Wrap-up of Marathon Senate Courts of Justice Meeting

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee, probably trying to make up for a missed meeting on Monday as the state continued to dig out from under the weekend snow, held a marathon meeting yesterday afternoon that went well into the night.  The Committee disposed of a number of gun control bills.  Below is a list of bills defeated by the committee:

SB 96 Protective orders; possession of firearms; penalty.
SB 97 Handguns; establishes limitation on purchases, penalty.
SB 138 Firearms retailers; local regulation, proximity to schools.
SB 156 Concealed handgun permit; family member who resides with applicant may submit statement to court.
SB 184 Firearms magazines, certain; prohibition of sale, transfer, etc., penalties.
SB 214 Firearms; Terrorist Screening Database check prior to purchase.
SB 220 Firearm transfers; penalties.
SB 259 Persons involuntarily admitted or ordered to outpatient treatment; purchase, etc., of ammunition.
SB 260 Concealed handgun permit; disqualifications, residential mental health or substance abuse treatment.
SB 263 Firearms; purchase by persons intending to commit act of terrorism, penalty.
SB 430 Firearms; Terrorist Screening Database check prior to purchase.
SB 546 Possession or transportation of firearms following convictions for certain misdemeanor crimes. (This was continued until next year)
SB 694 Firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow; shooting in or across road or street, penalty.

The committee also took up several bill that attempt to overturn the December 22, 2015, announcement by Attorney General Mark Herring that the state would no longer recognize the concealed carry permits of 25 states.  Several bills were rolled into one and advanced to the full senate.  The committee also reported and referred to Finance Senator Emmett Hanger's SB 713 which takes away the power of making reciprocity and recognition agreements from the Attorney General and gives it to a Legislative Commission.  The bill heading to the full Senate is Senator Bryce Reeve's SB 610.  The bills rolled into SB610 were SB 616, SB 699 and SB 764.

The Committee also advanced several other bills:

SB 677, a bill that makes the $10 fee that the clerk of court is now required to charge for processing a concealed handgun permit application or issuing a concealed handgun permit discretionary with the clerk.  The bill was reported and referred to Finance.

SB 300, a bill that creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person who is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs to carry a loaded firearm on or about his person in a public place and that a person found guilty is ineligible to apply for a concealed handgun permit for a period of five years. The bill also creates a Class 2 misdemeanor for a person who carries a loaded firearm on or about his person onto the premises of any restaurant or club licensed to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and consumes an alcoholic beverage while on the premises.   The bill was reported and referred to Finance.

SB 323, a bill that creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for (i) the physical possession of a firearm while in the residence of the alleged victim of a person who has been served with an emergency protective order issued as a result of an assault and battery against a family or household member or (ii) the transport of a firearm by such person while the order is in effect. The bill also provides that in order to be convicted of the existing Class 1 misdemeanor of purchasing or transporting a firearm when subject to a protective order, the person must have been served with the order.  The bill was amended and reported.

Another full docket is set for Thursday's 4:00pm Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1.  VSSA will be posting live results on Twitter, and Facebook and will have a wrap-up of the committee action on the Blog.