House subcommittee defeats gun control bills, refers Marshall bill to task force
Last month’s mass shootings at a Newtown, Conn. elementary school has revived a national debate about firearms laws, but gun control legislation is meeting a familiar fate in Virginia’s House of Delegates.
A House subcommittee voted tonight to kill legislation that would expand criminal background checks for firearms transactions and ban the sale of assault firearms and large-capacity ammunition magazines in Virginia. Similar bills are scheduled to be heard Friday by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
The Republican-dominated House subcommittee deferred action on a bill (HB 2025) requiring schools to have at least one employee or volunteer to be trained to have a concealed handgun on campus. The bill sponsored by Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William County, was referred to a school safety task force appointed by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The House Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee met one day after President Barack Obama announced that he will ask Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and require universal background checks of gun buyers.
Some General Assembly Democrats said Virginia should not wait for federal action to pursue new gun safety laws. But, as Thursday’s House subcommittee vote demonstrated, gun control advocates face an uphill fight in a legislature that largely has resisted measures to curb access to firearms.
“The public is going to have to rise up and let their legislators know that this is important,” said House Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, at a news conference hours Thursday’s subcommittee meeting.
After the 2007 mass shootings at Virginia Tech, an expert panel appointed by then-Gov. Tim Kaine recommended legislation that would require background checks for all firearms transactions, including private sales. But bills that would expand background checks to private sales at gun shows have failed in the 2008 General Assembly session and every session since.
“We’ve ignored that recommendation for 5-1/2 years,” said Lori Haas, a gun control activist whose daughter was wounded in the Tech shootings.
The subcommittee voted 5-0 Thursday killed a bill (HB 2025) sponsored by Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, that would require criminal background checks for all gun sales and transfers. Opponents of the bill argued that the requirement could affect gun transfers between family members and would pose a burden for gun dealers who would run the computerized checks.
The subcommittee also defeated a bill (HB 2207) that would ban the sale of assault firearms and large capacity magazines. The bill’s sponsor, Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico County, took an unloaded AK-47 onto the House floor earlier in the day to make a pitch for his bill and angered some Republicans when he displayed the weapon with his thumb on the trigger.
Del. Tommy Wright, R-Lunenburg County, the subcommittee chairman, raised concerns that the gun control bills would be a first step in a larger effort to restrict firearms rights.
“What starts out as a ban or a regulation on one firearm winds up being a ban or a regulation on all firearms, or registration and then possibly confiscation,” Wright said.
Marshall’s bill (HB 1557) to require schools to have a designated armed staff person had strong support from gun rights groups and several speakers – including two teachers — who attended the hearing in an overcrowded conference room. The bill would require the designated employee to have a concealed carry permit receive training and meet other qualifications.
But Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, asked the panel to refer the bill to McDonnell’s school safety task force. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Decker sent a letter to House Speaker Bill Howell on Thursday asking that “potential legislation” dealing with school safety be provided to the task force, which will make initial recommendations by the end of the month. Gilbert said a more thorough review could give Marshall’s bill a better chance to pass.
I think it’s going to do a disservice to your bill to shove it through here, and if you’re really concerned about getting something done for our children, this needs a larger vetting process,” Gilbert said.
January 17, 2013 - 8:54 PM
How about naming names of those Republican legislators who voted to kill these bills in subcommittee without letting them even be debated on the floor or giving the public a chance to weigh in. This is democracy?
The public did stand up and let there feelings be known. It just was not what the president and a few others was hoping for. i am very happy that they listened to my input on these important matters.
I agree Janet and post a link to their websites or post their emails. I have a few things I’d like to tell them, these idiots should be considered terrorists the support and defend dangerous people having guns. It’s time we stand up and say no more, down with the fools that support violence.
There is already far too much rediculous “gun control” in Virginia (and the USA)that does nothing to decrease crime. We need to eliminate “gun free” zones which only encourage and promote criminals and crime. This is crystal clear by facts and logic. Liberalism is a dangerous viral disease affecting, particularly, those who are logically challenged.
How about obama providing guns to Mexican drug lords for GOD knows what reason(we know) and then hiding from questioning, and then trying to destroy the 2nd Amendment ? THIS IS DEOCRACY? Hypocrite.
I`d rather have a GUN in my hand , than a cop on the phone.
I totally enjoyed the sign in front of a church I passed on Rt. 21 Thursday…They are having a class on `concealed weapon safety` this weekend…Guess obama was right….we are `clinging to our GOD and guns`.
No this is a republic. At least it used to be.
I agree. Name the names of these delegates that prevented reasonable gun legislation. Anyone that would vote for “convenience” of the gun seller over public safety has absolutely no business in the General Assembly. Each and every one of them should be so ashamed that they would not even consider seeking re-electionl. Name the names!
Yes please do publish those Republican legislators names so we can thank them for not wasting time on trying to take away the peoples rights
I am absolutely disgusted by the actions of the subcommittee. When are these people going to realize that they are NOT representing the interests of the majority of the people that they are elected to SERVE. I cannot think of any reson why we cannot at least have universal background checks on anyone purchasing firearms.
No, Democracy is mob rule. This is a Republic in action.
Republicans have no spine, they are limp-wristed ninnies afraid of the big bad NRA.
How did he get it past Capitol Police? go on the streets of Richmond with it if you don’t get mistaken for a terrorist and shot dead,Someone could come along and want to buy it from you.
Janet – That’s how it works at both the state and federal level, all legislation goes through some sort of committee before it reaches the floor.
How many more children will need to die before we realize our poor gun policies result in thousands of death each year? I am not sure who is more insane, the madman who kills children or a state that allows him easy access to a military weapon to do his evil deed.
Why not just put it to a vote and let the people decide, if the constitution is for us and by us then we should be allowed to make the changes we wish to make. If there are truly more of us afraid of a Zombie invasion or Government take over that the sane ones, let’s pass the laws y’all want. But you then can not be surprised when the streets flood with crime and guns, you can not complain when children die of every race and religion, you can not turn and point a finger at the president and blame him
If some trusted person (appointed for each building or level of building) were carrying a weapon to protect them and the people on each floor of each building on campus, they at least possibly could’ve had something to fight back the gunman with at the shooting at VT. It is imperative that everyone would know that at least one person in each building is trained with a handgun and possibly was conceal carrying it. Right now if a gunman came on campus to kill someone he would have a hay day knowing that no one is going to fire back at him because of the “gun free” zones. So the students, staff and faculty’s only protection is to run or hide. Still then, the gunman would try to break through doors and shoot whoever he sees. Just think though if a designated person had their handgun ready when the gunman busted through the door, he could fire back at the gunman. The gunman would not be expecting anyone to shoot back at him and therefore would catch him off guard. Also the designated protector would be responsible for protecting as many people as he could and to try to end the shootings. We as employees and the students need protection and “No Gun Zones” aren’t working. The gunmen know that who they are getting ready to kill have no way of defending themselves, but if there were designated ccp protectors this would make the gunman think twice before snapping and going into our buildings to kill others. They would know that someone could be protecting the area, and wouldn’t know who that someone was and therefore our school’s buildings would be safer.
I hope that when our next gun massacre rolls up, our president gives a big shout out to the NRA and GOP.
I wish we could get military weapons! Like the Ma Deuce, MK 19, B240….HOOAH….you people don’t know what military weapons are. The Prez gives a big shout out every day to Planned Parenthood and the abortion clinics that kill thousands of babies.
To all of you libs asking for them to post the names of those who killed the idiotic bills in committee – post them in your comments. This pathetic attempt at furthering gun proscription is just another example of knee-jerk, symbolic, agenda-driven legislative pandering to low-information, intellectually, and morally, lazy busybodies. You’re so concerned about the school children, but so unconcerned about the aborted children who will never get the chance to go to school, or experience anything else of life. Pack up your selective moral outrage and pound sand to one of the liberal states that are swirling down the moral and fiscal toilet. The hypocrisy is unbelievable.
Me too Kristen since he helped create it by ensuring no law abiding citizens were armed at the place it occurs.
Plenty of mass shooting before Obama under Republican presidents too, “American”. How quickly we forget. At least some people do.
The bottom line is that we need our guns to protect us from our own government. Having the govt. know the location of every legal gun, through gun checks even through private sales is very dangerous. And shouldn’t, and will not be tolerated.
`d rather have a GUN in my hand , than a cop on the phone.
Comment by Jeff Doto — January 18, 2013 @ 9:20 am
I have a suggestion for another place for you to put that gun, Doto.
24.The bottom line is that we need our guns to protect us from our own government. Having the govt. know the location of every legal gun, through gun checks even through private sales is very dangerous. And shouldn’t, and will not be tolerated.
Comment by jack mcguire — January 25, 2013 @ 12:14 pm
This is the typical conspiracy nut theory that is supported by the NRA and the crazies who stockpile weapons in caves and isolated locations in Idaho and Wyoming, and the Carolina and Tennessee mountains. They are the ones who are a danger to our country. They are the Tim McVeighs of the world, domestic terrorists, simple minded, uneducated, and easily brainwashed.
“They are the Tim McVeighs of the world, domestic terrorists, simple minded, uneducated, and easily brainwashed”
Au contrare mon frere. The truly “brainwashed” are the folks that believe that an authoritarian govt will not abuse their power. Read a history book sometime.
#25…I have a feeling that you would probably like to watch that process, Heh, little Waynie ?
The `shot heard `round the world` Lexington, 1775. The `authorities` tried to take the guns away from the colonists. The rest, of course, is history that is WELL KNOWN to all, but those intentionally dumbed down by the leftist government schools. Rebellion is in the air….`The tree of liberty must, from time to time, be watered with the blood of Patiots and Tyrants`.
No, Wayne Goodman…We are NOT a danger to our Country, we ARE a danger to YOUR `world`.
Wounded Knee, the biggest massacre on US soil! Who was culpable? There you go Mr. Wayne Goodman….we know who kills the most. You are the biggest threat to Americanism.