02/16/11 - Legislative Update! 2/16/11

[allingeneral]

VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html------ ... reviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html----- ... ----------

HOMESTEAD FIREARM EXEMPTION IS NOW ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, HAVING PASSED BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE

HB 1422 - Delegate Albo - allows a person to keep one firearm of no more than $3,000 in value if they are subject to a creditor process (updates Virginia's Homestead laws). Hopefully none of us on this alert list will ever need this protection...

SECOND CASTLE DOCTRINE BILL (OUT OF THREE) IS NOW DEAD

Delegate Cleaveland's HB 1573, one of three Castle Doctrine bills introduced this year, was killed in the Senate Courts of Justice committee. Here is the vote:

Eight Senators voted AGAINST HB 1573:

Marsh, Saslaw, Lucas, Edwards, Reynolds, Puller, Deeds, Petersen

Four Senators voted FOR HB 1573:

Howell (!), Obenshain, McDougle, Stuart

Absent: Norment

That leaves only one Castle Doctrine bill still alive - Delegate Cleaveland's HB 2511. However, since two Castle Doctrine bills have already been killed by the same committee this year, it's fate is quite dim. It does have a slightly different twist than the other two bills, though.

SEVERAL GUN BILLS TO BE HEARD TOMORROW, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH

Tomorrow the following bills will be heard in the Senate Courts of Justice committee in Senate Room A at 4 PM:

HB 1552 - Delegate Cox, J.A. - specifies that the Circuit Court Clerk is to mail a certified concealed handgun permit application to serve as a temporary concealed handgun permit within 5 days of the expiration of the maximum 45-day application processing period - VCDL SUPPORTS

HB 1856 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that the Circuit Court Clerk is to replace a lost or stolen permit within ten days of getting a notarized statement of the loss for a fee of $5 - VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS

HB 1857 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that someone with permanent orders to a Pentagon duty post can use their ID as photo-identification to purchase a firearm in Virginia - VCDL SUPPORTS

HB 2511 - Delegate Cleaveland - provides civil protections if the self-defense was investigated and no charges were filed or the person was acquitted - VCDL SUPPORTS

--

Tomorrow the follow bills will be heard in the House Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee #1 at 5 PM in the 4th Floor West conference room:

SB 754 - Senator Reynolds - an improvement to current law dealing with abuse-based protective orders, which restrict purchase or transport of firearms.. The bill would make such restrictions only after an ACTUAL FINDING of abuse (not just an accusation). However, the bill should be changed to require that the finding of abuse be made at an adjudicatory hearing (so that the order cannot be made "ex parte") - VCDL SUPPORTS

SB 757 - Senator Reynolds - allows someone on private property to be able to discharge an air gun as long as they have permission from the property owner to do so and reasonable care is taken to ensure the projectile does not cross the bounds of the property. Any local ordinances to the contrary, such as Fairfax County has, would be preempted - VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS

SB 1395 - Senator McEachin - prohibits anyone carrying a gun from drinking except police in the performance of their duties and adds a penalty for open carriers who are carrying while intoxicated - VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES this bill as it has several really bad flaws and confusing/conflicting wording



-------------------------------------------***************************************************************************