Virginia's Senate recently passed a series of gun safety bills, which now head to the House.

Among them are measures to ban assault weapons in public, ban "ghost guns," and increasing other safety measures.

The bills come as many states and the federal government are taking a hard look at gun violence. Last year, Virginia saw a reduction in gun violence, due in part to community violence prevention funds. But the state still ranks high for gun deaths.

Kelsey Cowger, press secretary for Progress VA, said based on other state progress, the bills are essential to keeping Virginians safe.

"When movement has been possible, it's been a base that we can work off of that stops the insane level of killing within our communities that already exists and allows us to catch our breath a little bit," Cowger asserted.

Some Republicans in both General Assembly chambers oppose the bills, noting they restrict a person's 2nd Amendment rights. Yet, polls show the bills have widespread support across party lines. The measures have been referred to the House Committee on Public Safety.

Cowger contended the bills are a steady foundation for Virginia to build on. While other reforms can prove crucial for reducing gun violence further, she stressed the state needs to get this current set of legislation on the books first.

"You know, as much as I would like to sort of look with an eye towards the future for the kind of changes we can make, I feel like we just need the foundation first," Cowger acknowledged. "We need to be able to gauge whether or not dangerous people have guns."

National gun violence deaths have been declining since they peaked in 2021. In Virginia, there have been more than 9,300 shootings between 2014 and 2022, which resulted in more injuries than fatalities.

A new arts event, "Art of Democracy: Resiliency Impacted," is showcasing regional artists' work on democracy as the presidential election nears. The exhibition series highlights reproductive freedom, gun violence, and artists' roles in advocating for change. The show has partnered with CeaseFirePA.

Josh Fleitman, campaign director for CeaseFirePA, explains his organization focuses on state-level gun-violence prevention, while also supporting grassroots efforts to amplify citizens' voices.

"We work with a lot of community violence-intervention organizations, groups that do violence interruptions, street outreach work, hospital-based violence intervention work, groups that do work on the ground to prevent gun violence," he said. "We work with a lot of gun-violence survivors, and that's the event we're doing this week, is lifting up their stories."

Pennsylvania saw a 16% drop in homicides, compared with 13% nationally, with 29 of the state's 67 counties reporting declines. In September, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the state's Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Rebecca Susman, communications and development director with Keystone Progress Education Fund, said the Art of Democracy exhibition series will explore what a healthy democracy looks like, encouraging broader discussions on the topic, in collaboration with Casey Droege Cultural Productions.

At the Resiliency Impacted event, she explained, Pennsylvanians will have the opportunity to register to vote before the deadline next Monday.

"The idea is both to bring awareness to issues and also to connect that with the importance of voting, and so at the shows, we have voter registration," Susman explained. "We have voter plan cards that people can fill out in order to ensure that you know whether they're voting in person. You know that they know where their polling location is."

Jillian Daniels, independent curator of the Resiliency Impacted exhibition, said it highlights the widespread effects of gun violence in Pennsylvania, including the city of Indiana. Her goal is to convey that lives lost to gun violence are preventable, regardless of political views. The exhibition centers on understanding the lives affected and the broader context of gun culture today.

"Come visit 'Resiliency Impacted' and really sit with the artwork and the calculable yet immeasurable loss of life, and how we can take proactive steps to demanding better from the folks that we have tasked in this electoral system with our safety and our notions of protection," she said.

Today from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is the screening and discussion for "The Art of Democracy: Resiliency Impacted" at The Fox Clark Gallery in Indiana, Penn. The monthlong exhibition will be on display through Sunday. Another Art of Democracy exhibition is currently open at Brew House Arts in Pittsburgh through Nov. 2.

Wyoming lawmakers are discussing gun legislation, after Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill which would have repealed "gun free zones" this spring.

The bill would have made concealed weapons legal in more places, including the Capitol, universities and grade school campuses, where school districts currently make the rules.

Annie Griffin, superintendent of Washakie County School District #2, where teachers have been allowed concealed carry for seven years, told the Joint Judiciary Committee the rule creates challenges with hiring, permit-pulling and enforcement with adults from outside the district, at sporting events, for example.

"Unfortunately, I can tell you of many events of verbal abuse, of violence from children in the classroom," Griffin testified. "I don't think people fully understand the volatility that can go on in schools."

After the bill passed both chambers, Gov. Gordon vetoed it, saying he is a "fervent supporter" of the Second Amendment but the bill lacked "sufficient review and debate." Its sponsor, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, said he will introduce a similar bill next session.

Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, said the decision on what is allowed should be left to school districts but noted the districts have not been included in the discussion.

"We talk a lot about local control and we talk about how important that is," Schuler pointed out. "And I don't think we've really brought our educational folks to the table throughout this whole process."

The University of Wyoming's Board of Trustees will discuss how the university will approach concealed carry at a meeting this week.

Proponents of repealing gun-free zones said such zones are more vulnerable to violent crime. But a new study showed gun-free zones may "be protective against active shootings."

When a citizen cited the research during public comment, Rep. Mark Jennings, R-Sheridan, said the right to bear arms is "God-given."

"As I think about studies, I think, boy, how important it is that we don't do our governing by studies," Jennings asserted.


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Montgomery County officials are asking students to use social media responsibly following a series of arrests stemming from online threats to local schools.

Over the weekend, three students -- two 13-year-olds and an 11-year-old -- were arrested for alleged "terroristic threats" made in social media posts.

Melvin Brown, superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, said it is important students think before they post and issued a sharp reminder threats can have long-term consequences.

"Social media can be a powerful tool but it's also a dangerous place to make dangerous decisions," Brown emphasized. "Bad decisions. It's crucial that students understand the impact of their online behavior and adhere to the school district's social media policy."

Brown also urged parents to play an active role in promoting online safety and revisiting the student handbook and code of conduct available on the Montgomery Public Schools website. The call to action comes after the school shooting in Georgia that tragically claimed four lives.

James Graboys, interim chief of the Montgomery Police Department, detailed the police department's response in a news conference, stressing threats online or in person will be met with strict action.

"Whenever somebody decides to make these kinds of pranks or these kinds of actions, they need to understand that we are going to react very aggressively and very hard to whoever completes these types of actions," Graboys stated. "When we are knocking on those doors, we're going to be wanting to talk to every individual in that residence."

Daryl Bailey, Montgomery County district attorney, warned the effects of making threats online extend beyond the students involved. He said his office will work to make sure parents are held accountable.

"If I can find any shred of evidence that parents were responsible for this, or neglectful with their children, or encouraged them or did anything to participate in this, they will be held responsible in adult court," Bailey pledged.

Investigations into similar threats are ongoing in Autauga, Elmore and Madison counties, as officials statewide continue to address growing concerns about school safety.


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