Gun control advocates suffered a setback last week in the Virginia General Assembly when a bill intended to close the commonwealth's "gun-show loophole" was defeated in committee.
Gov. Tim Kaine and some Senate Democrats sponsored the legislation in response to the Virginia Tech shootings last April. Supporters of the proposed legislation said the bill would have closed a loophole that allows private vendors to sell weapons at gun shows without conducting background checks on prospective buyers. Current law requires only commercial retailers to conduct background checks at gun shows.
The bill was defeated in the Courts of Justice Committee by a vote of 9-6 a week after the House of Delegates defeated similar legislation.
According to Nathan Vassar, legislative aide to committee member Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, committee members wanted to wait for the findings of an independent crime commission before passing the legislation.
"In essence this bill is dead on both the House and Senate sides for this session," Vassar said.
Kaine was highly disappointed by the failure of the legislation in both chambers of the General Assembly, according to Kaine's spokesperson Jeff Tiller.
"The question is do you want a felon to own a gun or do you not," Tiller said. "With this bill not getting out of committees either in the House or Senate, apparently some think that it's fine for felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill to purchase guns at gun shows."
Tiller said the bill had the support of law enforcement, families of Virginia Tech shooting victims and other citizens throughout the commonwealth and added that the governor will continue to pursue similar legislation in the future.
"I can say for the governor ... He would like to see the gun-show loophole closed," Tiller said. "It's too soon to say exactly at this point how to go about it, but he'd like to see it closed."
Opponents of the bill said it would have placed undue restrictions on law-abiding gun sellers and would have little effect on criminals seeking firearms.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights organization, said less than one percent of guns used to commit crimes are purchased at gun shows and noted that it would be very difficult for private sellers to comply with the legislation.
"Even if you found some way to make this work, the impact on crime would be next to zero," Van Cleave said, adding that most guns used by criminals are acquired illegally. "Somebody that wants a gun is going to be able to find a gun."
Van Cleave said he believes the most effective way to prevent future shootings is for citizens to be trained in the use of firearms and to arm themselves.
"You can either be helpless when the guy shows up to kill you, or you can be armed and have a fighting chance to survive," Van Cleave said.
Debate on the gun-show loophole is likely to continue; Vassar said he expects similar legislation to be presented in the General Assembly again next year.
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