Virginia Gun Sales Soar as Dems Push New Restrictions

The number of gun sales in Virginia nearly doubled last month as the Democrat-controlled state government advanced several new gun-control bills.

There were 67,699 gun purchase-related background checks in the state during January, an 84.6 percent increase over January 2019, according to an analysis of FBI data. The number of background checks continued a three-month upward trend, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). The surge in sales has coincided with a push from a newly empowered Democratic majority to pass new gun-control laws supported by Governor Ralph Northam (D).

"It's clear that Virginians are purchasing the firearms they want while they can," NSSF spokesman Mark Oliva told the Washington Free Beacon.

Pro-Second Amendment Virginians are concerned about state Democrats' efforts to tighten gun laws. Virginia Democrats have proposed banning or even confiscating popular firearms, such as the AR-15. Gun-control legislation has advanced despite months of protest from Second Amendment supporters, which culminated in a January rally at the state capital that attracted tens of thousands of gun-rights advocates.