According to Virginia Mercury, both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate have passed a bill requiring school boards to notify gun-owning parents annually of their responsibility to safely store firearms to keep them away from their children.
The passing of Bill 225
On January 31, 2024, the House passed the legislation 54-45, with some Republicans joining Democrats in advancing the bill.
On February 6, 2024, Senate Bill 225 passed with a vote of 23-16 after three readings.
Now the bill is on track to reach Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk, whose spokesman Christian Martinez said the governor will review any legislation that is sent to him.
The bill’s patron Senator Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, said:
“Unsecured firearms present a grave threat to both children and those around them. This bill is not meant to restrict or prevent a family’s ability to defend themselves through lawful gun ownership. It simply empowers parents with the knowledge they need to safely secure firearms in the home and encourage safety conversations with their children.”