Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation banning the sale and manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms, prompting immediate lawsuits from gun-rights groups.

The limits on “ assault firearms,” as they are described by the legislation, are among two dozen new restrictions and regulations on guns enacted by the Democratic governor in her first few months in office. That marks a sharp policy reversal from her Republican predecessor, who had vetoed many similar measures.

“Firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement Friday. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”

The new gun restrictions move Virginia closer to the likes of California, Illinois and New York, which similarly have full Democratic control of their legislatures and governors’ offices. They also highlight a continued national divide on gun policy, as various Republican-led states have taken steps to relax firearm restrictions that they describe as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.

  • SupraMario@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Why…just why?..Dems are just asking to lose midterms. Stop fucking with gun control shit and focus on the goddamn fascist in power.

    Spend your political capital on shit that’ll actually make a difference in not just gun but our overall violence numbers.

    Raise the minimum wage

    Increase education funding

    Hire and pay teachers more

    Stop techbros from planting DCs everywhere and firing their workers.

    End the for profit prison systems

    Get single payer healthcare passed

    Kick ICE the fuck out of your state

    End the war on drugs, which targets minorities the most

    Enshrine abortion rights into law

    Create proper safety nets for our most vulnerable citizens

    Strengthen worker protection rights(unions)

    Repeal anti-lgbtq+ laws

    There is sooo much they could focus on that would solve our violence in general, but they go for this shit which just pushes away single issue voters and has others scratching their heads wondering wtf they’re doing.