Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

OPPOSE the Criminalization of Private Firearms Transfers

Virginia: OPPOSE the Criminalization of Private Firearms Transfers

"Universal" background checks do not stop criminals

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), 75 percent of criminals in state and federal state prison who had possessed a firearm during their offense acquired the firearm through theft, “Off the street/underground market,” or “from a family member or friend, or as a gift.” Less than one percent got firearms from dealers or non-dealers at gun shows.

Criminals defeat the background check system by getting guns through straw purchasers. ATF has reported, “[t]he most frequent type of trafficking channel identified in ATF investigations is straw purchasing from federally licensed firearms dealers. Nearly 50 percent....”

In a 2018 study, researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the UC Davis School of Medicine found that comprehensive background checks and prohibitions based on violent misdemeanors “were not associated with changes in firearm suicide or homicide.”

"Universal" background checks facilitate firearms registration

The National Instant Criminal Background Check Systems (NICS) would become a registry of firearm transfers if all firearms transfers were subject to NICS checks and the FBI retained records of approved checks indefinitely, both of which gun control supporters have proposed. This is because such records include information currently maintained on federal Form 4473, documenting the identity of the firearm purchaser and the make, model and serial number of the firearm transferred. Over time, as people sell or bequeath their firearms, a registry of firearm transfers would become a registry of firearms possessed.

There is no "gun show loophole" or "online sales loophole"

Federal law requires all firearm dealers to be licensed and to initiate a NICS check before transferring a firearm to a non-dealer, regardless of where the transfer takes place or of how people communicate about selling/buying a firearm. Virginia law already requires the state police to be available to perform background checks for firearm transfers between non-dealers at gun shows.

The "40 percent" myth

In January 2013, the Washington Post gave President Obama "Three Pinocchios" for claiming that 40 percent of firearms are sold without a background check, and noted that the authors of the study upon which the claim is based say, “we don’t know the current percentage, nor does anyone else.”

There is no overwhelming support for "universal" background checks

Gun control supporters claim that 92 percent of Americans support background checks on all firearm transfers. In November 2014, a background check ballot initiative in Washington was approved by only 59 percent of voters. In November 2016, Maine voters rejected a background check referendum by a margin of 52 to 48 percent, while Nevada voters narrowly adopted an unenforceable background check measure 50.45 to 49.55 percent.

"Universal" background checks would not have prevented the Virginia Beach tragedy

According to law enforcement, the perpetrator of the shooting in Virginia Beach legally purchased the firearms used in the attack.

Gov. Northam recently suggested that this is not a complete list of the gun control measures he wants the General Assembly to consider. Read the latest articles. 

It's critical that every gun owner in the Commonwealth contact their legislators and urge them to OPPOSE Gov. Northam’s and his media allies' gun control agenda. 

NRA-ILA is hosting town hall meetings throughout Virginia— including in Fredericksburg, Ashland, and Belle Haven. 

Related
Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Measures Fail in Senate Courts of Justice Committee: Your Action Still Needed

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Measures Fail in Senate Courts of Justice Committee: Your Action Still Needed

On Monday, January 15, most of the overreaching gun control agenda of Governor Ralph Northam and other anti-gun ...

Associated Press  

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Virginia Panel Votes Down Push for Stricter Gun Laws

Newly sworn-in Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's push for stricter gun laws was dealt a swift defeat Monday, with ...

Virginia: Gun Control Tops New Governor’s Agenda

News  

Friday, January 12, 2018

Virginia: Gun Control Tops New Governor’s Agenda

This week, Virginia Governor McAuliffe and Governor-Elect Ralph Northam outlined their top priorities for the upcoming legislative session, ...

Washington Post  

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Virginia's Northam: Gun control, Medicaid among priorities for 2018

Democratic Gov.-elect Ralph Northam said Tuesday that expanding Medicaid in Virginia and implementing universal background checks for gun ...

Washington Post.com  

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Northam: Gun control, Medicaid among priorities for 2018

Democratic Gov.-elect Ralph Northam said Tuesday that expanding Medicaid in Virginia and implementing universal background checks for gun ...

Washington Post.com  

Monday, October 23, 2017

Gun control group Everytown pours another $700k into Virginia elections

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the political arm of one of the nation’s largest gun control groups, ...

Washington Post  

Friday, October 20, 2017

Candidates sharply disagree on guns in Virginia gov’s race

The two major party candidates in Virginia’s race for governor sharply disagree when it comes to guns.Republican Ed ...

Bloomberg Spending Millions To Elect Anti-Gun Virginia Governor

News  

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Bloomberg Spending Millions To Elect Anti-Gun Virginia Governor

Billionaire anti-gunner Michael Bloomberg is at it again, pledging to spend $1 million through his gun control group ...

Washington Post  

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Why Virginians can’t trust Ralph Northam on campaign-finance reform

For those unfazed by conflicts of interest, maybe gun control is more persuasive. The Everytown for Gun Safety ...

National Journal  

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Outside Money Floods Virginia Governor Race

The race has also been a battleground over gun control, with the National Rifle Association endorsing Gillespie. On ...

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.