Press Releases

Congressman Don Beyer thanked Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe for signing an executive order to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals by better enforcing pre-existing Virginia laws. 

“We must keep families in our Commonwealth and the nation safe from gun violence,” said Rep. Beyer. “This Executive Order will support our Attorney General and our law enforcement personnel as they take real, tangible steps toward curbing unnecessary gun violence. Common sense actions like this one – or those outlined in my Keeping Guns from Criminals Act – are supported by a majority of Americans, and yet Congress does nothing. I thank Governor McAuliffe for his work, and will continue to work in Congress to make sure no Virginian lives in fear of being the victim of another tragic shooting.”

In June Rep. Beyer introduced the Keeping Guns from Criminals Act to close a loophole in federal law that allows straw purchasers and gun traffickers to funnel firearms to felons, juveniles, and other restricted purchasers with little to no risk of being prosecuted. The Act would streamline law enforcement efforts to ensure safe firearms transfers between lawful owners and make it easier to prosecute private sellers who make irresponsible sales by requiring them to prove that the purchase was approved by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) or that the purchaser held a concealed weapons permit in the state of transfer. 

NICS background checks are available through most Federal Firearm Licensees (FFL) for a nominal fee of around $30. According the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, there are nearly 130,000 FFLs nationwide.

Learn more about the Governor’s Executive Action here.

Learn more about the Keeping Guns for Criminals Act here.