Virginia: Help Support Repeal Of Obsolete Gun Buyer Check

Attend, Speak And Show Support At Upcoming Local Town Hall Meeting

In 1989, Virginia passed its first-in-the-nation state instant check statute.  Nine years later, the national instant check system (NICS) became available.  Since 1998, there has been a federal requirement for purchasers of any modern firearm from any gun dealer in every state to undergo a criminal history records check.

So, for the past twelve years, the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program (VFTP) has been obsolete and unnecessary.  For all gun purchases, the VFTP requires additional paperwork (Virginia State Police Form 65 in addition to the federal Form 4473), imposes a two dollar fee (state gun tax - no fee for NICS) and causes inordinate delays, particularly on weekends at gun shows and gun stores since the Virginia State Police is not adequately staffing this operation to meet demand.

The solution to this persistent problem is not to increase the state gun fee/tax or appropriate more state government funds that Virginia taxpayers cannot afford, especially in these tough budget times, to perpetuate this antiquated and duplicative program.  Instead the VFTP must be repealed so that only NICS will be required for gun purchases in Virginia as in 35 other states.

With your help, pro-gun Attorney General Bob McDonnell was elected the 71^st Governor of Virginia nine months ago.  When he was inaugurated on January 16, Governor McDonnell signed Executive Order #2 establishing the Governor's Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring.  Its stated purpose is to "conduct a thorough review of Virginia state government" and to "identify opportunities for creating efficiencies in state government, including streamlining, consolidating, or eliminating redundant and unnecessary agency services, governing bodies, regulations and programs."

The Virginia Firearms Transaction Program has certainly become redundant and unnecessary since NICS took effect in 1998.

Governor McDonnell has scheduled several Town Hall Meetings across Virginia in August that he will attend to explain his efforts to reform state government and also solicit public comment on ideas for him and his government reform commission to consider, recommend and pursue.  For NRA members in the Richmond area, your town hall meeting will be held tomorrow night.  Here is the schedule for upcoming meetings throughout this month:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Cultural Center of India
6641 Ironbridge Parkway in CHESTER

 TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
412 Lee Hall at University of Mary Washington
1301 College Avenue in FREDERICKSBURG

 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
CIT Auditorium
2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300 in HERNDON

 THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Montpelier Room of East Campus Dining Hall
James Madison University in HARRISONBURG

 MONDAY, AUGUST 30
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Great Hall of Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
150 Slayton Avenue in DANVILLE

 TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room in Bristol Public Library
701 Goode Street in BRISTOL

Please attend one of these town hall meetings in your area, speak in favor of repealing the VFTP, and show your support for others who call for an end to this duplicative and outdated state program and requirement.

Also, send an e-mail message urging repeal of the VFTP to Governor McDonnell at www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm