01/27/11 - Legislative Update! 1/27/11

[allingeneral]

One pro-gun bill died today, one was delayed until next year, a few =
moved on to the next level, and all anti-gun bills that were heard were =
killed.

My report:

This morning the Senate Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee voted =
to kill Senator Hanger's bill SB 1084, which protects the private =
information of concealed handgun permit holders from being disseminated =
by the Circuit Court Clerks.

The bill will come in front of the full committee on Monday and will =
probably die there. I will let you know the vote on this - elections, =
like we have coming in November, have consequences.

SB 1395, Senator McEachin's bill to allow police and certain other =
government employees to be able to drink, and even be drunk, while =
making it illegal for open carries or CHP holders to even have a sip of =
wine, was put off until next week.

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This evening in the Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee =
#1:

HB 1411 - Delegate Wilt - cleans up some laws dealing with reckless =
handling of firearms while hunting - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegates Lingamfelter, Nutter
Voting anti-gun: no one


HB 1552 - Delegate Cox - requires that temporary CHPs are to be issued =
by mail if the 45-day maximum background check time has passed - passed =
out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegates Lingamfelter, Nutter
Voting anti-gun: no one


HB 1600 - Delegate BaCote - would allow localities to ban firearms in =
libraries - was killed in subcommittee by voice vote


HB 1699 - Delegate Athey - deals with restoration of rights after =
being cured of mental health problems - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one


HB 1813 - Delegate Hope - bans guns in the General Assembly - was =
killed in subcommittee by voice vote. Delegate Hope said his bill =
allowed for handguns to be placed in lockers while the gun owners were =
in the building. When asked for the price of the lockers, he said =
$104,000! He said that the Virginia General Assembly security should be =
modeled after security at the U.S. Capitol. When I got up to speak I =
first told the subcommittee to NOT change the Virginia General Assembly =
to be ANYTHING like the U.S. Capitol! - which got some laughs. I =
pointed out that on Lobby Day there were 500 gun owners this year and =
over 1,000 last year - that would require a lot of lock boxes!


HB 1856 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that a person should get a =
speedy replacement of lost or stolen CHPs - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one


HB 1857 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that military members with =
duty papers for the Pentagon can buy firearms in Virginia - passed out =
of subcommittee.

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one


HB 2005 - Delegate LeMunyon - would require that the Virginia State =
Police develop a brochure on Virginia gun laws and require gun shows =
make them available - was killed in subcommittee by voice vote. VCDL is =
always in favor of education, but we couldn't back a bill that put any =
requirements on gun shows, gun dealers, and private gun sellers to do =
so.


HB 2386 - Delegate Jackson Miller - changes a concealed handgun permit =
into a concealed weapon permit - was referred to the Crime Commission =
for further study by voice vote. That means this bill is dead for this =
year and will be back next year after the Crime Commission looks at it. =
The State Police said they weren't sure how this would affect =
reciprocity with other states. At that point I had already spoken and =
couldn't speak again to let the subcommittee know that Florida issues a =
concealed weapon permit and they are recognized in more states than =
Virginia! It was disappointing that this bill did not pass this year.


Tomorrow all the above House bills will be heard in the full Militia, =
Police, and Public Safety committee.




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