Northam signs Virginia's universal background checks and red flag law after Democrats win the legislature

Governor Ralph Northam signed a package of gun safety legislation on April 10, 2020, after Democrats won majorities in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates in November 2019 for the first time in over two decades. The legislation included universal background checks for all firearm transfers, a one-handgun-per-month purchase limit, and an extreme risk protective order (red flag) law. The bills passed over fierce opposition from gun-rights advocates: more than 90 of Virginia''s 95 counties passed Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions, and approximately 22,000 gun-rights activists rallied at the state capitol on January 20, 2020. The 2020 gun package laid the political and legislative foundation for Virginia''s eventual assault firearms ban in 2026.