Va. House gives preliminary approval to legislation repealing 1-handgun-a-month law

RICHMOND, Va. — Handgun buyers would no longer be limited to one weapon a month under a bill that received preliminary approval Tuesday from the House of Delegates and that governor has said he would sign.

Del. Scott Lingamfelter's bill will be up for a final House approval Wednesday, and the Senate could vote on its version of the legislation as early as Thursday. Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he would add his signature to the measure to repeal a 1994 law that was intended to eliminate Virginia as a major source of guns used in crimes in New York and other states.

Lingamfelter said several factors have made the handgun limit unnecessary. He said a national system for checking the background of gun purchasers has been developed over the last several years; dealers are required to report any person who buys more than one in a five-day period; and federal law prohibits transporting guns across state lines.

"The real effect of this law is on law-abiding citizens," said Lingamfelter, R-Prince William.

He also noted that the General Assembly has amended the law to exempt thousands of Virginians, including police and correctional officers, people replacing a lost or stolen gun, and — most notably — the approximately 287,000 residents who have concealed weapons permits.

"One-gun-a-month is no longer needed," Lingamfelter said. "It has been obviated by actions of this body over the last 20 years."

But Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico, said a repeal would erase nearly two decades of progress in curbing gun trafficking from Virginia to the Northeast.

"There will be nothing to stop a purchaser from purchasing nine or 10 Glocks and taking them to New York or Philadelphia and selling them for five or six times the amount," Morrissey said.

Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, said government rationing of firearms violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. He also suggested such efforts are futile.

"Criminals, gang members, people who intend to use guns for illicit purposes will always get their hands on guns, and attempts to stop that are folly," he said.

The one-handgun-a-month repeal is the most significant change in gun policy that appears likely to win approval in this legislative session. Bills to prohibit colleges from banning guns on campus and to eliminate the permit requirement for carrying a concealed weapon have been postponed until next year.

By: Larry O’Dell, Associated Press

NSSF Announces Expanded Compliance Consulting Program

When it comes to record keeping and maintaining internal controls, firearms retailers need to "sweat the details," but they don't have to go it alone. With that in mind, NSSF has expanded its consulting team of former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials, all of whom understand what it takes to stay compliant with ATF rules and regulations. A request to NSSF will result in one of these compliance advisors personally visiting the retailer to assess its level of ATF compliance, conduct a review of internal controls over firearms and record keeping and train the retailer and staff to help the business to be prepared for an ATF compliance inspection--and pass it with flying colors. The price to the retailer for this service is $499 while NSSF picks up the compliance advisor's other fees, including all travel expenses. Read a press release about this announced expansion of the consulting team, and then contact Randy Clark, NSSF managing director, business development, at rclark@nssf.org to learn more about NSSF's Retailer Compliance Program and to schedule a visit with one of the advisors.

By: NSSF

Bill filed in Legislature to penalize gunfire near schools

Legislation that would crack down on the "reckless discharge" of a firearm on or near a school campus was filed Tuesday by Rep. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans. While guns already are banned on school property, Brossett said the bill is aimed at deterring criminal activity involving gunplay within 1,000 feet of a school.

The bill is one of 123 filed so far in advance of the March 12 legislative session.

Brossett said the bill would apply to students, teachers staff and "members of the community" who "recklessly" fire a gun on or near a campus of an elementary, secondary or vocational-technical school or a college or university.

Brossett said that a school in the Gentilly area recently had to be locked down when gunfire erupted nearby.

Anyone convicted of the proposed new crime would face a maximum fine of $5,000 and could be jailed for not less than five or more than 10 years. The bill requires that at least three years of the sentence be served in jail and cannot be suspended.

Brossett also filed House Bill 65 to increase penalties for the crime of home invasion. The bill says that when intruders are convicted of forcing their way into a house with "a dangerous weapon," they can be sent to prison for a minimum seven years and a maximum of 20 years, and fined up to $7,000.

At least seven years of the sentence must be served and cannot be suspended, Brossett said.

Home invasion without a weapon now can be punished by a maximum $5,000 fine, and a jail term of five to 20 years. A judge must sentence the individual to at least five years in prison.

Existing law also says that if the invasion occurs when a child under 12, a person 65 or older or a developmentally disabled person is in the home, the intruder faces up to a $10,000 fine, and not less than 10 or more than 25 years in jail. At least 10 years must be served.

Rookie Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, has filed House Bill 48 to crack down on criminals who steal copper and other metals for resale.

Besides copper, the bill also would ban the theft of copper wire, copper alloy, brass, bronze zinc, stainless steel or nickel alloys "whether in the forms of bars, cable, ingots, rods, wire, tubing, wire scarps clamps or connectors."

Harris said homes, churches and businesses across the state are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in theft of copper and other metals -- but the damage caused in stealing the products is not factored into the thefts now.

Harris said his bill would not only require a judge to assess the value of the goods stolen but their "fair market value," replacement costs and the cost of replacing or repairing property damaged to get the stolen items.

When the total is $1,000 or more, the offender would face a maximum $5,000 fine, a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years in jail, or both.

If the theft is valued at a minimum of $500 but less than $1,000, the crime would be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment for not less than two or more than five years, or both a fine and a jail sentence. If the theft is less than $500, the offender can face a maximum $1,000 fine and be jailed for a minimum of one but not more than two years or both.

A subsequent conviction, Harris said, would allow a judge to impose a maximum 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000 or both.

By: Ed Anderson, The Times-Picayune