There was a time in Virginia not so long ago that allowed for the private transaction of firearms within the commonwealth between private parties without a background check. This, however, changed under Governor Ralph Northam’s administration when Virginia Bill SB70 was enacted on April 10th, 2020.

   I am calling on you, Governor Glenn Youngkin, for the reversal of this unconstitutional law. 

   Before I get into why this law should be reversed, I would like to say a few words. I had the pleasure to personally ask you (Governor Glenn Youngkin) a question during your time campaigning. This question was asked over a Zoom call set up by a student run organization at George Mason University. The host of this student run organization was grateful enough to take my question first as my phone’s battery was on 1%. The question went as followed, “Do you like guns”. Given the circumstances of my situation, I did not have the pleasure to ask a question of depth, but you had responded with “I like guns”. 

   A vague answer for a vague question, this is understandable. What I fail to understand is your lack of action for the people of this commonwealth. I have yet to see any meaningful piece of legislation come out of your office to restore the rights of the people. 

   You have completely failed as a governor in my eyes as well as many others, and yet, there is still time for this to change.

   The Supreme Courts ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen states, when a law affects second amendment rights, the courts must look to the history and tradition of firearms regulation in the United States to determine whether the law is constitutional. Virginia Bill SB70, as well as many others within our commonwealth, fails to meet this test. There is currently no federal law requiring background checks on the private sale of firearms within the US, nor has there ever been. It is under this test SB70 fails miserably. 

   I am calling on you to do the right thing and use your powers under Section V 6(b)(3)(iii) of Virginia Constitution to recommended a change in SB70 given Bruen’s new test. It is only through legislative active when I will start to believe in your previous statement, “I like guns”.

   I am a nobody, but even a nobody is part of the people and the people are tired of having their rights stripped away. 

   I would like to end with a quote from Dr. Suzanna Gratia Hupp, “How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual… as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of.”