Pro-Gun Legislation on the Move in Virginia!

Please Contact Your State Senator!  

On Monday, March 8, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee passed a number of NRA-supported bills. The following five bills will be delivered to the Senate floor for first reading, which is expected to occur as early as this week.  The lone bill not passed was House Bill 870 (fingerprint repeal).

House Bill 109, sponsored by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), would repeal the statute which allows the governing body of any county to require the sellers of pistols and revolvers to furnish the Clerk of the Circuit Court with the name and address of the purchaser, date of purchase and the number, make, and caliber of the gun.

House Bill 1092, sponsored by Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-6), would give retired law-enforcement the ability to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.

House Bill 1191, introduced by Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R-8), would allow a circuit court judge to authorize the Clerk of Court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application.

House Bill 505, sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15) would allow a concealed carry permit holder to carry his or her firearm into a restaurant, provided he or she does not consume any alcohol.  HB505 was conformed to SB334 by creating a Class 2 misdemeanor for consumption of alcohol while carrying concealed and stripping retired law enforcement officers of the ability to drink while carrying concealed.

House Bill 885, sponsored by Delegate Cliff Athey (R-18), would allow any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel to keep the firearm secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.  HB885 was conformed to SB408 by changing the word “secured” to “locked”.

Please contact your State Senator and respectfully request they support these measures! Contact information can be found here. Also

House Bill 870, which was not passed by the committee, would have removed a localities option to require an applicant’s fingerprints for a concealed handgun permit. HB870 was sponsored by Delegate Ben Cline (R-24).