Home State Senate committee votes to kill two pro-gun bills
Local News

State Senate committee votes to kill two pro-gun bills

Contributors

state-capitol-headerDemocrats in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted Wednesday to curb gun violence by stopping two House bills that would have weakened existing regulations to keep dangerous weapons including machine guns and bazookas out of public circulation and recognize more easily obtained out-of-state concealed carry permits.

HB 878 would remove local law enforcement’s discretion to approve class 3 firearms purchases, even if they have reason to believe the purchaser might commit a crime. Critics of the measure cited that this would weaken existing regulations to limit the sale and distribution of class 3 firearms. The bill was passed by indefinitely on a party-line vote.

The definition of “firearm” in this bill includes machine guns, rifles and shotguns of a certain length, weapons made from certain rifles or shotguns, silencers, and destructive devices. In federal code, “destructive devices” include: any explosive, incendiary, or poison gases; bombs; grenades; rockets having a propellant charge of more than 4 ounces; missiles having an explosive charge of more than 1/4 ounce; and mines.

HB 705 would eliminate certain requirements for an out-of-state concealed handgun permit to be recognized in Virginia. Critics of the bill noted that not every state maintains the same stringent standards for concealed carry permits as Virginia. By granting an on-face acceptance of an out-of-state concealed carry permit, the state police would be unable to verify the validity of the permits in all situations. The measure failed 6-9.

“Pro-gun advocates keep saying: enforce the laws on the books. Today, we acted to keep some of the protections we already have in Virginia from being chipped away. After all, if we have a high standard for the legal sale of bombs, grenades, or rockets, why make it easier to buy them?” said Senator McEachin of the Committee’s votes today. “Once again, Democrats chose commonsense, pragmatic governing as opposed to adherence to a rigid ideology.”

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

newspapers
Politics, U.S. News

Senate Republicans block PRESS Act, because Donald Trump told them to

sausage
U.S. News

OSHA cites Alabama sausage-maker for workplace safety violations

Today’s reminder that you don’t want to know how the sausage is made: news about safety inspections involving an Alabama sausage-maker revealing basic issues with keeping workers safe.

anthony colandrea uva football
Football

I’ve found the perfect UVA Football transfer QB: Anthony Colandrea

The UVA Football program needs a quarterback, and supposedly has an extra two or three million dollars in NIL money to play around with starting this offseason.

swimming
Sports News

UVA Swimming: Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass set new world records

vmi asa locks
Football

VMI Football: Cornerback Asa Locks named to Freshman All-America Team

three Augusta County children missing
Local News

Augusta County: Why did it take so long to issue an Amber Alert in last week’s abduction case?

football
Football

Duke, once again, is losing an elite starting QB to the transfer portal