VCDL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Lobby Day 2027 is Monday, January 18!

2026

• Secured a preliminary injunction in Crump v. Katz, blocking enforcement of key provisions of Virginia’s newly enacted “assault firearm” and magazine restrictions while VCDL and its partners continue their constitutional challenge. 
• Continued defending the 2025 victory against Virginia’s Universal Background Check law as the Commonwealth sought to revive enforcement. 
  

2025

• VCDL and GOA filed a lawsuit against Virginia over unconstitutional gun bans in rest areas and ABC stores, both of which are controlled by the Commonwealth
• 12 gun-rights bills were introduced on VCDL's behalf, including "permitless carry"
• VCDL's members send thousands of emails to Governor Youngkin to veto the 25 gun-control bills on his desk. He vetoed 24 and neutered the 25th
  

2024

• VCDL, GOA, and several states joined forces and successfully sued the ATF over their modified "engaged in the business" regulation. VCDL members are exempt from this regulation until a final determination is made in the lawsuit
• In the General Assembly, VCDL had 10 strong pro-gun bills introduced on its behalf and fought to stop 40 gun-control bills
• VCDL distributed 10,000 postcards and send over 9,000 emails to Governor Youngkin urging him to veto the 38 gun-control bills on his desk, which he did
• VCDL is part of a lawsuit against BATFE's new "engaged in the business" regulation. In June, a Texas court issued a preliminary injunction against BATFE enforcing that regulation against VCDL members and others who were part of the lawsuit until a final ruling on the lawsuit is done
• VCDL sued the City of Winchester over a ban in government-owned parking garages, as "non-sensitive" place. In June, the City told the courts it would not be enforcing that ordinance until after the case is finally heard and ruled on in October. The City also removed the "no guns" signs in its garages
• VCDL sued the City of Roanoke over their park and permitted event bans. The City has since removed language from its ordinance prohibiting guns at permitted events. The date for the court to issue a ruling has not yet been set.
• VCDL supported an improvement to Isle of Wight shooting ordinance to reduce the allowable distance from a building from 1,000 feet to 300 feet. The new ordinance also allows for less than 300 feet with permission from the building owner
• VCDL formed the CHP Fee committee to work on reducing the fee for CHPs across the Commonwealth
  

2023

• VCDL successfully stopped all 32 gun-control bills in the General Assembly
• Bill put in for VCDL to allow concealed carry of switchblade knives passed into law
  

2022

• VCDL successfully stopped all 10 gun-control bills in the General Assembly
• VCDL was instrumental in getting the legalization of switchblade knives passed into law
• City of WInchester repeals their park and permitted event gun-bans due to legal pressure from VCDL
  

2021

• VCDL had a rolling gun-rights rally through Richmond with over one-thousand vehicles participating
• VCDL continued to fight localities that created local gun-control ordinances
• VCDL sued the City of Winchester over their local gun-control ordinance
  

2020

• VCDL had the largest gun-rally in the United States on Lobby Day, January 20, with over 50,000 attendees
• With anti-gun Democrats in control of the House and Senate, as well as having an anti-gun Democrat Lt. Governor and Governor, some gun control passed, but it was greatly watered down. An attempt to pass a ban on semi-automatic rifles, magazines that would hold more than 10 rounds, and suppressors was crushed
• VCDL was awarded the prestigious "Grassroots Organization of the Year" at the Gun Rights Policy Conference
• Held a protest rally against Alexandria implementing local gun-control per a new law which became effective in July
• Fought against other localities (Alexandria, Fairfax County, Fairfax City, Arlington, Falls Church, and more) which were moving to implement local gun-control
• Sued the Commonwealth over a new Universal Background Check law that would prohibit those from 18 to 20 years old from being able to purchase a handgun from a private seller. The Court issued a stay on that part of the new law, effective until December of 2021. VCDL continued to move forward in the courts to make the stay permanent
• Sued the Commonwealth to get a stay on the new One Handgun a Month law. The Court declined to do so for lack of standing
• Sued the Commonwealth to allow indoor ranges to open during COVID-19 lockdowns. Safeside Tactical in Lynchburg, where VCDL filed the case, was granted a stay against the lockdown. A partial victory. Shortly thereafter indoor ranges in general were allowed to reopen
• VCDL got 40 localities to pass a resolution against implementing any local gun-control
• Joined Gun Owners of America in lawsuit against the federal government's bump-stock ban
  

2019

• Helped with passage of 4 pro-gun bills out of the General Assembly, with 3 of them being signed into law: private/religious schools allowed to have armed security officers; persons with their gun-rights restored have that information placed into a police database so police are aware of the restoration 24/7; and military personnel who are domiciled in Virginia, but stationed outside Virginia, can apply for a resident CHP with the Clerk where they are domiciled
• Successfully stopped all 39 gun-control bills
• Successfully stopped proposed shooting and hunting restrictions in Loudoun County
• Stopped an attempted gun ban at the annual Steppin’ Out event
  

2018

• Successfully stopped all 75 gun-control bills
• Successfully stopped a ban on shooting in Thunderbird Farms
• Worked with Arlington County to speed up issuance of CHPs
• Fixed an issue with Greene County not issuing CHPs in the required 45 days
• Worked with Page County Circuit Court Clerk to drop extra $2 fee for CHPs
• Sponsored a protest at the Falls Church library to bring attention to some deceptive wording on guns in their policies
  

2017

• Helped with passage of 16 pro-gun bills out of the General Assembly, with 5 of them being signed into law: email notice when it is time to renew a CHP, allowance for plastic CHP cards, removal of proof of address requirement when changing address on a CHP, fix gun-rights restoration issue for someone who lives out-of-state, and allow the arming of school security officers in public schools
• Successfully stopped all 34 gun-control bills
• Worked with the Roanoke Valley Metro to reverse unlawful “no guns” policy
• Helped resolve an issue with the Henrico Circuit Court Clerk dealing with extra-legal requirements for a CHP
• Worked with the Town of Woodstock and Harrisonburg to fix unlawful restrictions on air guns
• Successfully had an unlawful ordinance removed from the books in York County
• Worked with the Town of Kilmarnock and Arlington County to remove unlawful restriction on firearms in their parks
• Worked with Franklin, Botetourt, and Roanoke Counties to remove the unlawful prohibition on the carry of firearms in parades and demonstrations
  

2016

• Instrumental in getting an enhanced reciprocity/recognition bill passed into law that honors the permits of all other states. The new law will also expand the number of states that honor Virginia permits
• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to remove 1) the second ID requirement when purchasing firearms and 2) the proof of citizenship requirement when purchasing "assault firearms"
• Created a huge media storm when it brought to the public's attention Katie Couric's and Stephanie Soetchig's intentional misrepresentation of the answers that nine VCDL members provided during the filming of "Under the Gun"
• Blocked gun-control organizations from getting recognition by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
• Successfully lobbied to kill all anti-gun bills in the General Assembly
• Worked with the Supreme Court to fix a bug in their CHP software that gave the wrong effective date for CHPs that were renewed at least 90 days before expiration of the old permit
  

2015

• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to pass a bill to provide protections to someone who inadvertently carries on K-12 school property
• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to kill all anti-gun bills
• Convinced Newport News City Council to drop a legislative request for a permit to possess a firearm
• Convinced the City of Hopewell to drop a legislative request to basically gut the firearm preemption law
  

2014

• Compelled Alexandria to remove the "No gun" sign from the doors of their police department
• Compelled Alexandria to update and redistribute a flyer which had incorrectly described Virginia's gun laws
• Filed an injunction against Fredericksburg for an illegal gun "buy up." It failed because the court said VCDL didn't have standing to bring the suit
• Under pressure from VCDL, Roanoke County backed away from establishing shooting restrictions
• Convinced Virginia Beach to drop a proposal that would make a criminal of a gun owner who doesn't report a stolen gun quickly enough
• Protested Stafford County Sheriff Jett's attempt to keep VCDL from having a booth at a National Night Out event
• Helped stop the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors from enacting hunting and shooting restrictions
• Compelled Roanoke City to remove two illegal "no guns" signs
• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to kill all anti-gun bills
• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to pass a bill clarifying existing law that a concealed handgun permit is not needed when transporting a loaded handgun in a closed glove box, console or other close compartment of container. The bill was vetoed by Governor McAuliffe
• Helped get Sussex County to repeal part of a noise ordinance which dealt with hunting and shooting
• Helped get Dinwiddie County to drop idea of new shooting restrictions
• Brunswick County changes concealed handgun permit processing procedures to comply with Virginia law after discussions with VCDL
  

2013

• Helped defeat a proposed BATFE rule that would make it harder to get NFA items
• Helped defeat restrictions on hunt clubs in Amherst county
• Successfully lobbied the Gretna Town Council to approve a new shooting range
• Supported a proposal at a Bedford County Board of Supervisors meeting that would allow school teachers to be armed
• Supported the Lafayette Gun Club's request to be able to make changes to their buildings at a York County Board of Supervisors meeting
• Stopped a gun "buy up" by Petersburg PD that would have been illegal as it would have destroyed the guns it took in
• Compelled the Orange County Circuit Court Clerk to issue concealed handgun permits within the legal time frame
• Protested Michael Bloomberg's "Tyranny Tour" stop in Blacksburg
• Compelled Botetourt County to stop illegally photographing concealed handgun permit applicants
• Got a Writ of Mandamus issued against the Petersburg City Court Clerk and forced her to follow the law by 1) issuing concealed handgun permits through the mail and 2) only charging $50
• Held a "Bloomberg Magazine Giveaway," where some 30-round magazines were given away at a VCDL membership meeting
• Supported Sheriff Deeds, who had a pro-Second Amendment statement removed from the County's web site, at a James City County Board of Supervisors meeting
• Successfully lobbied the General Assembly to pass seven pro-gun bills, the most important of which locked away concealed handgun permit holder information from the public. All anti-gun bills were killed
• Successfully lobbied the Craig County Board of Supervisors to not limit the hours of the Potts Mountain shooting range
• Held protests at several Auto-Zone stores after they fired an employee who stopped and armed robbery and saved his boss's life
  

2012

• Bills introduced on VCDL's behalf were passed & signed into law:
• Repeal the local fingerprint requirement for CHP applicants
• Prevent localities from banning firearms in personal vehicles while at work
• Prevent localities from requiring extraneous info on CHP applications
• Instrumental in getting bills passed & signed into law that
• Prevent gun bans during states of emergency
• Repealed Virginia's One Handgun a Month rationing scheme
• Allow a CHP to be used as ID for elections
• Held picnic in Pocahontas State Park celebrating the legalization of open carry in state parks
• Held protest at Richmond central library over badly worded rule that would discourage the otherwise lawful carry of handguns there
• Compelled Chesterfield County to take action on a poorly worded ordinance that caused police to erroneously believe that loaded handguns were not allowed in Chesterfield parks
• Spoke at a Crime Commission Hearing in favor of rewriting the concealed carry law to make it more understandable
  

2011

• Bills introduced on VCDL's behalf were passed & signed into law to improve the issuance of new/renewal/replacement CHPs
• Instrumental in getting bill passed & signed into law that makes discharge of air guns on private property legal in all localities as long as reasonable care is taken to keep the projectile on the property
• Conducted "Operation Campus Safety" campaign to promote student & faculty right to self defense on state colleges & universities at
• George Mason University (GMU)
• James Madison University (JMU)
• Old Dominion Universit (ODU)
• Radford University
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
• Virginia Tech (VT)
• Spoke at Freedom of Information Act Council meeting in Richmond in favor of protecting CHP holder information from dissemination
• Successfully fought off attempts by the Sussex Planning Commission to severely restrict ranges in Sussex County.
• Hosted a series of VCDL public meeting where various law enforcement agencies discussed how they handle "man with a gun" calls
• Supported shooting range projects in
• Fluvanna County
• Bedford County
• Protested Richmond Mayor's press conference supporting New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's gun-control agenda
• Martinsville's gun ban inside their government center
  

2010

• Bills introduced on VCDL's behalf were passed & signed into law:
• Repeal the restaurant ban
• Allows a CHP renewal to be done through the mail
• Instrumental in getting bill passed & signed into law that did not require a CHP to place a loaded handgun in a closed container or compartment in a motor vehicle or vessel
  

2009

• A bill introduced on VCDL's behalf was passed & signed into law that
• allows localities to be sued for having invalid, preempted ordinances on their books and
• allows for the recovery of legal fees upon prevailing
• The bill introduced on VCDL’s behalf to repeal the restaurant ban passed the House and Senate, only to be VETOED by the Governor for the 2nd time.
• A bill introduced on VCDL's behalf was passed & signed into law securing individual CHP holder data from disclosure by the Virginia State Police after several instances of newspapers publishing lists of CHP holders.
  

2008

• The bill introduced on VCDL’s behalf to repeal the restaurant ban passed the House and Senate, only to be VETOED by the Governor.
• A bill introduced on VCDL's behalf was passed & signed into law that allows CHP renewals to be done up to 180 days before expiration and if initiated between 90 and 180 days before expiration, the new permit will become effective on the same day as the old one expires
  

2007

• Compelled the Roanoke Times to remove CHP database from their website
• Organized the first “Bloomberg Gun GiveAway” drawing
  

2006

• Instrumental in getting bill passed & signed into law to eliminate the requirement for fingerprinting of CHP applicants for renewals
• Established the Gun Dealer Legal Defense Fund to aid Virginia gun dealers fighting NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s lawsuits
• A bill introduced and signed into law that prevents the Governor from suspending the right to keep and bear arms in the event of an emergency
  

2005

• A bill introduced on VCDL's behalf was passed & signed into law that allows concealed carry in a vehicle on K-12 school property
• Instrumental in getting a bill passed & signed into law that removed the presumption that if someone was carrying a firearm on Sunday in an area where a person could hunt, that the person was hunting
  

2004

• A bill introduced on VCDL's behalf was passed & signed into law giving full preemption protections to all gun owners in Virginia
• Got hunting regulations changed to allow concealed carry of handguns for self-defense while hunting
  

2003

• Worked with Henrico Board of Supervisors to get permit holders exempted from the gun ban in Henrico parks
• Played a key roll in getting preemption laws strengthened so that permit holders were totally protected from grand fathered ordinances while carrying or possessing a firearm
  

2002

• Worked with Roanoke and Salem Civic Centers to remove gun ban wording from signs
• Instrumental in getting the Governor to allow Concealed Carry in State Parks
• Compelled Arlington to drop its gun ban in City buildings
• Got a strengthened preemption bill signed into law
• Compelled the City of Richmond to remove illegal signs banning guns from City Hall Building
• Compelled the cities of Richmond, Hampton, and Williamsburg and counties of Isle of Wight and Franklin to remove illegal signs banning guns in parks and libraries
  

2001

• Stopped an illegal Gun Ban in Henrico County buildings
• Derailed "Operation Scarlet Letter" in Bath County -- the sheriff's scheme to have vehicles display a sticker indicating that the driver had a concealed handgun permit
  

1999

• VCDL originated technical & procedural improvements were made to the Concealed Carry Law
  

1998

• Worked with legislators to get three pro-gun bills introduced. One, the bill to completely repeal the ban on carrying concealed in restaurants, passed the Virginia Senate, before dying in an anti-gun House committee
• Compelled the Prince William County Police to revise its Gun Safety Brochure
• Stopped a proposed City Gun Ban in Harrisonburg
  

1997

• Defeated Fairfax County's illegal County Facility Gun Ban regulation in Court
• Derailed mandatory statewide FBI fingerprint registration of all CHP applicants
  

1996

• Pressured Lowe's stores to allow Concealed Carry on premises
• Forced Fairfax County Police to revamp their "Firearms Safety Presentation" to remove anti-gun propaganda
• Distributed JPFO's "Gun Control Kills Kids!" literature at the anti-gun Stand For Children Rally in Washington, DC
  

1995

• Forced Fairfax County to comply with the Virginia CHP law by eliminating:
• Personal history form
• Police interrogation of applicant
• Excessive fees
• Instrumental in getting Virginia's concealed carry law changed from "may issue" to "shall issue," swelling the number of permit holders from a few thousand in 1994 to nearly 250,000 as of mid 2010 and over 750,000 by 2024!
• Engineered a change in Fairfax County's hunting restrictions to exempt persons lawfully carrying firearms for personal safety