Four Democratic Virginia State Senators voted in conjunction with Republicans to turn down a bill that would have banned the sale of assault weapons and mandated the surrender or destruction of magazines which hold more than 12 rounds. The bill was proposed by Democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (archived).

Last month Northam declared a temporary state of emergency as a 'security precaution' after receiving threats that "hate groups" and "violent groups from the dark web" would be attending a gun rights rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Northam hired a "Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" after he was asked to resign when he admitted to wearing blackface and attending a party with people dressed in Klu Klux Klan garb.