This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-signs-gun-control-compromise-into-law/2016/02/26/4178f196-dcb8-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
McAuliffe signs gun control compromise into law McAuliffe signs gun control compromise into law
(about 4 hours later)
RICHMOND — Declaring the start of a “new era,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Friday signed into law a package of gun bills in a deal struck with Republican lawmakers that cost him the support of some of his strongest allies in the fight for gun control. RICHMOND — Declaring the start of a “new era,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Friday signed into law a package of gun bills, the product of a deal struck with Republican lawmakers that cost him the support of some of his strongest allies in the fight for gun control.
Opponents of the compromise, including Andy Parker, the outspoken father of a journalist killed in southwest Virginia, noted McAuliffe’s victory lap came on the six-month anniversary of the fatal shooting. Opponents of the compromise, including Andy Parker, the outspoken father of a television journalist who was killed in southwest Virginia, noted that McAuliffe’s victory lap came on the six-month anniversary of his daughter’s shooting.
But underscoring what McAuliffe said was the historic nature of the deal, the governor signed the bills in the Executive Mansion, the first time he used the home for this purpose, and hinted at his legacy.But underscoring what McAuliffe said was the historic nature of the deal, the governor signed the bills in the Executive Mansion, the first time he used the home for this purpose, and hinted at his legacy.
“I’m so proud to announce that a new era begins today here in the commonwealth of Virginia,” he said. “These new laws will serve as permanent protections for our citizens. They will remain place when I leave office.” “I’m so proud to announce that a new era begins today here in the commonwealth of Virginia,” he said. “These new laws will serve as permanent protections for our citizens. They will remain in place when I leave office.”
The deal would expand the rights of concealed carry handgun permit holders in Virginia and around the country in exchange for tighter restrictions on domestic abusers and voluntary background checks at gun shows. The deal would expand the rights of concealed-carry handgun permit holders in Virginia and around the country in exchange for tighter restrictions on domestic abusers and voluntary background checks at gun shows.
The reciprocity law is a reversal of a bold step Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) took in December to revoke the rights of hundreds of thousands of permit holders in 25 states with standards more relaxed than in Virginia. The reciprocity law reverses a bold step Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) took in December to revoke the rights of hundreds of thousands of permit holders from 25 states with standards more relaxed than Virginia’s. Now, the state will recognize the right to carry concealed arms for visitors from nearly all states that issue concealed handgun permits, and Virginians with a permit should be able to carry weapons in those states.
[Va. will again recognize concealed-carry permits from other states][Va. will again recognize concealed-carry permits from other states]
Herring has panned that part of McAuliffe’s deal and did not attend the bill signing; a spokesman for the governor said he was invited. Herring has panned that part of McAuliffe’s deal, and he did not attend the bill signing, though a spokesman for the governor said he was invited.
Parker, once an ally of McAuliffe’s, said he was baffled that teh governor, a self-professed dealmaker, would accept laws that many gun control advocates call lopsided. Parker, once an ally of McAuliffe, said he was baffled that the governor, a self-professed dealmaker, would accept laws that many gun-control advocates call lopsided.
“I am beyond disappointed that Governor McAuliffe, whom I consider a friend, has abandoned his standing as a gun-safety champion to strike a political deal with the gun lobby – and that he is signing this legislation on the six-month anniversary of my daughter Alison’s death,” he said in a statement. “I am beyond disappointed that Governor McAuliffe, whom I consider a friend, has abandoned his standing as a gun-safety champion to strike a political deal with the gun lobby — and that he is signing this legislation on the six-month anniversary of my daughter Alison’s death,” he said in a statement.
The National Rifle Association, which had two lobbyists in Richmond to help craft the deal, said the new laws in Virginia could bolster its campaign for reciprocity at the federal level. [Two journalists die in gun attack]
“Hopefully this effort will encourage Congress to pass national right to carry reciprocity legislation as soon as possible,” Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. The National Rifle Association, which had two lobbyists in Richmond to help structure the deal, said the new laws in Virginia could bolster its campaign for reciprocity at the federal level.
Brian Moran, McAuliffe’s director of public safety, and Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) negotiated the deal in secret at the start of the current legislative session. “Hopefully, this effort will encourage Congress to pass national right to carry reciprocity legislation as soon as possible,” Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement.
Reeves, who has been mentioned as a candidate for statewide office, quoted the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher: “First you win the argument, then you win the vote.” Brian Moran, McAuliffe’s secretary of public safety, and Sen. Bryce E.Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) negotiated the deal in secret at the start of the legislative session.
Reeves, who has been mentioned as a candidate for statewide office, quoted the late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: “First you win the argument, then you win the vote.”