Congrats Virginia. Pro-Gun Bills Advance, Anti-Gun Bills Are All Gone!

Capitol Building
Congrats Virginia. Pro-Gun Bills Advance, Anti-Gun Bills Are All Gone!
Virginia Citizens Defense League
Virginia Citizens Defense League

Covington VA –-(Ammoland.com)- Last night in Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee #1, the last of the anti-gun bills for this year were killed, one pro-gun bill was killed, and two pro-gun bills advance to full committee tomorrow morning!

ANTIS MISBEHAVING (AGAIN)

I’ve mentioned over and over again that many of the antis have anger-management problems. Some reminders happened tonight.

One anti tried to pick a fight with a gun owner just before the meeting started over some posts on social media. He was yelling and aggressive. After that event, I noticed a Capitol police officer was stationed at the door of the room. I was glad to see her there and the angry anti was quiet the rest of the meeting.

Later, when the hearing was underway, another anti came over to talk to one of our Executive members and was talking in such a loud, animated voice that the chairman, Delegate Tommy Wright, had to use the gavel and give the person a stern warning, which he ignored for another 10 or 15 seconds. I thought he was going to get thrown out.

Finally, another anti was chastised by the chairman for making disparaging remarks about gun owners.

Not all the antis were behaving badly, but those three didn’t help their side at all.

GUN BILLS – THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY:

Pro-gun bills reported out of committee and are headed to full committee Friday morning:

HB 1329, Delegate Ware, R. Lee, Jr., changes the concealed handgun law to honor the concealed handgun permits from all other states if the permit holder is at least 21 years old. The out-of-state permit holder will have to also show government-issued photo-identification at the request of a law-enforcement officer. By honoring all other states, Virginia permits will be honored in more states, including Georgia, New Hampshire, and Colorado. Eighteen other states already honor all permits.

HB 2009, Delegate LaRock, requires the chief law-enforcement officer to certify a request for the transfer of a firearm that is covered under the National Firearms Act (NFA), unless the officer knows the person receiving the firearms is prohibited from doing so. This bill will make ownership of NFA firearms uniform across the state. Currently the chief law-enforcement officers in some jurisdictions refuse to do any such certification, while others do them as a matter of course.

HB 2029, Delegate Wilt, re-appropriates concealed handgun permit fees between the Circuit Court Clerk and law enforcement. It also requires a National Instant Check System background check be done on concealed handgun permit holders, which will then allow the permit holders to purchase firearms without needing a background check, as per federal law.

HB 2214, Delegate Rush, lays out some particulars on how a felon’s gun rights are restored and allows for an appeal.

Pro-gun bills that were killed:

HB 1359, Delegate Campbell, creates lifetime concealed handgun permits. The permits are obtained in the same manner as they currently are, except they are valid for life. This will lower the workload of the Circuit Court Clerks’ offices around the state, while allowing local law enforcement to still be involved in the issuance of permits.

Neutral bills that were killed:

HB 1575, Delegate Pogge, adds drunken boating to the list of misdemeanor crimes that prohibits a person from qualifying for a concealed handgun permit for 3 years.

Anti-gun bills that were killed:

HB 2024, Delegate BaCote, allows localities to ban firearms in their libraries. A solution in search of a problem. This bill would start us back down the road of a hodgepodge of inconsistent and confusing gun laws across the Commonwealth.

HB 2045, Delegate Filler-Corn, makes possessing a firearm illegal if that person has a restraining or protective order against them. The current law allows a person to be able to possess a firearm to protect themselves, but not purchase or transport a firearm, nor have a concealed handgun permit, while the order is in effect. During divorce proceedings it is not unusual for both parties to have a protect order issued against each other. Sometimes the order can be issued ex parte, so the person may not even be aware that their guns at home are now unlawful for them to possess. The Commonwealth should not take away the right of either party to at least be able to protect themselves in their own home.

HB 2328, Delegate Simon, makes possessing a firearm illegal if that person has a restraining or protective order against them. The current law allows a person to be able to possess a firearm to protect themselves, but not purchase or transport a firearm, nor have a concealed handgun permit, while the order is in effect. During divorce proceedings it is not unusual for both parties to have a protect order issued against each other. Sometimes the order can be issued ex parte, so the person may not even be aware that their guns at home are now unlawful for them to possess. The Commonwealth should not take away the right of either party to at least be able to protect themselves in their own home.

HB 2359, Delegate Simon, reduces the number of firearm educational programs that would be accepted as training for the purposes of getting a concealed handgun permit. It also puts a 5-year expiration on the training. A solution looking for a problem.

WE ARE ALMOST AT THE HALFWAY MARK!

On Tuesday the remaining bills will switch Houses and we will start the process all over again!

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org

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Greg

Don’t forget that during the hearing one anti took offense to how the Chairman was taking testimony from one side then the other and told him how he should be conducting the committee hearing. I can’t think of a better way to advance your agenda than telling the King how to run the Kingdom.

WarriorsMark

Pennsylvania is a Battle ground. On 3 sides are anti gun statists. HOLD THE LINE . !!!
Not one more inch or compromise.