Virginia: One-Gun-a-Month Legislation Faces Close Senate Vote on Monday, More Action in the House of Delegates

This Monday, February 6, the Virginia Senate is expected to cast its final vote on Senate Bill 323, legislation which would repeal the archaic prohibition of purchasing more than one handgun per month.  This vote is expected to be very close so it is important that you continue to contact your state Senator and urge him or her to vote for this legislation on Monday.  Originally expected to be voted on Friday, this legislation was passed by for the day and will take place on Monday.  To locate your state Senator and their contact information, please click here.

Drafted by the NRA and sponsored by state Senator Bill Carrico (R-40), Senate Bill 323 would repeal the prohibition on law-abiding citizens buying more than one handgun within a thirty-day period. Anti-gun opponents have long claimed that gun rationing keeps handguns out of the hands of criminals, but history has shown this law to be ineffective, and to only affect and penalize law-abiding citizens.

Today, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee considered House Bill 237, sponsored by Delegate John Cosgrove (R-78), and voted to carry it over until next year.  Drafted by the NRA, this legislation would transfer the duties of firearm background checks from the Commonwealth to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).  This legislation would streamline the process and help reduce the time it takes to approve a firearms transaction.  Its introduction is in response to the increasing frequent delays on sales by the Virginia Firearm Transaction Program.

Chairman Scott Lingamfelter (R-31) agreed that there has been increasing delays in the state check system and that he will be demanding accountability from the State Police by requesting metrics on delays and sales. 

In addition, the state Senate is considering potential budget amendments for the State Police for their Firearm Transaction Program to help alleviate staffing shortfalls.

Please thank Delegate Cosgrove at [email protected] for bringing this critical issue to the forefront and working with the NRA to help solve the regular delays caused by the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program.

However, this committee also did pass two pro-gun bills which will now be sent to the House for consideration:

House Bill 25, sponsored by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), seeks to prohibit the Clerk of Court from disclosing information contained on a concealed handgun permit application or on an order issuing a concealed handgun permit.  This legislation passed by a 16 to 6 vote.

House Bill 754: sponsored by Delegate Ben Cline (R-24), would remove the option for a locality to require that an applicant for a concealed handgun permit submit fingerprints as part of the application.  This legislation passed by a 16 to 6.