Former Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, died in an apparent murder-suicide early this morning at their Annandale home. Authorities said the couple was going through a contentious divorce, and that papers in those proceedings were served yesterday; they believe this is what prompted the unspeakable act of violence.
The Fairaxes' two teenage children were home at the time and, while physically unarmed, one of them placed the call to 911 after the incident happened. That's horrifying and tragic for those children. But was it preventable?
In 2022, Fairfax bragged about Virginia's red flag laws, linking to a story from September 2020 about 36 Virginians who were prohibited from owning guns under the legislation.
And, the actions we took have already saved lives.
— Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) May 25, 2022
We have given commonsense tools like the “red flag” law to law enforcement, the courts and our communities to help keep our families safe even as we ensure due process and protect Constitutional rights.https://t.co/6eXkmfFI3o
Under those red flag laws, or Emergency Substantial Risk Order (ESRO) law, family members, guardians, domestic partners, parents, roommates, police officers, and mental health professionals can contact a police officer or Commonwealth Attorney to petition a judge for an ESRO.
A hearing is held within 14 days and if the subject of the ESRO is found to be an immediate danger to themselves or others, a judge can issue an order requiring the subject to relinquish all firearms and concealed handgun permits, as well as bar subjects from purchasing new firearms.
Many are asking why these red flag laws didn't apply to Fairfax.
The press - EVERYBODY - knew this shooting took place at VA Dem @LGJustinFairfax’s home… & stayed SILENT…
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) April 16, 2026
The press would NEVER do that for a conservative public figure. Never. Don’t let them gaslight you. The author of Red Flag 🚩 🔫 gun laws was protected… even in death https://t.co/ylIaEfl6pf
There is ZERO chance former VA @LGJustinFairfax’s Democrat colleagues weren’t aware of his marriage troubles… and yet not a single Northern Virginia Democrat used their own Red Flag 🚩 🔫 gun grabbing laws to disarm him. They protect their own. https://t.co/ylIaEfl6pf
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) April 16, 2026
This is the murder suicide of former VA Dem @LGJustinFairfax, who appears to have killed his wife and then shot himself dead
— NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) April 16, 2026
Fairfax pushed Virginia’s first Red Flag 🚩 🔫 law https://t.co/dF4owb0460
Fairfax made "gun violence projection" part of his political agenda.
I cast the tie-breaking votes to expand healthcare to 400,000 Virginians.
— Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) August 4, 2019
I would proudly do the same to pass gun violence prevention legislation to protect the precious lives of all 8+ million people in our Commonwealth. #HonorWithAction #EnoughIsEnough
The tragedy in Virginia Beach is still fresh and now mourning has befallen our brothers & sisters in El Paso.
— Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) August 3, 2019
How many more lives must be lost before we take action to stop mass shootings & gun violence in America?
Doing nothing is a decision.#HonorWithAction #EnoughIsEnough https://t.co/rXXwkGi2R0
To start:
— Justin Fairfax (@LGJustinFairfax) August 4, 2019
• Ban Assault Weapons
• Ban High-Capacity Magazines
• Implement Universal Background Checks (supported by 90+% of Americans)
• Reinstate “One-Gun-A-Month” Law
• Pass “Red Flag” Laws
What is YOUR proposal?#HonorWithAction #EnoughIsEnough https://t.co/mdYKhMMM7b
This led some to point out the hypocrisy and projection.
Show me a liberal and i'll show you a hypocrite:https://t.co/fiG7kM6bSq
— Bill Marshal (@aethelamerican) April 16, 2026
Democrats are the kings of projection.
— Sensurround (センサラウンド) (@ShamashAran) April 16, 2026
THEY are violent, unhinged killers, leashed only by the difficulty of getting weapons, and therefore they assume EVERYONE is https://t.co/pPv1iuWDRH
Make no mistake: what happened to Cerina Fairfax and her children was tragic and heartbreaking. It was a horrific act of violence that never should have happened.
Democrats have argued for years we need "common sense gun control" to prevent such acts of violence, and they browbeat the rest of us into giving up our Second Amendment rights to "save one life."
Justin Fairfax pushed and promoted the state's red flag laws. Why didn't someone apply those laws to him, as it was known he was going through a difficult divorce? If not, why not?
Or perhaps the lesson is that gun control laws, including red-flag laws, don't work to prevent gun violence after all.