SB 447 is one of the first gun control measures that has received a full vote in either chamber this year. It is a bill that was submitted in an attempt to stop guns from being stolen from vehicles. That bill was passed in the Senate because 21 Democrats voted to pass it while all 19 Republicans in the Senate voted against the bill, according to Virginia Mercury.
It still needs to pass the House of Delegates and is likely to be at risk of being vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin after the session ends.
Reaction to SB 447
Senator Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, said the fundamental problem is thieves breaking into cars to begin with. He argued that they could steal money or anything else of value left in a car and use the proceeds to buy a gun.
Senator Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, argued the bill would have no impact because he doesn’t think many gun owners are so careless as to leave a handgun in plain sight for thieves to steal. He suggested Virginia should instead focus on different kinds of incentives for safe storage, such as the bill that passed in 2023 that created a $300 tax credit to help Virginians buy gun safes and lock boxes.