Warner, Kaine introduce gun violence prevention bill 19 years after Virginia Tech shooting

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced the Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act following the 19th anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting.

The legislation would enact a series of gun violence prevention measures approved by Virginia’s elected officials at a federal level.

The bill includes provisions to mandate reporting of lost and stolen firearms. It would also prevent children from accessing firearms, prohibit sales of assault weapons and ghost guns and implement a one-handgun-a-month policy.

Warner and Kaine have long supported gun safety measures, reintroducing the Assault Weapons Ban in 2025.

They also passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, which contained provisions similar to the Virginia Plan that include improved background checks and strengthening safeguards for domestic violence survivors. That bill also implements extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms for individuals who are at risk of harming themselves.