Tech families ask commission to help close gun show 'loophole'

By: Frank Green | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: December 10, 2008

Some emotional pleas to the Virginia State Crime Commission to close what opponents call the state's gun show "loophole" went unanswered today.

Under the law, private parties may sell firearms at gun shows without making a criminal background check on the purchaser. Licensed dealers must do so.

Commission chairman Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, did not permit a vote endorsing such an effort, saying the commission was scheduled to take up narrow issues related to the gun show question, not closing the loophole.

Albo said the commission can vote on the question at a meeting Jan. 13 prior to the next General Assembly session which starts Jan. 14. That would allow public notice, he said.

Efforts by legislators to close the loophole over the years have met with failure in spite of pleas in the last assembly session from families and friends of the 32 killed in the Virginia Tech massacre last year -- though the killer, Seung-Hui Cho, did not buy firearms at a gun show.

Lilly Habtu, shot twice on April 16, 2007, told the commission that her family came to the United States to escape violence in Africa. She warned that someone barred from buying a firearm because of a felony conviction or mental problem can easily get one at a gun show.

"This can happen to anyone. We all lose when there are no responsible gun laws," said Habtu, who cried softly at one point. "By not closing the gun show loophole, we are only protecting the criminals, here. We are not undermining the Second Amendment," she said.

Albo thanked her for her remarks, telling her, "you're a brave woman."

Tech student Omar Samaha, brother of Reema Samaha, one of the 32 students and faculty killed, said, "it's not just about stopping April 16 from happening again. This is a public safety issue that needs to be dealt with."

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said, "nothing that happened at Virginia tech was in any way, shape or form involving gun shows." Cho, pointed out Van Cleave, passed a required background check.

Contact Frank Green at (804) 649-6340 or fgreen@timesdispatch.com.