The Virginia State Crime Commission yesterday decided it will not recommend legislative passage of a bill that would require people who buy guns at gun shows to undergo mandatory background checks.
The vote was a draw -- 6-6 on the Republican-controlled commission, which is made up of members of the state Senate, House of Delegates, and current and former law enforcement officials. The commission studies law enforcement issues and advises lawmakers but has no binding authority.
Still, legislation that would close the so-called gun-show loophole is headed for another hearing in the General Assembly. The loophole means some buyers at gun shows do not have to undergo mandatory background checks.
State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, a member of the commission, said he will propose a bill similar to the measure he introduced last year, which failed to clear the Democrat-controlled Senate Courts of Justice Committee that he chairs.
Yesterday, several dozen friends and members of families of the victims of the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech shootings showed up at the Patrick Henry Building to witness the discussion. Many were disappointed with the panel's vote, while some supporters of the legislation viewed getting enough votes to tie as a sign of progress.
"I heard things from opponents today that I never heard before," said Joe Samaha, father of Tech victim Reema Samaha. "So disappointment? I say, no. There's hope. At least they're talking about compromise."
Afterward Tech supporters gathered on the lawn near the Capitol to stage a protest "die-in" and urged lawmakers to reconsider.
Michael White, father of slain Tech student Nicole Regina White, criticized the commission for its split vote.
"Indecision is what caused the murder of my child when they waited two hours to close that school," said White, joined by his wife and nearly two dozen friends of their daughter, all wearing black T-shirts, who made the trip to Richmond from Longwood University.
"We can't continue to wait for this to happen," White said. "We have to be proactive, not reactive."
Five of the nine legislators on the commission -- four Republicans and one Democrat -- voted against the measure. The Democrat who voted no was Del. Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry, whose rural district includes part of Carroll County, which hosts a large gun show.
Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, chairman of the commission, voted in favor of recommending the measure.
Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, vice chairman of the commission and a member of the Courts of Justice committee, voted against the recommendation. But Stolle, a former police officer, signaled that there might be room for compromise on the measure.
He said gun show promoters could provide private sellers at the shows access to a licensed dealer who could do voluntary criminal background checks on people who purchase firearms from private sellers.
Currently, only federally licensed gun dealers are required to do background checks on the people who purchase weapons from them at gun shows.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.
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