Virginia Senate Committee Passes Ban Targeting Semiautomatic Rifles, Shotguns, and Pistols
by AWR Hawkins
On Monday, Virginia’s Democrat-controlled Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed legislation containing a ban targeting semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
The Virginia Mercury reported that the legislation, SB749, passed by a vote of 9-5.
The legislation aimed toward banning firearms which Democrats refer to as an “assault firearm,” and it defines said firearms in a way that includes the most popular semiautomatic rifles, as well as numerous pistols and shotguns.
For example, SB749 defines an “assault firearm” as: “A semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 10 rounds.”
Additionally, the bill uses the phrase “assault firearm” to describe any semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine that has any of the following features: “(i) a folding, telescoping, or collapsible stock; (ii) a thumbhole stock or pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the rifle; (iii) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand; (iv) a grenade launcher; or (v) a threaded barrel capable of accepting (a) a muzzle brake, (b) a muzzle compensator, (c) a sound suppressor, or (d) a flash suppressor.”
As written, the ban on such centerfire rifles would cover AR-15s, AR-10s, AK-47s, and all the rest of the most popular rifles in America.
Pistols would be included too, if they have a detachable magazine and any of the following features: “(i) a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand; (ii) the capacity to accept a magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip; (iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the pistol with the non-trigger hand without being burned; (iv) a threaded barrel capable of accepting (a) a sound suppressor, (b) a flash suppressor, (c) a barrel extender, or (d) a forward handgrip; or (v) a buffer tube, arm brace, or other part that protrudes horizontally behind the pistol grip and is designed or redesigned to allow or facilitate the firing of a firearm from the shoulder.”