For those of you in Virginia there are some good bills coming up today. The antis are parading made-up problems to attempt to scare people.
SB 323 – Would eliminate Virginia’s “One Handgun a Month Law,” which serves as a deterrent against the bulk trafficking of illegal guns.
SB 324 – Would force Virginia’s public colleges and universities to allow the carrying of guns on campus.
SB 612 – Would allow individuals to purchase rifles and shotguns without going through a state background check.
SB 67 & SB 670 – Would remove the fingerprinting requirement for those obtaining concealed handgun permits
Let’s go right down the line. Has Virginia stopped any crimes or weapons trafficking because of their stupid One-gun-a-month law? Nope, but its a pain in the ass for lawful people who may want to buy a few guns, or find a great deal in the same month they just bought a gun. FYI Sung Cho waited a Month between buying his two guns he used to murder students at Virginia Tech. This law is crap!
Second, there are several universities that allow lawful citizens to carry firearms on campus. There are also several universities that have been sites of spree shootings and mass murder…these two sets of universities have nothing in common. Gun Free zones welcome spree shooters….anti gun people welcome spree shooters.
There are only a handful of states that DON’T allow people to buy long-guns in private sales. There are also many that also allow the transfer of handguns. There is no issue, the few states that restrict firearm sales are the ones that got it wrong.
Last, I ask the antis to show me a crime solved from a CCW fingerprint record. When the phone don’t ring you know its them.
So yeah, all common sense people in Virginia call your state Senators and get them to do the right thing and roll back the crap!
**UPDATE** Check the comments below for more detailed information from Jake He further confirms that these are awesome bills and should be passed. Make the calls!
A few points.
SB 323: They claim that one-gun-a-month “serves as a deterrent against the bulk trafficking of illegal guns,” but whenever they are pressed for supporting evidence they either ignore you or claim “you can’t prove a negative.”
SB 324: Extends (or clarifies, really) current legislative preemption of firearms laws to all state agencies, not just public colleges and universities.
SB 612: Two points.
a) Private sales have always been allowed in Virginia without a background check. The code section this bill modifies applies only to dealer sales, and always has.
b) This is where the anti-Rights cultists are lying by omission. While it’s true that SB 612 would in fact “allow individuals to purchase rifles and shotguns without going through a state background check,” it only does so because it substitutes the NICS check in place of the Virginia check (see ¶ B.5).
SB 67 & 670: An almost-case of lying by omission. The fingerprinting “requirement” is currently optional for each county or city. Some localities require it and some do not. I did not have to be fingerprinted for my CHP, but people in Arlington, Richmond, Norfolk, etc. may have to do it. No locality can require fingerprinting for a renewal, only for the initial application. The only thing this does is make the process more uniform across the state – there is no evidence that fingerprinting has done anything except make the process more difficult for the law abiding.
Additionally, the fingerprints can only be used for the background check, and cannot be kept by any agency for any reason (and the requirements for disposal of them is very specifically spelled out in the statute).
Also, I don’t believe that very many localities currently require fingerprinting anyway, because it’s an extra expense and the amount that can be charged for a CHP is fixed by statute at no more than $50 total ($10 for the clerk, $35 for the Sheriff, which he has to cover any FBI fees out of, and $5 for the State Police). If running the fingerprints through the FBI raises their fee to $40, the Sheriff loses $5 on every permit. (§18.2-308 (K))
Bottom line: The facts don’t support the anti’s claims, so all they have left is lies.
Wow, thanks for all the extra info. I’m not very familiar with Virginia law so your points were VERY illuminating.
Yeah these are great laws and should be passes as they increase individual liberty and take hassle out exercising 2nd Amendment rights at zero cost to public safety.
And there’s a bad one still alive that I wasn’t aware of until last night – I’m not sure how I missed it. SB 379 would require all private transfers to go through an FFL.
I called and emailed.
Awesome, Thanks!
Also good luck, as those old restrictions suck and you’ll be better off without them!
In reference to SB324, greetings from Utah, the ONLY state in the union which currently and actively forces our state universities and colleges to allow and accept carry, both open and concealed. In the years (years!) since that law has been passed and actively solidified by our legislature, we have had precisely ZERO college shootings. Now I know we’re just simple rednecks out here, but it seems to work for us. Why couldn’t the enlightened folks in Virginia with their cool Latin motto make it work every bit as well?