Senate committee delays vote to restrict gun-show sales

RICHMOND

The hundreds of people who turned out Monday morning to learn the fate of a Senate bill that would require criminal background checks for those who purchase firearms from private dealers at gun shows will have to wait a bit longer.

The Senate Courts of Justice committee that is considering the bill to close the so-called gun-show loophole heard testimony but delayed a vote until Wednesday. Current state law requires criminal background checks of those who buy guns from licensed dealers. Supporters and opponents of the bill introduced by Sen. Henry Marsh, D-Richmond, packed the standing-room-only hearing.

Those who favor the law change wore yellow stickers that urged lawmakers to “close the gun show loophole.”

Gun-rights proponents in attendance wore competing orange stickers that read “guns save lives.”

A rally on the Capitol grounds Monday afternoon drew hundreds of people on both sides of the issue.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has said restrictions on gun-show sales is a priority.

In the wake of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 32 people dead, the loophole came under scrutiny.

Gunman Seung-Hui Cho, who later turned a gun on himself, did not purchase firearms at a gun show.

But subsequent revelations about his mental state focused attention on blocking access to guns for criminals and those who are unstable.

One recommendation made by the Virginia Tech Review Panel that Kaine appointed was to close the loophole.

“The tragedy at Virginia Tech was preventable – a failure of people, law and institutions,” said Fairfax County resident Joseph Samaha, whose 18-year-old daughter, Reema, was killed in the shootings.

Review panel chair Col. Gerald Massengill said he believes in gun rights, but they need to be reasonably regulated.

“I stand before you this morning a strong, strong believer in our Second Amendment. I don’t want anyone messing with my firearms either,” said Massengill, a retired superintendent with the Virginia State Police. “It’s time for us to start doing background checks on all sales at gun shows.”

Tom Evans, who promotes gun shows in Norfolk, said the kinds of weapons sold at shows are more appealing to collectors than criminals.

“You don’t find the guns that are said to be attractive to criminals walking around the floor,” he said during the committee hearing.

At the afternoon rally, Jeanette Richardson said closing the loophole will reduce the availability of guns to criminals. Richardson’s 18-year-old son, Patrick McKinley, was fatally shot on Jan. 1, 2004, outside the family’s Newport News home.

Both the committee hearing and the rally were largely orderly. At one point during the rally, dozens of people laid on the ground to symbolize the number of people killed regularly by gun violence.

While the Senate version of the loophole bill remains alive, an identical version was killed Friday by a 13-9 vote in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety committee.

All Republicans on the panel voted against it; all Democrats backed it.

Chances of the legislation passing the General Assembly this year appear slim.

Republicans control the House of Delegates and Democrats have a majority in the Senate.

Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe said closing the loophole should be a simple decision.

“To me, this is a public safety issue,” said McCabe, who was one of several local law enforcement officials from around the state to speak in support of closing the loophole. “I’m not even sure why we’re even debating this.”

Staff writer Warren Fiske contributed to this report.

Julian Walker, (804) 687-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com