At the start of every legislative session in Richmond, we can always expect to see a large number of firearms-related bills, some with fast action, and this year is no exception.
One such bill, Senate Bill 245, introduced by state Senator Mark Obenshain (R-26), is already scheduled to be heard in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee this Monday, January 16. Drafted by the NRA, SB 245 would update Virginia’s Emergency Powers statute by adding lawful carrying and transportation to the list of actions that cannot be prohibited during a declaration of emergency.
It is important that you contact members of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee today and urge them to support this important pro-gun reform bill. Contact information for committee members can be found here.
As more legislation presents itself and begins to progress, such as SB 245, we will continue to e-mail you and post them to our website (www.NRAILA.org). Below you will find additional legislation that has been introduced in Richmond that we will continue to monitor.
House Bill 458: Sponsored by Mamye BaCote (D-95), seeks to weaken Virginia’s preemption law by allowing localities to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit firearms, ammunition, or components, or a combination thereof, in libraries owned or operated by the locality.
House Bill 592: Sponsored by Delegate Don Merricks (R-16), HB 592 would provide an exemption from Virginia-specific criminal history record information check upon the purchase of a firearm from licensed gun dealers, when the purchaser is a Virginia resident holding a valid Virginia-issued concealed handgun permit.
House Bill 754: Sponsored by Delegate Ben Cline (R-24), would remove the option for a locality to require that an applicant for a concealed handgun permit submit fingerprints as part of the application.
House Bill 859: Drafted by the NRA and sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15), HB 859 would provide an exemption from the required criminal history record information check for firearms transfers in the Commonwealth for persons holding a valid Virginia-issued concealed handgun permit.
House Bill 929: Sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), HB 929 would provide an exemption for former attorneys for the Commonwealth and former assistant attorneys for the Commonwealth from the requirement to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
House Bill 940: Drafted by the NRA and sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), HB 940 would eliminate the prohibition on purchasing more than one handgun in a thirty-day period.
House Bill 952: Sponsored by Delegate Rob Bell (R-58), HB 952 seeks to allow a Department of Corrections correctional officer to carry a concealed handgun without a concealed handgun permit.
House Bill 1012: Drafted by NRA and sponsored by Delegate David Ramadan (R-87), HB 1012 would eliminate the fee (tax) collected by licensed dealers for every firearms transaction that requires a criminal history record information check.
House Bill 1052: Sponsored by Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51), HB 1052 would remove the prohibition against carrying certain firearms and other weapons in air carrier airport terminals. This bill retains the prohibition against carrying firearms in secure areas.
House Bill 1135: Sponsored by Delegate R. Lee Ware (R-65) would remove certain requirements for an out-of-state concealed handgun permit to be recognized and accepted in Virginia. This bill would also require an out-of-state permittee to carry and present a valid government-issued photo identification in order for his valid out-of-state concealed weapon permit to be recognized and accepted in Virginia.
Senate Bill 67: Sponsored by state Senator Bill Stanley (R-20), SB 67 would remove the option for a locality to require that an applicant for a concealed handgun permit submit fingerprints as part of the application.
Senate Bill 323: Sponsored by state Senator Bill Carrico (R-40), HB 323 would eliminate the prohibition on purchasing more than one handgun in a thirty-day period.
Senate Bill 324: Sponsored by state Senator Bill Carrico (R-40), SB 324 would establish legislative firearms preemption of any administrative action taken by an administrative body that has the direct or indirect effect of governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, storage, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, unless the administrative body has express statutory authority.
Under this bill, any administrative action taken prior to July 1, 2012, having a direct or indirect effect of governing the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, or transporting of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, other than those expressly authorized by statute, is invalid. The bill also requires administrative bodies to take appropriate action to bring any contrary administrative action into compliance.
For an alternate list of legislation previously reported on please click here.
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