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Oppose Firearms Rationing: One-Gun-A-Month

Virginia: Oppose Firearms Rationing—One-Gun-A-Month Law

History of handgun rationing in Virginia

Gov. Ralph Northam has proposed a “one-gun-a-month” firearm rationing law. Virginia has never had a “one-gun-a-month” law. From 1993 to 2012, Virginia had a “one-handgun-a-month” law that rationed the number of handguns law-abiding gun owners could purchase to one a month. Virginians’right to purchase rifles and shotguns has never been rationed before.

In 1993, Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and other gun control advocates sold the handgun rationing measure as a way to curb gun trafficking from Virginia to more restrictive Northeast states, particularly New York. Gov. Bob McDonnell, who supported the bill as a delegate in 1993, would go on to sign its repeal in 2012.

Before and after the repeal

According to ATF trace data, there was not an increase in firearms recovered in New York being traced to Virginia in the years after repeal. In the three years prior to repeal (2009-11), a total of 1265 firearms recovered in New York were traced to Virginia. In the three years following repeal (2013-15), a total of 1259 firearms recovered in New York were traced to Virginia.

There has not been a significant increase in the percentage of firearms recovered in restrictive Northeast states being traced to Virginia since the repeal of the handgun rationing statute.

Before and After the One Handgun a Month Repeal

The federal government already monitors multiple handgun purchases

Federal law imposes a requirement on gun dealers to report the multiple sale of handguns made to an individual within five consecutive business days. 18 U.S.C. §923(g)(3)(A) requires that “The report shall be prepared on a form specified by the Attorney General and forwarded to the office specified thereon and to the department of state police or state law enforcement agency of the state or local law enforcement agency of the local jurisdiction in which the sale or other disposition took place, not later than the close of business on the day that the multiple sale or other disposition occurs.”

Gun rationing would not have prevented the Virginia Beach tragedy

The perpetrator used two handguns to carry out the attack. The perpetrator bought one of the pistols in 2016 and the other in 2018.

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

News  

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Virginia: House of Delegates passes one-gun-a-month repeal

The Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday passed a repeal of the state's 18-year-old one-handgun-a-month law before advancing ...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Virginia: Busy Day in Richmond as Action Taken on Numerous Firearm-Related Bills in the General Assembly

Today, both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates remained busy dealing with a large volume of firearms-related ...

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Virginia: House gives preliminary approval to legislation repealing 1-handgun-a-month law

Handgun buyers would no longer be limited to one weapon a month under a bill that received preliminary ...

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Virginia: State Senate to Vote on <BR>Three Important Pro-Gun Bills this Thursday!

This Thursday, the Virginia Senate is expected to vote on three bills of great interest to gun owners, ...

Monday, January 30, 2012

Virginia: Senate Courts of Justice Committee Reconsiders Gun Bills!

Due to a procedural miscue last week, the state Senate Courts of Justice Committee reconsidered a number of ...

Friday, January 27, 2012

Virginia: House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee Passes Five Pro-Gun Bills!

On January 27, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee passed five pro-gun bills: House Bill 20, ...

Friday, January 27, 2012

Virginia: House Subcommittee Passes Five Pro-Gun Bills!

Yesterday, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 worked through a slate of gun-related legislation and ...

Friday, January 27, 2012

Virginia: Senate Passes Emergency Powers Legislation, Senate Committee Forced to Re-Vote on Gun Bills

Today, the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 245 by a decisive 34 to 5 vote.  Sponsored by state ...

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Virginia: Senate panel backs repeal of gun rationing law

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday approved a measure that would eliminate Virginia's one-gun-a-month restriction on ...

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Virginia: Senate Courts of Justice Committee Set to Decide Fate of Gun-Related Legislation Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, January 25, the state Senate Courts of Justice Committee will hear a number of pro- and anti-gun ...

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.