News

Actions

Senate shoots down Virginia’s one-handgun-a-month law

Posted at 9:13 AM, Feb 06, 2012
and last updated 2012-02-28 18:18:48-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – The Virginia State Senate voted Monday to pass SB 323, a bill that repeals Virginia’s one-handgun-a-month law. A similar bill passed the Virginia House of Delegates last week.

The Senate voted 21-19 to repeal the law which had been on the books since 1993.

The law placed a 30-day waiting period between hand gun purchases from Virginia gun stores.

Earlier this year, the Virginia Citizens Defense League rallied at the Virginia State Capitol to support the repeal of the waiting period.

“There are a lot of gun rights that need to be restored to the people, constitutionally our rights weren’t suppose to be infringed in the first place” said VCDL President Philip Van Cleave during the January rally.

After Monday’s vote, those on the other side of the issue voiced their displeasure.

“In years past, the Senate was the adult voice in the conversation,” Sen. Donald McEachin (D – HENRICO) said in a statement following the vote.  “Now that a repeal of this law, which targeted illegal gun traffickers, has passed both Chambers, the issue is in the Governor’s hands.  This debate has captured the attention of folks across the Commonwealth, and we know all eyes will be on Governor McDonnell as he ultimately considers SB 323 and its impact on the safety and reputation of the Commonwealth.”

“Not only is this bill bad policy, but it’s also bad politics,” said Andrew Goddard, President of the Virginia Center for Public Safety in a statement.  “Recent polling, both regional and statewide, has consistently shown what we already know, namely that voters across the Commonwealth are concerned with gun-related crime and violence. We don’t need to turn back the clock and return to an era when Virginia was ground zero for the gun-running cartels.”