The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus said on April 11 that Governor Abigail Spanberger signed three bills into law related to firearms, including SB 323, HB 21, and SB 27. The caucus described the measures as criminalizing gun hobbyists and self-defense firearms, and permitting lawsuits against gun manufacturers when crimes are committed with their products.
The caucus issued its statement through a post on social media that detailed the governor’s action on the legislation. The caucus responded directly to the signing of the measures that the organization described as affecting gun hobbyists along with provisions that would permit legal action against manufacturers. The statement appeared shortly after the governor completed action on the bills that originated in the General Assembly, according to a post by the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus.
Virginia reports a gun ownership rate of 44.6 percent among adults according to recent state-level estimates compiled from national surveys and household data. This figure places Virginia in the middle range among states for civilian firearm possession with hundreds of thousands of residents maintaining guns for lawful purposes including self-defense and recreation. The regional data reflect broad participation in lawful firearm activities across urban suburban and rural areas of the commonwealth, according to state-level estimates.
Federal law known as the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act provides protections for firearms manufacturers and sellers against certain civil liability actions related to the criminal misuse of their products by third parties. The Supreme Court has addressed similar liability efforts in recent rulings that limited attempts to hold manufacturers responsible for downstream criminal acts. National data show these protections help sustain the lawful firearms industry which supports jobs and Second Amendment rights for millions of Americans, according to federal legislative analysis.
The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus serves as the organized minority caucus in the Virginia Senate and advocates for policies that protect constitutional rights including those under the Second Amendment. Led by Senate Republican Leader Ryan T. McDougle and Caucus Chairman Mark Obenshain, the group represents Republican senators from districts across the commonwealth. The caucus regularly issues statements on legislation affecting Virginia families and businesses with a focus on limited government and individual liberties, according to its official website.
