Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has applied his veto pen to several gun control bills, once again nixing attempts by Democrats to penalize law-abiding citizens and open up avenues for harassment lawsuits against the firearms industry in the Old Dominion.

The Washington Post is reporting that Youngkin has rolled up “the biggest number of vetoes of any Virginia governor.”

The Associated Press described the measures as “gun reform.”

“The General Assembly is unlikely to override any of those vetoes when it convenes next week to take up the governor’s actions on measures passed during this year’s regular legislative session, which ended Feb. 22,” the WaPo reported. “Democrats have slim advantages in both the Senate and House of Delegates but aren’t likely to muster the two-thirds majorities needed to undo a veto.”

Among the vetoes Gov. Youngkin administered:

• HB1608: Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct, civil liability.

In his veto message, Youngkin explained, “This bill is identical to legislation brought to my desk last year. As I previously stated, the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) already provides a framework for addressing civil actions against firearms industry entities concerning negligent entrustment and defects. This federal law, grounded in common sense and common law principles, prevents baseless litigation that could financially devastate a lawful industry with exorbitant legal fees. Other lawful industries, such as vaccine producers, have similar protections.

“Even under Presidents Obama and Biden, the Department of Justice consistently defended the PLCAA,” he added. “The DOJ has argued against attempts by states to implement regulatory schemes as a loophole to the PLCAA, deeming them unconstitutional and lacking merit.

“The Second Amendment,” Gov. Youngkin said, “like the First Amendment, necessitates protection from abusive civil lawsuits. I am disappointed to reach the end of my last session in office without bills to increase penalties for heinous acts of gun violence. Our legal system should prioritize punishing criminals rather than targeting law-abiding manufacturers and retailers within the firearms industry.”

• HB1607: Purchase, sale, transfer, etc., of assault firearms and certain ammunition feeding devices prohibited; penalties.

“My position on this legislation has not changed since it came to my desk last year,” Youngkin said. “The Constitution precludes the Commonwealth from prohibiting a broad category of firearms widely embraced for lawful purposes, such as self-defense.

“Like all Virginians, I am profoundly troubled by the occurrences of mass shootings and crimes committed with firearms,” he stated. “The pain and sorrow inflicted by criminals with heinous intentions are truly heart-wrenching and should not be minimized for our communities, the victims, or their families.

“Virginia has some of the strictest gun laws in the country,” the governor said. “Unfortunately, the Commonwealth under previous administrations has reduced penalties for criminals, contributing to violent crime. I have yet to receive any bills enhancing penalties for crimes committed with firearms that would reverse this trend. Our most significant gap has been in our behavioral health system. This is why substantial investments in behavioral health are necessary.

“That twofold approach can provide a real solution without creating outcomes that would affect law- abiding citizens and violating Virginia’s constitutional rights,” he said in his veto statement.

• HB1797: Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states.

“Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1797, which changes how Virginia recognizes concealed-carry permits from other states,” Youngkin explained.

“Virginia’s current system of concealed handgun permit reciprocity with other states works well,” he insisted. “The Commonwealth recognizes valid concealed weapon permits issued by other states that meet certain conditions, and a sizeable majority of other states recognize Virginia’s concealed handgun permits.

“The proposed legislation, however, targets law-abiding Virginia gun owners by restricting the number of states in which permit holders can carry handguns for self-defense, potentially discouraging gun owners from visiting the Commonwealth. In addition it places additional, unnecessary burdens on the Virginia State Police.”

The WaPo story quoted Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of the Moms Demand Action gun-control group, who predictably declared, “It’s unacceptable that Governor Youngkin vetoed popular, lifesaving gun safety legislation.”

On the other hand, the Virginia Citizens Defense League sent a mass email Wednesday, praised Youngkin: “Yes! Governor Youngkin comes through for gun owners!”

In a press statement to The Outdoor Wire, the National Rifle Association, which is based in Virginia, declared, “The bills vetoed by Governor Youngkin came from the long wish list of radical gun control activists. This included attempts to restrict the Constitutional rights of 18- to 20-year-old adults, dramatically expand gun-free zones that would have left law-abiding Virginians defenseless and enact a mandatory waiting period to take possession of a legally purchased firearm. In addition, the vetoed legislation would have banned a wide range of commonly owned firearms used by Virginians to hunt, compete and for self-defense.”

Youngkin cannot run for a second consecutive term under the Virginia Constitution, which means Virginians will elect a new governor this fall.

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