Moderate Democrats joined Republicans on a Senate committee Monday in rejecting legislation that would have prohibited the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms, including popular AR-15 style rifles, and banned the possession of magazines that hold more than 12 rounds.
Democrats ran heavily on gun control during last year’s legislative elections when they flipped control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades, AP reported.
The bill was a top priority for Northam, a Democrat who has campaigned heavily for a broad package of gun-control measures.
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have already advanced other gun-control measures, according to AP.
Those bills include:
- limiting handgun purchases to once a month
- universal background checks on gun purchases
- allowing localities to ban guns in public buildings, parks and other areas
- a red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others
Source: Virginia lawmakers reject assault weapon ban | 13 WTHR Indianapolis
