Virginia: Five Pro-Gun Bills Pass in the House of Delegates!

On Tuesday, February 8, the Virginia House of Delegates unanimously passed the following pro-gun bills: House Bill 1411, House Bill 1552, House Bill 1856, and House Bill 1857. The House of Delegates also passed “Castle Doctrine” self-defense legislation, House Bill 1573, by a 75 to 23 vote. These bills will now be sent to the Senate and assigned to the appropriate committees.

House Bill 1411, sponsored by Delegate Tony Wilt (R-26), would correct an error in state law in which an individual who is convicted of recklessly handling a firearm while engaged in hunting may lose his hunting or trapping license for a period of one year to life. If an individual whose license has been revoked hunts or traps while in possession of a firearm, the judge may revoke the license for a period of one to five years. HB 1411 would fix this error by changing the penalty for a first offense to loss of hunting or trapping license for a period not to exceed five years and any subsequent offense will allow a judge to revoke the license for one year to life.

House Bill 1552, sponsored by Delegate John Cox (R-55), would help provide clarification for the Clerk of Court, staff and concealed carry applicants in regards to the proper issuance of the copy of the temporary certified application.  Concealed carry applicants in certain jurisdictions have been experiencing delays past the 45-day period and are being instructed to pick up the copy of the certified application from the court. The new language will instruct the court to mail the temporary application to the applicant within five business days of the 45-day period. Also, a friendly amendment was included into HB 1552 that would also include delivery of the certified temporary application by electronic mail.

House Bill 1856, sponsored by Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51), would allow a concealed handgun permit holder to obtain a replacement permit in the event that the original permit is lost or destroyed. The permit holder would be required to submit a notarized statement to the clerk of the court that the permit was lost or destroyed and pay a $5 fee.  The clerk would be required to issue a replacement permit within ten business days. The replacement permit will have the same expiration date as the original permit.

House Bill 1857, sponsored by Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51), would clarify a problem caused by the federal government where some military personnel who are attempting to purchase a firearm in the Commonwealth are being turned away because their permanent duty orders have assigned them to the Pentagon, which lists its official address in Washington, D.C., despite being located in Virginia.  Delegate Anderson’s bill would clarify existing law and include the permanent orders to the Pentagon as criteria for required documentation of residence.

House Bill 1573, sponsored by Delegate Bill Cleaveland (R-17), would seek to codify a version of “Castle Doctrine” which would allow lawful occupants of a dwelling to use any degree of physical force, including deadly force, against an intruder who has committed an overt act against him, without the fear of civil liability.

The NRA will continue to keep you informed on the status of these bills as they progress through the Virginia General Assembly. In the meantime please continue to check your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for future updates.