Virginia governor ceremoniously signs several gun control bills

Surrounded by Democratic lawmakers Thursday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ceremoniously signed several gun-control initiatives. 

The gun bills were approved in April and went into effect July 1. The laws include expanded background checks, red-flag laws and laws that allow localities to impose stricter gun regulations than state and federal laws. 

“Today would not have been possible without many Virginians saying, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” Northam said. “I want to thank all who advocated for commonsense gun safety laws, as well as all of the legislators who listened to them. These laws will save lives.” 

Northam called a special session on gun-control initiatives last July when the Senate and the House still were controlled by Republicans. The session did not yield any votes, and the lawmakers quickly adjourned. In November, Democrats flipped both chambers from red to blue and passed most of Northam’s initiatives.