It's Crossover - Only One Bad Bill Survived, Six Good Bills Still Alive

Today is Crossover at the General Assembly.  Each house may only consider bills that were passed in the other house. There are a total of seven firearm related bills still alive - one bad bill and six good bills.  Those bills are:

Pro-Gun:
HB 1656, School security officers; employment by private or religious schools; carrying a firearm in performance of duties, in Senate Courts of Justice

HB 2253, Nonresident concealed handgun permits; time of issuance, referred to Senate Courts of Justice

HB 2548, Restoration of firearms rights; report to State Police., Passed House, referred to Senate Courts of Justice

SB 1012, Carrying a concealed weapon; firefighters and emergency medical services providers. , passed the Senate and now in House Militia, Police and Public Safety committee

SB 1024,Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship (allows carry in places of worship), passed the Senate, referred to Militia, Police and Public Safety

SB 1179, Concealed handgun permit; application for a resident permit by a member of U.S. Armed Forces., passed the Senate and now in House Militia, Police and Public Safety committee

Anti-Gun:

SB1321, Licensed family day homes; storage of firearms. Requires that firearms and ammunition in a licensed family day home be stored in a locked closet, cabinet, or container during the family day home's hours of operation. The bill requires that the key or combination to such locked storage places be maintained out of the reach of all children in the family day home.

This bill was originally introduced to allow a firearm to be on the person of an adult in the home but was amended in committee and that provision was removed. The bill now reads as follows:

Possession of any firearm or ammunition in a licensed family day home shall comply with federal and state laws. All firearms and ammunition shall be stored in a locked closet, cabinet, or container during the family day home's hours of operation. The key or combination to the locked closet, cabinet, or container shall be maintained out of the reach of all children in the home.

There is no longer a clear provision for a provider to carry for self-defense or those in their care. VSSA now opposes SB1321 in the form that it passed the Senate.

The bill just passed the Senate yesterday and has not been referred to committee but it will likely go to Militia, Police, and Public Safety.  As soon as it is assigned we will let members know to contact the committee and oppose the bill in its current form.