Virginia governor signs background checks, 'red flag' and other gun control bills into law

The slate of bills prompted a large gun-rights rally in January, with about 22,000 gathering in protest at Virginia's state capitol. The legislation has also fueled a pro-gun movement across the state known as "Second Amendment sanctuaries," or localities that vow not to enforce what some officials in those regions have called "unconstitutional" gun laws.

The gun measures had been a priority for Northam since he first introduced them in the 2019 legislative session -- and he made them an even more urgent priority in the wake of mass shooting at a Virginia Beach municipal building last year that left 12 people dead.

Northam called for a special session at that time to debate gun control, but it was adjourned by Republican lawmakers without action after just 90 minutes.

Northam reintroduced the legislative package in January, when his party began its control of both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.

On Friday, Northam signed an "extreme risk protective order," also known as a "red flag" law, which allows for the temporary removal of firearms from people deemed to be at high risk of harming themselves or others. Virginia now joins the 19 other states and Washington, DC, in having passed some type of "red flag" law, Northam's statement said.

The governor also signed a bill requiring background checks for all state gun sales and a bill that limits the purchase of handguns to one a month.

He also signed a bill that requires a person to report the loss or theft of a firearm within 48 hours, or face a civil penalty of up to $250 and one that raises the punishment for leaving a "loaded, unsecured firearm" that endangers anyone under the age of 14.

"We lose too many Virginians to gun violence, and it is past time we took bold, meaningful action to make our communities safer," Northam said in a statement Friday. "I was proud to work with legislators and advocates on these measures, and I am proud to sign them into law. These commonsense laws will save lives."

The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun group, had previously told CNN that it would challenge the measures in court if they were passed into law. CNN has reached out to the league for comment.

Not all of the bills the governor supported made it to his desk this year. An assault weapons ban died in a Senate committee in February. Northam has promised to revisit the issue next year.

The governor also sent two bills back to the legislature to be amended. For a bill that allows localities to regulate firearms in public places, Northam proposed an exemption for higher education institutions.

The other bill requires individuals under protective orders to turn over their firearms within 24 hours and prove that they've done so. Northam recommended allowing judges to hold individuals in contempt of court if they don't comply.

State lawmakers will consider those changes on April 22, however, due to coronavirus concerns and the social distancing guidelines, they reportedly won't be convening at the state capitol building.

Northam's action comes as gun sellers across the United States are reporting major spikes in firearm and bullet purchases amid the coronavirus pandemic.