Senate Courts Setting Up Subcommittee to Kill Pro-gun House Bills

The General Assembly is winding down and there are a number of pro-rights House bills still to be heard in Senate Courts of Justice. Among them are repeal of handgun rationing (one gun-a-month), and the Castle Doctrine. But this morning, anti-rights Richmond Senator and Chairman of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, Senator Henry Marsh (D-16) announced the creation of a new “Sub-Committee” which will hear all the firearm related bills passed by the House of Delegates. This "Sub-committee" is stacked with anti-rights Democrats and a sometime pro-rights Republican, and would become a "killing field" for a number of pro-rights bills that have already garnered strong bi-partisan support in the House.

Northern Virginia anti-rights Senator "Toddy" Puller (D-36) will Chair this new special Sub-Committee and will be joined by her fellow rabid anti-gun colleagues; Senator Marsh (D-16), Senator Lucas (D-18) and Senator Howell (D-32). The sole Republican member of the Sub-Committee will be Senator Quayle (R-13).

As of this morning, no date or time has been set to for the special Sub-Committee to meet but VSSA will notify you as soon as to the time and date.

Listed below are the bills which the special Senate Sub-Committee will likely hear:

HB26, authored by Delegate Thomas Wright (R-61), would prohibit the Clerk of the Court from requiring an applicant for a concealed handgun permit to provide any documentation or information not authorized by the law or prescribed by Virginia State Police.

HB49 sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, repeals one-gun-a-month.

HB52, sponsored by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), would allow a court to waive a $25 dollar fine upon presentation of the permit to the court, if a person fails to display his concealed carry permit when requested by a law-enforcement officer.

HB79, sponsored by Delegate R. Lee Ware (R-65), prohibits the Clerk of Court from publicly disclosing concealed handgun permit application information unless the permittee has provided written consent for the release of the application or information. The information would still be available to law-enforcement acting in the performance of their duties.

HB108, also introduced by Delegate Cole (R-88), would prohibit agents of localities or localities themselves from participating in compensated confiscation (“gun buy-backs”) schemes unless the governing body of such a locality authorizes such a program. The locality would then have the option of selling the firearms by auction to a federally licensed dealer (FFL) or disposing of the firearm in any other appropriate manner.

HB109, also sponsored by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), would repeal the statute which allows the governing body of any county to require the sellers of pistols and revolvers to furnish the Clerk of the Circuit Court with the name and address of the purchaser, date of purchase and the number, make, and caliber of the gun.

HB171, authored by Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-96), would prohibit property owners, employers, or a business entity from establishing or enforcing any policy prohibiting a person who may lawfully possess a firearm from storing a firearm in a locked motor vehicle in a publicly accessible parking lot.

HB236, sponsored by Delegate Bill Janis (R-56), would remove the prohibition imposed by localities on hunting within a half-mile of subdivisions.

HB854, sponsored by Delegate Will Morefield (R-3), would provide immunity from civil prosecution if someone uses force, including deadly force, to defend themselves and their loved ones if attacked in their home by someone who has entered unlawfully (Castle Doctrine).

HB870, sponsored by Delegate Benjamin Cline (R-24), would repeal the language that allows localities to fingerprint applicants for a concealed handgun permit (the Senate has already killed its version of this legislation).

HB885, sponsored by Delegate Cliff Athey (R-18), would allow any person who may lawfully posses a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel to keep the firearm secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel (the Senate has already passed Senator Vogel's version of this bill and it is about to be approved in the House and headed to the Governor's desk).

HB1092, sponsored by Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-6), would give retired law-enforcement the ability to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.

HB1191, introduced by Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R-8), would allow a circuit court judge to authorize the Clerk of Court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application.

HB490, sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), would direct the Department of State Police, in cooperation with the Secretary of Public Safety, to develop a plan to allow the State Police to issue lifetime concealed handgun permits to Virginia residents. The Department and the Secretary shall submit the plan, and any recommended legislative changes to implement the plan, to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by October 15, 2010.

HB1070, sponsored by Delegate Clay Athey (R-18), would provide that a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit may not be barred from carrying a concealed handgun in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor, any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or any other governmental entity as an emergency shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons.

UPDATE: Here is the link to the new "Special" subcommittee which includes a list of all the bills assigned to it. It is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM.