Shocker: Virginia Gun Control Bill Defeated in Committee

February 11, 2026
2:26 pm

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In a rare win for sanity in the gun control arena, a Virginia House committee just slammed the door on HB 39, a bill that would have slapped a whopping $500 tax on every suppressor sale. That's right—lawmakers in the Democrat-controlled chamber rejected this blatant cash grab, which was peddled as a safety measure but screamed revenue scheme from a mile away. Credit goes to grassroots firepower from the Virginia Citizens Defense League and suppressor advocates like Knox Williams of the American Suppressor Association, who joined Cam Edwards on the Cam & Company podcast to break it down. Williams highlighted how the bill ignored the FACTA data showing suppressors reduce hearing damage without boosting crime, turning what could have been a stealthy Second Amendment assault into a public flop. This defeat isn't just a Virginia victory; it's a blueprint for 2A warriors nationwide. Suppressors—legal in 42 states and federally regulated under the NFA since 1934—aren't silencers from spy movies; they're hearing protection devices that lower decibels by 20-35, backed by studies from the American Suppressor Association and CDC noise exposure research. Virginia's bill echoed failed tactics from places like Illinois, where similar taxes fund bureaucracy rather than safety. By killing it 12-9 in subcommittee, the Old Dominion sent a message: even blue-leaning committees balk at punishing lawful owners amid rising ATF overreach. Implications? Momentum for suppressor reform via the Hearing Protection Act or SHORT Act, especially as oral arguments hit the Third Circuit today challenging New Jersey's draconian bans—watch for ripple effects that could normalize cans coast-to-coast. For the 2A community, this is rocket fuel. It proves organized pushback—petitions, calls, and expert testimony—trumps emotional appeals. As Williams noted, the bill's sponsor couldn't defend its $500 price tag against real-world data, exposing the hypocrisy of common-sense regs that price out hunters, sport shooters, and vets. Stay vigilant: more assaults loom in 2025 sessions, but victories like this erode the incrementalist playbook. Gear up, get loud (quietly), and keep fighting—because when the people lead, the politicians follow.

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This defeat isn’t just a Virginia victory; it’s a blueprint for 2A warriors nationwide. Suppressors—legal in 42 states and federally regulated under the NFA since 1934—aren’t silencers from spy movies; they’re hearing protection devices that lower decibels by 20-35, backed by studies from the American Suppressor Association and CDC noise exposure research. Virginia’s bill echoed failed tactics from places like Illinois, where similar taxes fund bureaucracy rather than safety. By killing it 12-9 in subcommittee, the Old Dominion sent a message: even blue-leaning committees balk at punishing lawful owners amid rising ATF overreach. Implications? Momentum for suppressor reform via the Hearing Protection Act or SHORT Act, especially as oral arguments hit the Third Circuit today challenging New Jersey’s draconian bans—watch for ripple effects that could normalize cans coast-to-coast.

For the 2A community, this is rocket fuel. It proves organized pushback—petitions, calls, and expert testimony—trumps emotional appeals. As Williams noted, the bill’s sponsor couldn’t defend its $500 price tag against real-world data, exposing the hypocrisy of common-sense regs that price out hunters, sport shooters, and vets. Stay vigilant: more assaults loom in 2025 sessions, but victories like this erode the incrementalist playbook. Gear up, get loud (quietly), and keep fighting—because when the people lead, the politicians follow.

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