GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 175, prohibiting the carrying of assault firearms in public areas.

Current law already prohibits brandishing a firearm in a manner that reasonably induces fear in another person or holding a firearm in a public place that creates a reasonable fear of violence.

The proposed legislation prohibits carrying a broad category of commonly used firearms in various public spaces, including streets, roads, sidewalks, parks, and other public areas. Such a prohibition is unconstitutional as it attempts to restrict widely embraced firearms used for lawful purposes like self-defense.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.