CHP Privacy Effective Today

July 1 is the day that legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor become law.  At 12:00 AM this morning, Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders can rest assured that their private information is no longer available to the general public or the media by request.  The only people besides the Clerk of the Circuit Court who have access to the information now is law enforcement.

We can thank State Senator Mark Obenshain, who is currently running to be Virginia's next Attorney General, for this important protection for CHP holders.  As originally introduced, Obenshain's bill, SB1335 would have protected the personal information of CHP holders who had a protective order in effect.  But when the bill was being heard in the House of Delegates, it was amended to protect all CHP holders, with Obenshain's blessing.  This by far was the most important piece of 2nd Amendment related legislation that passed the General Assembly this year.

Also becoming law today are:

Senate Bill 1363, patroned by Senator Jill Vogel (R-27), and House Bill 2317, patroned by Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51), are companion bills that provide that residency for members of the armed forces shall include both the member’s permanent duty post and the nearby state in which the military personnel resides for the purposes of firearms purchases.

House Bill 1582, patroned by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88).  The final version of this bill permits armed security officers licensed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services to carry firearms onto private or religious school property if the officer is hired by the private or religious school to provide protection to students and employees.  This bill also prohibits the Board of Social Services from adopting any regulations that would prevent a child day center from hiring an armed security officer.

House Bill 1833, patroned by Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), creates separate sections to address the general criminal prohibition against carrying concealed firearms; the requirements for applying for a concealed handgun permit; the process the circuit court follows in reviewing, issuing, and denying permits; the appeals process procedures for nonresidents to obtain permits; the renewal process disqualifications; and other procedural issues.

Much if this year's General Assembly Session was spent defeating bad gun control bills in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting.  VSSA is proud to say thanks to our members and our lobbying efforts, all of those bills, that included bans on semi-automatic rifles and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, were defeated.

CHP Holder Privacy Protection Not on Senate Calendar Today

It isn't unusal that a bill returning to the house of origin does not end up on the calendar for action the next day.  This gives us more time to contact our state senators and urge them to support SB1335 as passed by the House of Delegates yesterday.  SB1335 will protect the personal information of all concealed handgun permit holders as passed by the House.  This is not an open government issue, it is a privacy issue, and your personal information should not be open to the public or the media just because you have a concealed carry permit.

The vote is going to be close, and may ultimately be decided by the Lt. Governor in a tie-breaking vote.  Please contact your state senator today and urge him or her to vote yes on the House Substitute to SB1335.

Castle Doctrine Back at General Assembly

Last year, legislation to codify the Castle Doctrine got farther than it has ever gotten, passing both the House of Delegates and the State Senate in some form, before dying in the House after the Senate amended the bill introduced by Delegate Dickie Bell.  Unfortunately, there was a split among the pro-rights community as to the need of the bill.  Virginia is not a "Duty to Retreat" state by Common Law, but, as Delegate Bell told NBC 29 TV of Charlottesville, common law is open to intrepretation, which is why he put in the bill.

This year Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark has reintroduced the bill in the form that it passed the Senate last year.  House Bill 1415 It simply states:

Any occupant of a dwelling using physical force, including deadly physical force as provided in this section, shall be immune from civil liability for injuries or death of the other person who has unlawfully entered the dwelling that results from the use of such force.

In the interview below, Delegate Bell mentioned that some other groups tried to co-op his legislation last year.  VSSA was not one of those groups.  As with Delegate Bell's legislation last year, VSSA supports Delegate Stark's legislation.

Will General Assembly Spike Gun Control Bills?

Northern Virginia News Radio WTOP seems convinced, and probably with good reason.

The mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last month has prompted calls for tighter gun laws across the country. But that's not likely to happen in Virginia, where gun shows are usually crowded and people can legally carry a gun openly in a holster.

Republican Speaker of the House of Delegates, William Howell, told WTOP that the solution to these type of incidents goes "way beyond gun control."

He says the General Assembly is likely to review laws on restricting gun ownership for the mentally ill, as they did after the Virginia Tech Shootings in 2009. And, he says there are likely to be several proposals on more school security.

The way to make sure no gun ban legislation passes is to remain engaged, if you are not already doing so, check this blog regularly starting January 9- February 23, join VSSA, and sign up for VSSA email alerts using the link to the right.

State Senator Marsden Wants to Hold Gun Onwers Liable for Crimes When Firearm is Stolen and Used in a Crime

State Senator Dave Marsden has prefiled bills that would make the victim of a crime of stolen firearms civilly liable if those firearms were used in a crime, and a bill that would fine the owner if they do not report the firearm(s) as stolen withing 48 hours of when "he knew or reasonably should have known that such firearm had been lost or stolen." SB 785 and SB 786 were prefiled within days of the Sandy Hook, CT, school shooting.

While only total of six firearm related bills have been prefiled to date (five restricting our rights and one that yet again creates an exemption from concealed handgun permit fees for a class of public employees), it is expected that a range of anti-rights bills will be introduced to include bans on private transfers which was first introduced last year by Richmond State Senator Donald Maceachin , as well as the annual so-called "gun show loophole" bill.  WTOP reports that Richmond Delegate Joe Morrissey is drafting legislation that would ban modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines.

The 2013 General Assembly convenes on January 9th and will be in session until February 23.  The Reconvened Session to consider the Governor's vetoes and amendments will be held April 3rd.  The last day to introduce legislation is January 18th and "Crossover" is February 5th. 

Wondering What the Purpose is of This Bill

A day after the Newtown school shooting, Delegate Patrick Hope prefiled a bill for the 2013 legislative session that would  prohibit the possession of weapons in legislative buildings except by any person who lawfully possesses a handgun. House Bill 1391 would not apply to General Assembly members or staff or to any law-enforcement officer.  So, it would appear that it is not aimed at people with concealed handgun permits - law abiding citizens, at whom is it aimed?