Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation banning the sale and manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms, prompting immediate lawsuits from gun-rights groups.
The limits on “ assault firearms,” as they are described by the legislation, are among two dozen new restrictions and regulations on guns enacted by the Democratic governor in her first few months in office. That marks a sharp policy reversal from her Republican predecessor, who had vetoed many similar measures.
“Firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement Friday. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”
The new gun restrictions move Virginia closer to the likes of California, Illinois and New York, which similarly have full Democratic control of their legislatures and governors’ offices. They also highlight a continued national divide on gun policy, as various Republican-led states have taken steps to relax firearm restrictions that they describe as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.
Yep, and this is why I don’t understand the Dems doing this shit. Like a large portion of your base is quietly getting armed. So parading around gun control is just political suicide right now.
I don’t get it either but chalk it up to sticking to traditional party rhetoric and policy making even as MAGA undermines every principle of democracy and the judicial system. I know I can come off as a doomer but the attitude out of some democrats that it’s still business as usual and that the pendulum will do like it’s always done and shift back in the next couple of elections seems dangerously naive. The governor mentions the move is for “the protection of our law enforcement officers”. Lady, if Trump demanded your arrest tomorrow those same cops would mask up, kick down your door, and haul you off without a warrant. I don’t think Democratic officials can protect themselves from the regime should it turn on them, much less their constituents. It’s been citizens who’ve fought ICE in the streets and pushed them out of neighborhoods, not their governors, and definitely not their local cops. For once I’m glad I live in a state where my strongly worded letters can be written in 30 rounds.