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Va. Houses passes guns deal reached between governor, Republicans Va. Houses passes guns deal reached between governor, Republicans
(about 1 hour later)
RICHMOND — The Virginia House on Wednesday passed a package of bills that make up a compromise on gun laws that Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Republican lawmakers struck over the objections of gun-control advocates. RICHMOND — The Virginia House on Wednesday passed a package of bills that make up a compromise on gun laws, forged by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Republican lawmakers over the objections of gun-control advocates.
The Republican-controlled House voted 72 to 26 to restore and expand the rights of concealed-carry handgun permit holders in Virginia and around the country.The Republican-controlled House voted 72 to 26 to restore and expand the rights of concealed-carry handgun permit holders in Virginia and around the country.
Two pieces of companion legislation that would impose tighter restrictions on domestic abusers and allow voluntary background checks at gun shows passed more easily by a vote of 96 to 3, with three Republicans dissenting. Two pieces of companion legislation that would impose tighter restrictions on gun-ownership by domestic abusers and allow voluntary background checks at gun shows passed more easily, by a vote of 96 to 3, with three Republicans dissenting.
“The agreement secures the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and takes reasonable steps to make our communities safer,” House Speaker William J. Howell Jr. (R-Stafford) said in a statement. “This agreement shows what can be accomplished when we set aside our political rhetoric and work together for the Commonwealth of Virginia.”“The agreement secures the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and takes reasonable steps to make our communities safer,” House Speaker William J. Howell Jr. (R-Stafford) said in a statement. “This agreement shows what can be accomplished when we set aside our political rhetoric and work together for the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
[Governor, legislators reach deal on I-66 expansion, tolls][Governor, legislators reach deal on I-66 expansion, tolls]
Democrats also applauded the deal but said more needs to be done. Democrats also applauded the deal, but said more needs to be done.
“I have worked hard on this issue, and I am glad we were able to finally take a positive step to prevent these tragedies,” said Del. Kathleen J. Murphy (D-Fairfax), who carried a bill on protective orders. “More than half of women murdered with guns die at the hands of a domestic abuser. This bill will save lives.” “I have worked hard on this issue, and I am glad we were able to finally take a positive step to prevent these tragedies,” said Del. Kathleen J. Murphy (D-Fairfax), the lead sponsor of the bill on protective orders. “More than half of women murdered with guns die at the hands of a domestic abuser. This bill will save lives.”
The reciprocity bill is a reversal of a surprise move by Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) in December to revoke the rights of hundreds of thousands of permit holders in 25 states whose standards are weaker than Virginia’s. The bill not only restores reciprocity with those states; it also requires Herring to enter new agreements with other states. The concealed-carry permit bill would reverse a December move by Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) to revoke the reciprocity rights of hundreds of thousands of permit holders in 25 states whose standards are weaker than Virginia’s.
Herring, who was not part of negotiations of the current deal, praised the intent of Murphy’s bill but panned the overall agreement for coming “at the price of dangerous or irresponsible people carrying concealed handguns in Virginia.” The bill not only restores concealed-carry reciprocity with those states, it also requires Herring to enter new reciprocity agreements with other states.
Nearly identical bills passed in the Senate last week, but each chamber’s bills must still pass the opposite chamber before they will be sent to McAuliffe’s desk. Herring, who was not part of negotiations over the current deal, praised the intent of Murphy’s. But he panned the overall agreement for coming “at the price of dangerous or irresponsible people carrying concealed handguns in Virginia.”
He has said he will sign the bills into law, in the face of intense scrutiny from a onetime political ally — Everytown for Gun Safety, a the gun-control organization founded by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. A nearly identical set of gun bills passed in the Senate last week. Each chamber’s bills must still pass the opposite chamber before they will be sent to McAuliffe’s desk.
The governor has said he will sign the bills into law, despite strong criticism from a onetime political ally — Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun-control organization founded by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
[Bloomberg gun-control group launches new ad against McAuliffe][Bloomberg gun-control group launches new ad against McAuliffe]
The group leveled first a social media campaign and then a full-page newspaper ad, titled “Terry McAuliffe is wrong,” at the governor. The effort came mere months after the group spent more than $2 million on the governor’s failed attempt to regain control of the Senate. The group has responded to the guns deal with a social-media campaign and a full-page newspaper ad titled “Terry McAuliffe is wrong.”
McAuliffe, a New York native, responded by dismissing the opposition as coming from “one gun-safety group out of New York City.”McAuliffe, a New York native, responded by dismissing the opposition as coming from “one gun-safety group out of New York City.”
Just last fall, Everytown spent more than $2 million to support Democratic candidates who McAuliffe was backing for Virginia’s state Senate, part of the governor’s ultimately unsuccessful attempt to create a Democratic majority in that chamber.