Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

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
Virginia: Anti-Gun Laws Take Effect Tomorrow, July 1

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Virginia: Anti-Gun Laws Take Effect Tomorrow, July 1

Tomorrow, July 1st, the anti-gun bills passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Ralph ...

Virginia: Gov Northam Appoints Anti-Gun Lobbyist to Crime Commission

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Virginia: Gov Northam Appoints Anti-Gun Lobbyist to Crime Commission

Yesterday, Governor Ralph Northam announced a trio of appointments to the Virginia State Crime Commission, including Norfolk Police ...

The Washington Free Beacon  

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Northern Virginia Indoor Gun Ranges Ordered to Remain Closed

Virginia governor Ralph Northam (D.) reversed his decision to reopen indoor gun ranges and other businesses throughout the ...

Virginia Anti-gun Activist Unveils 2021 Gun Control Agenda

News  

Monday, April 27, 2020

Virginia Anti-gun Activist Unveils 2021 Gun Control Agenda

On April 10, disgraced Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed five pieces of anti-gun legislation into law. Those measures criminalize the ...

Virginia: Gov. Northam Signs Gun Control Bills

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Virginia: Gov. Northam Signs Gun Control Bills

On April 10th, Governor Ralph Northam signed into law the anti-gun bills passed by the General Assembly. They ...

Virginia: General Assembly to Adjourn

Monday, March 9, 2020

Virginia: General Assembly to Adjourn

The Virginia General Assembly is set to adjourn sine die from its 2020 legislative session on March 12th. ...

Virginia: Senate Passes Anti-Gun House Bills

Friday, February 28, 2020

Virginia: Senate Passes Anti-Gun House Bills

On February 26th and 27th, the Virginia Senate voted to pass a number of the anti-gun bills that crossed ...

Virginia: Senate Voting on Anti-Gun House Bills

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Virginia: Senate Voting on Anti-Gun House Bills

Today, the Virginia Senate is holding third reading (final floor vote) on the anti-gun bills that crossed over ...

Attention Virginians! The Fight Against Bloomberg-Backed Gun Control isn’t Over!

News  

Monday, February 24, 2020

Attention Virginians! The Fight Against Bloomberg-Backed Gun Control isn’t Over!

Freedom-loving Virginians are breathing a well-deserved sigh of relief. On Monday, February 17, four Democrats on the Senate ...

Virginia: Petty Bloomberg-bought Delegates Target NRA Firearms Training and Right-to-Carry

News  

Monday, February 10, 2020

Virginia: Petty Bloomberg-bought Delegates Target NRA Firearms Training and Right-to-Carry

Further revealing that their operative motive is political prejudice rather than public safety, the Michael Bloomberg-bought Virginia House of Delegates ...

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.