Assembly passes bill to charge parents who allow dangerous children to have guns

In 2021, 13-year-old Lucia Bremer of Henrico County was shot and killed by a 14-year-old with his legal guardian’s gun. Her parents have been advocating for legislation to prevent a death like Lucia’s from happening again.

Their efforts are becoming a reality.

The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill, SB 44, on Feb. 21 that would create a class 5 felony penalty of child neglect for adults who allow a child to possess a firearm after being notified that the child poses a threat of violence.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, who said he and his office have been working with the Bremer family throughout the process.

“They and our office are both very hopeful that the governor will sign it, because we think that this closes essentially a loophole that’s in the law right now where there’s nothing to hold these folks accountable when they allow a potentially dangerous minor to have access to a weapon,” VanValkenburg said Thursday.

SB44 passed the House 55-49 on Feb. 21, after passing the Senate 27-13 on Feb. 13.

Meredith and Jonathan Bremer of Henrico County spoke in support of the bill at the Jan. 31 hearing.

Their 13-year-old daughter Lucia was shot in 2021 by 14-year-old Dylan Williams with his legal guardian’s gun. Williams had been charged with felonies in the past and was the subject of a school-initiated threat assessment, Meredith Bremer said.

Jonathan Bremer advocated for SB44 to clarify and strengthen the current Virginia code.

“Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Virginia, and the majority of guns used in gun-related incidents at schools are taken from a child’s home, a relative or a friend,” he said.

Phillip Van Cleave, President of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun rights, spoke in opposition of the bill.

“One size does not fit all,” Van Cleave said. “Some parents teach their children how to handle firearms and their children are perfectly trustworthy.”

Van Cleave also pointed out that, as of Jan. 31, the bill did not make an exception for self-defense, which prompted a response from Sen. Mark J. Peake, D-Lynchburg.

“I would suggest that VCDL and the NRA, who’s here, get with Mr. VanValkenburg and come up with something that you agree with so that parents don’t give firearms to mentally disturbed youths who go out and commit mass murders,” Peake said, receiving a round of applause from those sitting in on the committee hearing.

An amendment from the Senate Committees for Finance and Appropriations was added on Feb. 8 that clarified and altered portions of the bill.

The amendment included language that enables defendants charged under the law to take on an affirmative defense that the adult enabled the child to possess the firearm because of a reasonable belief that they were in imminent danger of bodily injury.

VanValkenburg said he is hopeful that Gov. Glenn  Youngkin will sign the bill.

“I think most Americans agree that if you are a gun owner and you know that there’s a minor in your home who’s at risk of doing violence to themselves or others, that minor should not have access to a gun,” he said.