“To do so at a time when we need all Virginians unified in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is counterproductive,” Gilbert said of the timing. “It was clear from the moment these bills were introduced that they would impact law-abiding gun owners far more than criminals. It’s an unfortunate last chapter in the story of Michael Bloomberg’s efforts to reshape Virginia.”

Last year, during a special session Northam called following the mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Republicans adjourned the gathering less than two hours after its start without voting on any of the gun control measures Northam had proposed.

That helped fuel a blue wave in the 2019 legislative elections that flipped the Republican-led House of Delegates and Senate to Democratic majorities.

Gun control advocates spent millions on last year’s statewide elections, where every seat in the legislature was up for grabs. Everytown for Gun Safety, founded by former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, for example, spent $1.6 million in 2018-19, making it one of the largest donors that election cycle, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

“Voters were fed up with inaction; fed up with ‘thoughts and prayers’ and we replaced gun lobby politicians with gun-sense champions,” said Everytown President John Feinblatt on Friday.