GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 46, which relates to firearm transfers to another person from a person subject to a protective order or convicted of a misdemeanor.

I join the patrons in their pursuit of condemning domestic abuse, it is unequivocally deplorable. Make no mistake, Virginia should ensure that domestic abusers are dealt with appropriately, and those who resort to illegal firearm use, especially, should face severe and harsh punishments.

The legislation fails to achieve its intended purpose and is unnecessary. The existing legal framework addresses firearm possession in cases of domestic abuse. Courts have the power to require the transfer of firearms from individuals, and law enforcement can obtain a search warrant to seize for illegally possessed weapons. Additionally, all firearm transfers are currently limited to individuals who are legally allowed to possess firearms.

To avoid inadvertent compromises to public safety, policies should refrain from disarming individuals not subject to a court order, making other family members less safe, which contradicts our shared goal. The arbitrary age prohibition, which contradicts our current legal age of possession, on certain transfers adds further confusion.  

As I advocate for greater protections for victims, I strongly urge the General Assembly to shift its focus towards proven strategies aimed at combatting violent crime - mandatory minimums for armed criminals and the presumption against bail.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.