commonly-owned firearms. That is false. The federal 1994 ban listed 670 semi-automatic firearms which citizens were allowed to purchase after the weapons ban was imposed. Delegate Levine has no list in HB 961 of semi-automatic firearms which are legal to buy after July 1, 2020, because there are none! Delegate Levine claimed that passage of the federal “assault weapons” ban caused a reduction in mass murders from 1994-2004 which he claimed had been increasing. However, a federally-funded study of the 1994 assault weapons ban, concluded that “we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation’s recent drop in gun violence. And, indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence, based on indicators like the percentage of gun crimes resulting in death or the share of gunfire incidents resulting in injury.” (National Institute of Justice, 2004, AW Update, C. Koper, p. 96) Neither the first or recently amended version of HB 961 will make Virginia safer despite Delegate Levine’s claims. Banning the possession of hundreds of types of firearms by law-abiding citizens, will increase, not decrease crime. Criminals will find it easier to commit crimes when the citizenry is disarmed to any extent. Delegate Levine benefits from the protection of the Capitol Police and could also purchase personal protection from professional law enforcement who are allowed to use the same guns Delegate Levine doesn’t want us to have. Vote NO on HB 961 and any other so-called assault weapons bill that may come before you during the 2020 legislative session and let me know how you vote. Gun Owners of America will let me know how you vote.

Del. Levine’s amended version of HB 961 does nothing to protect civilian ownership of guns from the fact of gun confiscation that was present in the original version of his bill. While it does not “ban” guns purchased and owned prior to the date of enactment of the law, July 1, 2020, it effectively reduces the number and limits the types of firearms that are deemed “legal” to own. Sorry, but this is a huge violation of our Second Amendment and will do nothing to cut crime in Virginia. Delegate Levine intentionally confuses a firearm with the killer as if the gun itself commits the crime. That’s like saying we have to confiscate cars because they kill people in accidents. The Governor, Delegate Levine, and Mayor Bloomberg who funded many of the General Assembly members elections, have not wavered in their support for gun registration and gun confiscation. According to Gun Owners o America, more than 90% of mass shootings have been in gun free zones. Murderers choose areas without armed opposition, where they can freely commit multiple homicides without challenge. Other than the complete disarmament of civilians in Virginia, what is the reason for turning law-abiding citizens into felons simply for purchasing a $10 part to fix a gun that might be worth a several thousand dollars? HB 916 provides that “It is unlawful for any person to import, sell, transfer or manufacture or purchase an assault firearm.” Does HB 961 really consider a mere part the complete assault firearm? This bill appears to be written to entrap innocent gun owners who would never harm anyone. Please do not impose confiscation by attrition or by any other scheme in Virginia. I will closely monitor your vote on this bill and all so-called “gun control” legislation.

Del. Levine’s amended version of HB 961 does nothing to protect civilian ownership of guns from the fact of gun confiscation that was present in the original version of his bill. While it does not “ban” guns purchased and owned prior to the date of enactment of the law, July 1, 2020, it effectively reduces the number and limits the types of firearms that are deemed “legal” to own. Sorry, but this is a huge violation of our Second Amendment and will do nothing to cut crime in Virginia. Delegate Levine intentionally confuses a firearm with the killer as if the gun itself commits the crime. That’s like saying we have to confiscate cars because they kill people in accidents. The Governor, Delegate Levine, and Mayor Bloomberg who funded many of the General Assembly members elections, have not wavered in their support for gun registration and gun confiscation. According to Gun Owners o America, more than 90% of mass shootings have been in gun free zones. Murderers choose areas without armed opposition, where they can freely commit multiple homicides without challenge. Other than the complete disarmament of civilians in Virginia, what is the reason for turning law-abiding citizens into felons simply for purchasing a $10 part to fix a gun that might be worth a several thousand dollars? HB 916 provides that “It is unlawful for any person to import, sell, transfer or manufacture or purchase an assault firearm.” Does HB 961 really consider a mere part the complete assault firearm? This bill appears to be written to entrap innocent gun owners who would never harm anyone. Please do not impose confiscation by attrition or by any other scheme in Virginia. I will closely monitor your vote on this bill and all so-called “gun control” legislation.