Virginia Senate Committee Passes Ban Targeting Semiautomatic Rifles, Shotguns, and Pistols

On Monday, Virginia’s Democrat-controlled Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed legislation containing a ban targeting semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

The Virginia Mercury reported that the legislation, SB749, passed by a vote of 9-5.

The legislation aimed toward banning firearms which Democrats refer to as an “assault firearm,” and it defines said firearms in a way that includes the most popular semiautomatic rifles, as well as numerous pistols and shotguns.

For example, SB749 defines an “assault firearm” as: “A semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 10 rounds.”

Additionally, the bill uses the phrase “assault firearm” to describe any semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine that has any of the following features: “(i) a folding, telescoping, or collapsible stock;