Virginia AG Celebrates As Effective Date Nears For New Law Harming Gun Industry
Virginia AG Celebrates As Effective Date Nears For New Law Harming Gun Industry
While most are focused on Virginia’s law banning so-called “assault weapons” and “high-capacity” magazines taking effect in less than two weeks, another new law in the commonwealth also has a July 1 effective date. And from hearing Attorney General Jay Jones crow about it at a recent press conference, you’d think it was a law that will really make Virginians safer.
Jay Jones held a press conference to grandstand about “accountability”
“Public safety isn’t a privilege reserved for a select few,” Jones said at a grandstanding press conference turned pep rally. “Every Virginian deserves to feel safe, and this law is going to make our communities safer.”
Jones further pontificated: “Accountability is the bedrock of our legal system, and firearm industry actors who are negligent and cause harm through unlawful or irresponsible practices will be held accountable by this office. Every victim, every loved one left behind, every neighborhood, deserves justice and this office will always be in service to the people of our Commonwealth.”
Sen. Carroll Foy: The gun industry has “exclusive immunity” — and that’s a lie
Jones also brought Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy to the party to brag about the new law and how much safer it will make Virginians.
“When irresponsible manufacturers allow dangerous actors to bypass the law, or when lives are lost due to firearms getting into the wrong hands, the firearm industry members who distribute those weapons must be held responsible due to their failure to implement reasonable controls that will prevent suicide, mass shootings, and urban gun violence,” Foy said. “This legislation is innovative, strategic, and targeted in its approach. The gun industry enjoys exclusive immunity and are shielded from liability from the death and destruction their products cause. Beginning July 1, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, that ends.”
Of course, the firearms industry is closely regulated, and gun dealers are required to follow federal law when selling firearms, including a background check. So Foy is lying about the immunity and what the law will do.
This law is going to gut Virginia’s lawful gun dealers
In truth, the new law will be devastating to those in the gun industry in the commonwealth — especially lawful firearm dealers. Expensive requirements within the law will be costly to most and will likely drive some completely out of business.
As the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action pointed out back when the measure was signed by anti-gun Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the law creates sweeping new standards of “responsible conduct” for members of the firearm industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
“The bill requires these businesses to establish and implement vague and subjective ‘reasonable controls’ over the manufacture, sale, distribution, use and marketing of firearm-related products,” NRA-ILA explained in a news item on the bill. “Further, it establishes a broad civil cause of action, allowing the Attorney General, local government attorneys, or private individuals to sue firearm businesses for injunctions, damages, and costs.”
NRA-ILA concluded: “This is a direct attack on the firearm industry and [is] designed to regulate the industry out of existence through litigation — despite longstanding federal protections.”