RICHMOND, Va. – A bill to hold parents accountable if a minor uses their gun in a crime has advanced in the Virginia State Senate, moving one step closer to becoming state law.
The bill, known as SB 44 and authored by State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, aims to charge parents with a felony if their child gains access to their gun. This penalty comes into effect if the child has been deemed a potential danger to themselves or others, or if they have been charged or convicted of certain violent juvenile crimes.
Meredith Bremer, the mother of 13-year-old Lucia Bremer, who was fatally shot while walking home from school, passionately urged lawmakers to support this bill. In her emotional testimony, she highlighted the tragic and avoidable loss of her daughter due to the easily accessible firearm of another teenager.
Despite the grim circumstances presented, the bill passed without opposition, with support from several Republicans. Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League expressed some concerns with the bill’s language but indicated overall support for the notion of holding individuals accountable for negligently causing harm.
The passage of this bill represents a crucial step in addressing the need for accountability and improved gun safety. By emphasizing the tragic consequences of unsecured firearms, the advocates for this legislation seek to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Similar measures have also been proposed in the House of Delegates, demonstrating a widespread recognition of the urgent need for stricter firearm accountability laws.