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One pro-gun bill died today, one was delayed until next year, a few moved on to the next level, and all anti-gun bills that were heard were killed.

My report:

This morning the Senate Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee voted to kill Senator Hanger's bill SB 1084, which protects the private information of concealed handgun permit holders from being disseminated by the Circuit Court Clerks.

The bill will come in front of the full committee on Monday and will probably die there.  I will let you know the vote on this - elections, like we have coming in November, have consequences.

SB 1395, Senator McEachin's bill to allow police and certain other government employees to be able to drink, and even be drunk, while making it illegal for open carries or CHP holders  to even have a sip of wine, was put off until next week.

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This evening in the Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee #1:

HB 1411 - Delegate Wilt - cleans up some laws dealing with reckless handling of firearms while hunting - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegates Lingamfelter, Nutter
Voting anti-gun: no one

HB 1552 - Delegate Cox - requires that temporary CHPs are to be issued by mail if the 45-day maximum background check time has passed - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegates Lingamfelter, Nutter
Voting anti-gun: no one

HB 1600 - Delegate BaCote - would allow localities to ban firearms in libraries - was killed in subcommittee by voice vote

HB 1699 - Delegate Athey - deals with restoration of rights after being cured of mental health problems - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one

HB 1813 - Delegate Hope - bans guns in the General Assembly - was killed in subcommittee by voice vote.  Delegate Hope said his bill allowed for handguns to be placed in lockers while the gun owners were in the building.  When asked for the price of the lockers, he said $104,000!  He said that the Virginia General Assembly security should be modeled after security at the U.S. Capitol.  When I got up to speak I first told the subcommittee to NOT change the Virginia General Assembly to be ANYTHING like the U.S. Capitol! - which got some laughs.  I pointed out that on Lobby Day there were 500 gun owners this year and over 1,000 last year - that would require a lot of lock boxes!

HB 1856 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that a person should get a speedy replacement of lost or stolen CHPs - passed out of subcommittee

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one

HB 1857 - Delegate Anderson - clarifies that military members with duty papers for the Pentagon can buy firearms in Virginia - passed out of subcommittee.

Voting pro-gun: Delegates Wright, Nutter, Gilbert, Keam
Not voting: Delegate Lingamfelter
Voting anti-gun: no one

HB 2005 - Delegate LeMunyon - would require that the Virginia State Police develop a brochure on Virginia gun laws and require gun shows make them available - was killed in subcommittee by voice vote.  VCDL is always in favor of education, but we couldn't back a bill that put any requirements on gun shows, gun dealers, and private gun sellers to do so.

HB 2386 - Delegate Jackson Miller - changes a concealed handgun permit into a concealed weapon permit - was referred to the Crime Commission for further study by voice vote.  That means this bill is dead for this year and will be back next year after the Crime Commission looks at it.  The State Police said they weren't sure how this would affect reciprocity with other states.  At that point I had already spoken and couldn't speak again to let the subcommittee know that Florida issues a concealed weapon permit and they are recognized in more states than Virginia!  It was disappointing that this bill did not pass this year.

Tomorrow all the above House bills will be heard in the full Militia, Police, and Public Safety committee.