Gun Owners of America tells me that HB 961 is now on the agenda in the Senate. I strongly oppose the Bloomberg-devised so-called Assault Weapons bill which intentionally makes law abiding citizens guilty of misdemeanors or felonies for ordinary, non-harmful behavior. For example, simply buying a part to repair an “assault weapon” after July 1, 2020 becomes a class 6 felony because, “Assault firearm includes any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert, modify, or otherwise alter a firearm into an assault firearm, or any combination of parts that may be readily assembled into an assault firearm.” (Lines 424-426, HB 961) Do you represent federal workers or contractors who have security clearances? They will lose their security clearance and their secure jobs if they purchase a spring or other replacement part for their affected weapon after July 1, 2020, because that purchase is deemed a felony and they can only keep their security clearances under lie detector exams! HB 961 is not “commonsense gun control,” it is no-sense gun control with malicious intent. Please oppose it.

Gun Owners of America tells me that HB 961 is now on the agenda in the Senate. I strongly oppose the Bloomberg-devised so-called Assault Weapons bill which intentionally makes law abiding citizens guilty of misdemeanors or felonies for ordinary, non-harmful behavior. For example, simply buying a part to repair an “assault weapon” after July 1, 2020 becomes a class 6 felony because, “Assault firearm includes any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert, modify, or otherwise alter a firearm into an assault firearm, or any combination of parts that may be readily assembled into an assault firearm.” (Lines 424-426, HB 961) Do you represent federal workers or contractors who have security clearances? They will lose their security clearance and their secure jobs if they purchase a spring or other replacement part for their affected weapon after July 1, 2020, because that purchase is deemed a felony and they can only keep their security clearances under lie detector exams! HB 961 is not “commonsense gun control,” it is no-sense gun control with malicious intent. Please oppose it.

Gun Owners of America tells me that HB 961 is now on the agenda in the Senate. I strongly oppose the Bloomberg-devised so-called Assault Weapons bill which intentionally makes law abiding citizens guilty of misdemeanors or felonies for ordinary, non-harmful behavior. For example, simply buying a part to repair an “assault weapon” after July 1, 2020 becomes a class 6 felony because, “Assault firearm includes any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert, modify, or otherwise alter a firearm into an assault firearm, or any combination of parts that may be readily assembled into an assault firearm.” (Lines 424-426, HB 961) Do you represent federal workers or contractors who have security clearances? They will lose their security clearance and their secure jobs if they purchase a spring or other replacement part for their affected weapon after July 1, 2020, because that purchase is deemed a felony and they can only keep their security clearances under lie detector exams! HB 961 is not “commonsense gun control,” it is no-sense gun control with malicious intent. Please oppose it.

I agree with Gun Owners of America that HB 961 is one of the most awful bills that has been introduced in the General Assembly. The 12-round limit for magazines, which Delegate Levine supposedly offered as a “compromise” to the bill’s earlier 10-round limit, is a ploy because there are no 12-round magazines made for the AR-15 or AK. Delegate Levine has claimed that his HB 961 largely tracks the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004, but the 1994 ban did not criminalize the purchase of repair parts for AR or AK rifles as Delegate Levine’s bill does. And the federal law also grandfathered 10+ round magazines, while HB 961 does not for 12+ magazines. Keep in mind that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Heller that firearms “typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes” are legal to own. The 1939 Miller case also protects weapons “in common use” -- yet these are the same weapons the Governor and Delegate Levine want to ban for us, while still keeping them for their own protection! Why the double standard? An amicus brief before the Supreme Court pointed out that, in 2015, there were approximately 114,700,000 of 10+ round magazines in common use, which is approximately 50% of all magazines owned. Do you really think this bill would be upheld in the Supreme Court? Unless Senators want to be responsible for a nightmare of illogical and unjust criminal charges against their otherwise law-abiding, peaceful constituents, I strongly urge a NO vote on HB 961. By the way, some have asked the question: “Who needs more than 12 rounds.” Did you know that the Huffington Post reported in 2015 that, “An attempted murder suspect who fired at New York police was apprehended only after police engaged him in a gun fight… Of the 84 total shots cops fired, one struck the suspect.” If trained police need more bullets for defense, average Virginian citizens also need more for self-defense. There are too many unanswered questions with regard to HB 961. And there are plenty of obviously answered questions that confirm this bill is a clear violation of our U.S. and Virginia Constitutions. Please inform me how you intend to vote. I will share this information with my friends.

I agree with Gun Owners of America that HB 961 is one of the most awful bills that has been introduced in the General Assembly. The 12-round limit for magazines, which Delegate Levine supposedly offered as a “compromise” to the bill’s earlier 10-round limit, is a ploy because there are no 12-round magazines made for the AR-15 or AK. Delegate Levine has claimed that his HB 961 largely tracks the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004, but the 1994 ban did not criminalize the purchase of repair parts for AR or AK rifles as Delegate Levine’s bill does. And the federal law also grandfathered 10+ round magazines, while HB 961 does not for 12+ magazines. Keep in mind that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Heller that firearms “typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes” are legal to own. The 1939 Miller case also protects weapons “in common use” -- yet these are the same weapons the Governor and Delegate Levine want to ban for us, while still keeping them for their own protection! Why the double standard? An amicus brief before the Supreme Court pointed out that, in 2015, there were approximately 114,700,000 of 10+ round magazines in common use, which is approximately 50% of all magazines owned. Do you really think this bill would be upheld in the Supreme Court? Unless Senators want to be responsible for a nightmare of illogical and unjust criminal charges against their otherwise law-abiding, peaceful constituents, I strongly urge a NO vote on HB 961. By the way, some have asked the question: “Who needs more than 12 rounds.” Did you know that the Huffington Post reported in 2015 that, “An attempted murder suspect who fired at New York police was apprehended only after police engaged him in a gun fight… Of the 84 total shots cops fired, one struck the suspect.” If trained police need more bullets for defense, average Virginian citizens also need more for self-defense. There are too many unanswered questions with regard to HB 961. And there are plenty of obviously answered questions that confirm this bill is a clear violation of our U.S. and Virginia Constitutions. Please inform me how you intend to vote. I will share this information with my friends.

I am very much opposed to Delegate Levine’s HB 961. Delegate Levin claimed at a recent Town Hall that his bill largely follows the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. It most certainly does not! The 1994 federal AWB did not make it a felony to keep magazines over ten rounds. The Levine bill makes it a felony to retain larger magazines. His fake “compromise” supposedly allows 12+ round magazines but there are no 12+ round magazines for AR or AK rifles! This insults the intelligence of gun owners. In early January, Senators took an Oath to Defend the Virginia Constitution (in addition to the federal Constitution) which expressly provides that, “the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby private property ... shall be damaged … without just compensation to the owner thereof.” If a Senator were to vote for HB 961 and did not compensate gun owners for mandating gun owners destroy their private property or become a felon for five years in prison, why should anyone trust that they will respect all the other provisions of our Constitutions? But if a Senator voted for HB 961 and decided to add dollars to pay me to destroy my magazines, financial compensation will do nothing to protect me against home invaders who often break-in with multiple persons, many weapons and much larger magazines because criminals do not obey any laws, much less gun laws. I urge you to vote no on HB 961. And I would like a response from you which I will share with my neighbors -- and will pass along to Gun Owners of America.

I am very much opposed to Delegate Levine’s HB 961. Delegate Levin claimed at a recent Town Hall that his bill largely follows the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. It most certainly does not! The 1994 federal AWB did not make it a felony to keep magazines over ten rounds. The Levine bill makes it a felony to retain larger magazines. His fake “compromise” supposedly allows 12+ round magazines but there are no 12+ round magazines for AR or AK rifles! This insults the intelligence of gun owners. In early January, Senators took an Oath to Defend the Virginia Constitution (in addition to the federal Constitution) which expressly provides that, “the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby private property ... shall be damaged … without just compensation to the owner thereof.” If a Senator were to vote for HB 961 and did not compensate gun owners for mandating gun owners destroy their private property or become a felon for five years in prison, why should anyone trust that they will respect all the other provisions of our Constitutions? But if a Senator voted for HB 961 and decided to add dollars to pay me to destroy my magazines, financial compensation will do nothing to protect me against home invaders who often break-in with multiple persons, many weapons and much larger magazines because criminals do not obey any laws, much less gun laws. I urge you to vote no on HB 961. And I would like a response from you which I will share with my neighbors -- and will pass along to Gun Owners of America.

I am very much opposed to Delegate Levine’s HB 961. Delegate Levin claimed at a recent Town Hall that his bill largely follows the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. It most certainly does not! The 1994 federal AWB did not make it a felony to keep magazines over ten rounds. The Levine bill makes it a felony to retain larger magazines. His fake “compromise” supposedly allows 12+ round magazines but there are no 12+ round magazines for AR or AK rifles! This insults the intelligence of gun owners. In early January, Senators took an Oath to Defend the Virginia Constitution (in addition to the federal Constitution) which expressly provides that, “the General Assembly shall pass no law whereby private property ... shall be damaged … without just compensation to the owner thereof.” If a Senator were to vote for HB 961 and did not compensate gun owners for mandating gun owners destroy their private property or become a felon for five years in prison, why should anyone trust that they will respect all the other provisions of our Constitutions? But if a Senator voted for HB 961 and decided to add dollars to pay me to destroy my magazines, financial compensation will do nothing to protect me against home invaders who often break-in with multiple persons, many weapons and much larger magazines because criminals do not obey any laws, much less gun laws. I urge you to vote no on HB 961. And I would like a response from you which I will share with my neighbors -- and will pass along to Gun Owners of America.

If HB 961 passes, it will become the clarion call for Virginians in the next election. Gun Owners of America (GOA) surveyed gun owners in Virginia and found that over 98% would NOT vote for a Senator who a so-called “assault weapons” ban. It’s no wonder -- the bill will affect a wide swath of the Virginia populace. Millions of Virginians could be affected. HB 961 can hardly be considered constitutional. This bill divides all Virginians who are eligible to own firearms into two classes: one class may legally own certain firearms, and a second class is prohibited from doing so. The bill will arbitrarily ban entire classes of weapons from certain Virginians who are otherwise equal to those who are allowed to keep and use them. How can that be considered “equal treatment” under law? The 2008 Heller decision held that all bearable arms are presumptively protected by the Second Amendment, and therefore Virginia would bear the burden of proving that any banned arms are both “dangerous and unusual.” Given the literally tens of millions of semiautomatic AW’s and roughly 90 million magazines of more than ten rounds in the United States, it is a fantasy to claim that HB 961 is constitutional. Please vote NO on this bill when it comes before you.

If HB 961 passes, it will become the clarion call for Virginians in the next election. Gun Owners of America (GOA) surveyed gun owners in Virginia and found that over 98% would NOT vote for a Senator who a so-called “assault weapons” ban. It’s no wonder -- the bill will affect a wide swath of the Virginia populace. Millions of Virginians could be affected. HB 961 can hardly be considered constitutional. This bill divides all Virginians who are eligible to own firearms into two classes: one class may legally own certain firearms, and a second class is prohibited from doing so. The bill will arbitrarily ban entire classes of weapons from certain Virginians who are otherwise equal to those who are allowed to keep and use them. How can that be considered “equal treatment” under law? The 2008 Heller decision held that all bearable arms are presumptively protected by the Second Amendment, and therefore Virginia would bear the burden of proving that any banned arms are both “dangerous and unusual.” Given the literally tens of millions of semiautomatic AW’s and roughly 90 million magazines of more than ten rounds in the United States, it is a fantasy to claim that HB 961 is constitutional. Please vote NO on this bill when it comes before you.