One of the many gun control bills that won approval of the Virginia General Assembly this session is a measure that would make it a Class 4 misdemeanor to knowingly leave a handgun unsecured and unattended in a vehicle parked in public. This is the same bill that Democrat lawmakers tried to change so that included a carveout for legislators who parked at the state capitol building; an amendment that was only removed after the Democrat-controlled House approved it and Republican senators publicly rebuked them for their hypocrisy.
The legislative carveout is gone, but the bill itself is sitting on Gov. Abigail Spanberber’s desk awaiting her signature, and Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards can’t wait to see it become law.
“It’s a very modest request to ask people to secure their weapons properly,” Edwards said.
No, this is not a “request.” It’s a law punishable by a $250 fine. Granted, no jail time is attached to the bill, but it still creates a new criminal offense that could easily trip up gun owners who make a mistake.
The ostensible purpose of the bill is to curb the number of firearms that are stolen from vehicles. While that’s a goal I think most gun owners can get behind, this isn’t the right strategy.
“All these bills are squarely targeted at law-abiding citizens,” NRA spokesperson Justin Davis said. “Instead of attacking folks who are criminals who are stealing the firearms, they’re putting new layers of regulations and legislation on folks who are simply trying to protect their families.”
Davis, who lives in Virginia, said the NRA does not advise gun owners to leave handguns unsecured in vehicles. However, he argued the focus should be on education rather than legislation.
I think that’s a much better idea. Launch a public safety campaign reminding people of the risks of leaving an unsecured gun visible in a parked car, offer tax credits or rebates for gun safes designed for use in motor vehicles, and most importantly, prosecute gun thieves to the fullest extent of the law.
Theft of a gun is already a felony-level crime in the Old Dominion, and if Edwards really wants to see fewer guns stolen from vehicles he should make arresting these thieves a top priority. Commonwealth Attorneys, including the CA in Richmond, should declare that these crimes will no longer be eligible for plea bargains, and they will seek the maximum sentence allowed by law of 20 years for each and every offender.
It is a fruitless exercise to try to reduce the supply of firearms that might potentially be available to those willing to break the law in order to acquire one. Reducing the demand for those guns by strictly enforcing the punishments for stealing a gun and possessing a stolen firearm, on the other hand, is not only possible but actually serves the interests of justice.
I have no doubt, though, that Spanberger will gladly sign this bill into law. Anything that can be used to punish gun owners is a good thing in the eyes of Virginia Democrats, including the governor. Gun control advocates, including Richmond’s police chief, will applaud her putting pen to paper and creating a brand new crime that applies only to those exercising their right to keep and bear arms.
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