(HB1736)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1736, which creates the Virginia Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention within the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

The creation of this center would duplicate efforts that are currently funded and operating as designed within the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, Virginia Department of Health, and Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The Commonwealth has made great strides in addressing crimes committed with firearms by establishing programs such as the existing Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund, as well as the Operation Ceasefire Grant Fund and Safer Communities Fund. These programs all partner with local communities to implement proven methods to reduce gang violence programs, and support nonprofits engaged in group violence intervention.

The Office of Safer Communities at DCJS already coordinates the interaction of these funds and implements evidence-based approaches to prevent gang and group violence by prevention.

Preventing firearm violence is a statewide inter-agency issue that requires the expertise of each relevant entity. Duplicating the ongoing efforts in this field would only serve to decrease efficiency and quality of research.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.