Firearms Bills at General Assembly Today

There are firearms related bills on the Senate floor for a vote today.

Set for Final Vote:

HB 1655 - Requires a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any entity that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance, resolution, motion, or an administrative action taken in bad faith, as being in conflict with a locality's authority to control firearms. The bill was amended by Senate Courts to make award of attorney fees permissive. If it passes with the amendment the bill goes back to the House for concurrence or rejection of the amendment.

On Second Reading to advance to final vote on either Friday or Monday:

HB 2528 - The bill targeting "Compensated Confiscation." This bill provides that no locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance authorizing the participation of the locality. The ordinance shall require that such firearms shall be sold by public auction, or sealed bids, to a person licensed as a dealer.

The following bills are on the docket in House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee # 1 at 5:00PM today.

SB 877 - Allows retired law-enforcement officers who are qualified under federal law to carry concealed firearms to carry a concealed handgun into a restaurant that serves alcohol.

SB 1035 - Repeal of the Restaurant Ban for concealed carry.

SB 1166 - Firearms purchase tax increase bill

SB 1254 - Makes changes to the procedures governing the application for a concealed handgun permit and the carrying of a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. The bill provides that a conviction from another state for driving while intoxicated or for drunkenness in public disqualifies an individual from obtaining a concealed handgun permit. The bill also requires that a nonresident carrying a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth with either a reciprocal permit from another state or a Commonwealth-issued nonresident permit display photo identification along with the permit, upon request of a law-enforcement officer.

SB 1383 - Repeals the provision that makes it a Class 6 felony to possess a firearm muffler or silencer that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal penalties would still apply.

SB 1528 - Bill making it clear that the training required for the concealed handgun permit may be done electronically.