Virginia’s New 2013 Gun Related Bills & Bill Status Changes

Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- Here are changes to current bills that I just sent to John Pierce so he can update the VCDL Legislation Tracking Tool.

New bills were just introduced, both bad and good (from restoring the One Handgun A Month law to providing CHP holders a faster background check when buying a gun). Other items are changing status, such as from STRONGLY SUPPORT to NEUTRAL, etc, after the bill has been changed in committee.

1. Change HB 1391 from STRONGLY SUPPORT to STRONGLY OPPOSE. New description: ” in current form bans guns from General Assembly Building, except for legislators.”

2. Change SB 786 from STRONGLY OPPOSE to NEUTRAL. New description: “current version requires police to enter stolen gun information into the NCIC system.”

3. Change SB 864 from STRONGLY OPPOSE to NEUTRAL. New Description: “provides that a person subject to an emergency protective order cannot physically possess a gun in the home of the alleged victim nor transport a gun once served.”

4. New: STRONGLY OPPOSE: HB 2251, Delegate Lopez, places severe restrictions on the sale, transfer, & possession of magazines that will hold more than 20 rounds. The restrictions would not apply to the police or military. Possession of such a magazine is only allowed if no lower capacity magazine will work in the firearm and possession requires registration and a background check. A registrant is limited to three high capacity magazines and must otherwise dispose of all magazines in excess of that limit.

5. New: STRONGLY OPPOSE: HB 2263, Delegate Krupicka, authorizes the state to temporarily confiscate the firearms and ammunition of anyone who certain medical and other professionals feels has made a threat of suicide or other violence. This law would discourage someone from seeking help.

6. Change SB 1214 from OPPOSE to NEUTRAL. New Description: “adds items to violent felonies”

7. Change HB 1746 from OPPOSE to NEUTRAL. New Description: “adds items to violent felonies”

8: New: OPPOSE: HB 2235, Delegate Lingamfelter, increases the penalties for using a gun in a crime. This is a “feel good” measure that will not make anyone any safer and it, yet again, villainizes guns. What this bill says is that the penalty for a crime should be determined by the tool the criminal uses. So, if a criminal uses a knife to murder someone, that’s not a big deal. But if they use a gun to murder the same person, then we’re really going to go after them! Why don’t we go after them equally anytime they commit a murder or other violent crime? Dead is dead and murder is murder, irrespective of the tool the murderer uses.

8: Change HB 1415 from NEUTRAL to OPPOSE

9. New: NEUTRAL: HB 2240, Delegate Cosgrove, shares information on protective orders and other gun purchase/possession disqualifications with the federal government.

10. NEW: STRONGLY SUPPORT: HB 2317, Delegate Anderson, allows military personnel residing in a nearby state and commuting to a duty post in Virginia, to be able to purchase guns in Virginia.

11. New: STRONGLY OPPOSE: HB 2327, Delegate Brink, reimplements the old “One Handgun a Month” rationing law.

12: New: STRONGLY SUPPORT: HB 2340, Delegate Marshall, prohibits state agencies, local governments, or employees thereof from assisting the federal government in any searches, seizures related to firearms, ammunition, or magazines. Also any federal attempt to create a private sale background check requirement will be treated likewise.

13: New: STRONGLY SUPPORT: HB 2340, Delegate Lingamfelter, gives CHP holders an expedited background check when purchasing a firearm.

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org

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