What Gov. Northam recommends and fact based arguments against those recommendations.:
Universal background checks (UBC).
Response: What UBC’s do is criminalize the private transfer of private property from the owner to anyone else. Private sales are legal in Virginia. The Virginia Beach Shooter (VBS) purchased his weapons thru a licensed dealer which means that this first law would not have prevented the shooting.
A ban on assault weapons, to include suppressors and bump stocks;
Response: The VBS used two 1911 .45 pistols. No semi-automatic rifles were used. This law would not have prevented the shooting.
While as of this writing the list of evidence has not proven that a suppressor was used, they are legal to purchase and own. The process takes around six months to complete thru the BATFE and includes a federal background check. Suppressors do not make a firearm more accurate, more deadly, nor does it “silence” the weapon. This law would not have prevented the shooting.
Bump stocks are already illegal under federal law . They can’t be more illegal by Virginia passing a law banning them. The shooter did not use a bump stock.
This law shows how ignorant Gov. Northam is about US gun laws and would not have prevented the shooting.
An extreme risk protective order;
Response: The VBS was not under a protective order of any kind nor was there any evidence that he was considered a danger to himself or others.
This law would not have prevented the shooting.
Reinstating the one-gun-a-month law;
Response: The VBS bought one handgun in 2016 and the other in 2018.
This law would not have prevented the shooting.
Child access prevention;
Response: The VBS shooter was an adult. This law would not have prevented the shooting.
Requiring people to report lost and stolen firearms;
Response: The VBS shooter did not use a stolen or lost gun.
This law would not have prevented the shooting.
Expanding local authority to regulate firearms, including in government buildings.
Response: As evidenced by numerous shootings in federal, state, and other non-government buildings, “Gun Free Zones” do not prevent shooters from entering a building with a gun. They only prevent law abiding citizens from legally carrying a gun to defend themselves against active shooters. Virginia Beach employees are prohibited from carrying firearms(Employee Handbook, par. 2.2.B Va. Beach Employee Handbook) This law would not have prevented the shooting.
