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I repeat, do NOT tell me Lobby Day doesn't matter!

The full Militia, Police and Public Safety committee met this morning and the following bills passed and are now on their way to the House Floor for a vote next week.  All passed by wide margins:

HB 171, Delegate Pogge, prohibits employers and others from banning firearms left in locked vehicles in parking lots.  Gives employers immunity if such guns are misused.  The bill was amended to add a few exceptions - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 79, Delegate Ware, prohibits Circuit Court Clerks from divulging CHP applicant information to anyone but police in performance of their duties - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 885, Delegate Athey, allows a non-CHP holder to have a loaded gun in an unlocked compartment or container in a personal motor vehicle or boat - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 1070, Delegate Athey, allows CHP holders to carry in an emergency shelter - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 49, Delegate Lingamfelter, repeals one handgun a month - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 870, Delegate Cline, repeals the option for localities to fingerprint first time CHP applicants - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 26, Delegate Wright, clarifies exactly what paperwork is required from a CHP applicant - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 8, Delegate Carrico, clarifies that a CHP holder can renew through the mail - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 108, Delegate Cole, requires localities auction guns purchased in a gun buy-up - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 236, Delegate Janis, allows someone to shoot a gun within 1/2 mile of a subdivision if they do so safely - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 109, Delegate Cole, repeals a state law that allows localities to tax and collect information about handgun sales - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 1191, Delegate Griffith, allows judges to approve Circuit Court Clerks to issue CHPs - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 490, Delegate Lingamfelter, authorizes the State Police to come up with a plan to issue lifetime CHPs - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 69, Delegate Carrico, Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (10th Amendment protection for guns made and sold in VA) - SUPPORT

HB 1217, Delegate Lewis, allows school boards to offer firearms safety programs - SUPPORT

HB 1092, Delegate Crockett-Stark, allows retired police officers to be able to carry without a CHP - NEUTRAL

HB 637, Delegate Armstrong, waives CHP fees for boarding officers of the U.S. Coast Guard - NEUTRAL

HB 1379, Delegate Sickles, allows Fairfax and nearby localities to required that firearms in child-care facilities be stored in a state specified fashion - NEUTRAL

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These bills look like they are headed for a "pocket veto" by the Speaker, as they were not heard today and if they not heard before crossover next week (very unlikely) are dead:

HB 475, Delegate Carrico, allows a CHP holder to be able to carry in K-12 school parking lots - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 489, Delegate Lingamfelter, reorganized the CHP laws - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 106, Delegate Cole, allows a CHP holder to carry in restaurants or, with permission, in a church during a meeting - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 54, Delegate Cole, allows handguns to be carried in courthouses after hours if the courthouse is being used for a non-judicial event - STRONGLY SUPPORT

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This bill was carried over until next year:

HB 995, Delegate Nutter, allows a CHP or military ID to be used to purchase "assault firearms." - STRONGLY SUPPORT

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Notes:

On the repeal of one handgun a month the Chairwoman allowed both sides time to speak in front of the full committee.  Delegates Barlow (against the repeal) and Lingamfelter crossed swords.  I though Lingamfelter did an excellent job in presenting the bill, covering the vast majority of important points about the need for the repeal.

File this under "sometimes its great when the other side speaks:"  one anti-freedom woman, when asked why Virginia is supposedly number 6 in gun-running WITH the one handgun a month law currently in place, she said it was because CHP holders are exempt from the one handgun a month law and are running guns!!!!

Oh, no!  Our SECRET is OUT!

I had to bite my lip to keep from breaking out into laughter.  Whatever credibility she had with the committee took a nosedive, as you can imagine.

The vote was taken and the bill passed 15 to 6, broken down thus:

Pro-freedom:

Sherwood, Griffith, Wright, Carrico, Lingamfelter, Nutter, Athey, Cline, Gilbert, Merricks, Morefield, Edmunds, Cox, J.A., Shuler, Lewis

Anti-freedom:

Jim Scott, Barlow, Paula Miller, Tyler, James, Keam

Delegate Cleveland wasn't present to vote as he was attending a sick family member.