Brady Campaign Condemns the Youngkin-Sears Administration’s Vetoes of Life-Saving Gun Safety Bills

The Governor vetoed 15 bills that would have protected Virginians from preventable gun violence

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 25, 2025 – Today, the Youngkin-Sears Administration vetoed several critical gun violence prevention bills passed by the General Assembly, including measures that would have banned assault weapons, ensure the secure storage of firearms for households with minors, and hold gun dealers accountable for dangerous and negligent practices. Brady, the nation's leading gun violence prevention organization, condemned these vetoes, which will have deadly consequences for Virginians and their families. 

Brady President Kris Brown issued the following statement:

“As a proud Virginian and a parent, these vetoes are a slap in the face to me and all families who want safer schools and communities for our children. The Youngkin-Sears Administration ran on a promise to ‘keep our communities safe,’ but they are refusing to sign legislation that would require the secure storage of firearms in family households and simply hold the gun industry to the same levels of accountability we do for all other commercial industries. 

Governor Youngkin, Lt. Gov Sears, and their allies should be ashamed. But we Virginians are not without recourse. As my hero and fellow Virginian Sarah Brady famously said, ‘If the lawmakers won't change the laws, then come November, we must change the lawmakers.’ 

Virginians deserve new leadership that will stand up against the gun lobby and embrace common-sense, bipartisan measures to save lives — just as the legislature has done this session. We look forward to electing a new Governor this November who will keep Virginia communities and families safe from the crisis of gun violence.” 

Bills that Youngkin-Sears vetoed notably include:

• Victims’ Access to Justice & Industry Accountability (HB 1608/SB 1450): Would have created standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members, creating a path for gun industry members to be held accountable through civil action for dangerous, unlawful, negligent, and unsafe business practices that impact Virginians.
• Establishing the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention (HB 1736): Would have created a Center to focus on research and data collection regarding firearm violence, work collaboratively with different state Departments to enhance programs and strategies designed to address firearm violence (including suicide and domestic violence prevention), establish training standards for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs, and generally serve as the clearinghouse for all CVI-related initiatives in the state, with the goal of reducing gun violence.
• Assault Weapons Ban (SB 1181 / HB 1607): Would have banned the sale of assault weapons that make already deadly shootings that much more lethal. These firearms are designed to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time – they are weapons of war, and do not belong on our streets or in our communities.
• Secure Storage (SB 1134): Would have required the secure storage of firearms unloaded in a locked container in a residence where a minor is present. Each day, 8 children and teens are unintentionally injured or killed by an improperly stored firearm in the home, and 4.6 million children live in a home with an unlocked, loaded firearm.