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Lawmakers push to raise ‘assault’ weapon age to 21 | Virginia

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-02-19 14:43:00

(The Center Square) – Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and 18 Senate colleagues introduced new legislation that would raise the minimum age limit to purchase ‘assault-style’ weapons from 18 to 21, reigniting the debate over gun laws and public safety.

The Age 21 Act is part of a broader effort to reduce gun violence by limiting access to ‘assault-style’ weapons for young buyers, bringing federal law in line with already existing restrictions on handgun purchases, which already require buyers to be at least 21 years old.

“Everyone in America should be able to live free from the fear of injury or death caused by a firearm,” said Kaine in a statement. “One of many commonsense steps we can take to reduce that risk is limiting young people’s access to assault weapons—just like we already limit their access to handguns. I’m proud to help introduce this bill to raise the legal purchasing age for assault weapons to 21, and will keep pushing for additional legislation to make our communities safer from gun violence.”

Supporters argue individuals under 21 are more likely to commit acts of gun violence, citing high-profile mass shootings and gun-related homicides. High-profile incidents in Buffalo, Uvalde and Parkland were carried out by 18-year-old shooters using legally purchased assault rifles.

“Six of the deadliest mass shootings since 2018 were committed by individuals 21 and under. The Age 21 Act could have saved lives then, and will continue to do so if passed into law,” said Alexa Browning, Policy Manager at March For Our Lives. “Firearms are still the leading cause of death for young people, yet we continue to allow access to deadly weapons while restricting substances like alcohol and tobacco. We are deeply grateful to Senator Padilla for taking decisive action in this fight to prevent further tragedies and protect our future.”

Research from Everytown for Gun Safety indicates that mass shootings involving ‘assault’ weapons result in significantly higher casualties when compared to those committed with other firearms.

Florida, California and Washington have already enacted laws raising the age limit to purchase ‘assault’ weapons to 21, though some of these restrictions have faced legal challenges. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld California’s lawsuit in 2022, but similar measures in other states remain unresolved.

Virginia lawmakers previously attempted to pass a comparable bill, House Bill 2, which proposed prohibiting anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing, possessing, or transferring ‘assault’ firearms, making violations a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, Gov. Youngkin vetoed the bill, citing concerns over penalizing lawful gun owners instead of violent criminals.

“Virginia has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth has reduced penalties for criminals, contributing to violent crime. Enhancing penalties for crimes committed with firearms will reverse this trend. Our most significant gap, however, has been in our behavioral health system, which is why substantial investments in behavioral health are necessary.”

The Firearms Policy Coalition, which is challenging similar age restrictions in court, argues that prohibiting legal adults under the age of 21 from purchasing firearms violates and sets a dangerous precedent for any future gun control measures. 

The post Lawmakers push to raise ‘assault’ weapon age to 21 | Virginia appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

News from the South - Virginia News Feed

Highs in the upper 80s Saturday, backdoor cold front will cool us down a bit on Easter Sunday

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Highs in the upper 80s Saturday, backdoor cold front will cool us down a bit on Easter Sunday

www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-04-19 06:29:35

SUMMARY: This Saturday morning brings a beautiful weekend, especially for Easter celebrations, with highs in the upper 80s. Southwest breezes, gusting to 25 miles per hour, push temperatures well above average, starting in the upper 50s to middle 60s. Expect mostly sunny skies and warm conditions, ideal for beach outings, despite chilly water temperatures. Easter Sunday will start mild, but a backdoor cold front will cause temperatures to drop in the afternoon with increasing cloud cover and potential rain. Multiple rounds of rain are forecasted for the upcoming week, with temperatures returning to seasonal averages by the latter part of the week.

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Despite a front dropping through the area Sunday, it will be a nice weekend in Hampton Roads.

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Trust dispute flares in Virginia governor’s race | Virginia

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Virginia's race for governor will be historic first for women | Virginia

www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 11:38:00

(The Center Square) – Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earles-Sears accuses her Democratic opponent for governor, Abigail Spanberger of hiding a trust; Spanberger says it only holds her home—and ethics experts say she may not have needed to report it.

The Dispute centers on a home Spanberger and her husband placed in a trust in 2017, which her campaign says produced no income and was legally exempt from disclosure.

With both women vying to become Virginia’s first female governor, the accusation has quickly turned into a fight over ethics, transparency and what voters expect from their candidates.

“Members of Congress do not need to report assets from a non-income producing trust where they are an administrator that does not receive income or have any beneficial interest in the trust,” said Delaney Marsco, ethics director at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center.

“Personal residences that do not earn income are not required to be disclosed,” a campaign spokesperson said, “so Abigail did not disclose her family’s only home—as doing so would make their home address publicly available.”

They added that when the home was placed in a trust, “Abigail filed her disclosures in accordance with House ethics rules, which do not require her to disclose her role as a trustee of a living trust holding only her family’s home.”

Earle-Sears has publicly slammed Spanberger on social media, accusing her of “dodging tough questions” and “hiding a $900,000 trust fund.”

“She’s a typical politician,” Earle-Sears wrote in a post on X, questioning whether Virginians can trust Spanberger if she’s “willing to lie about this.”

The Earle-Sears campaign did not respond to a request for comment beyond public posts.

The accusation signals an early campaign strategy from Earle-Sears, who has so far leaned into sharp, combative messaging to define Spanberger as the race for the governor’s mansion heats up.

Under House ethics rules, members of Congress are not required to disclose personal residences or non-income-producing assets held in a trust as long as they receive no financial benefit. They must report liabilities such as mortgages and disclose trustee roles only if the position involves an organization or generates income.

Virginia requires statewide candidates to file a Statement of Economic Interests, but similar to federal rules, personal residences are typically exempt if they don’t produce income. The state form focuses on business ties, investments and income sources—leaving out non-commercial trusts like the one Spanberger’s team says holds her home. 

The post Trust dispute flares in Virginia governor’s race | Virginia appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

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Warm, sunny Friday

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Warm, sunny Friday

www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-04-18 06:11:37

SUMMARY: The weather forecast for the upcoming days shows temperatures above average, with highs reaching 79°F today and possibly 86°F tomorrow. Sunday will remain warm with temperatures in the upper 70s, but a backdoor front may cause a slight afternoon cool down. Easter Sunday will see dry conditions in the morning but potential severe storms in the Midwest. Monday will be mild, but showers and storms are expected Tuesday through Thursday. By Friday, conditions should improve, with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s as the week ends. Skies will be mostly clear today, with light winds from the south.

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Highs in the 70s and 80s for Easter weekend.

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