The Washington Post reports that the change has been a longtime priority for the Virginia gun lobby, which is finding a friendlier atmosphere in Richmond since the GOP took control of the state Senate — the last remaining Democratic bastion in state government — after the November election. Republicans had already controlled the state House and governor’s office.
The monthly handgun ban is one of several pro-gun bills making progress early in this year’s legislative session. “This week,” The Post reports , “the Senate passed a bill prohibiting localities from requiring that people seeking concealed handgun permits submit fingerprints as part of their applications. The House passed a bill allowing government employees to store guns and ammunition in personal cars parked in workplace lots, including those at child-care centers and parks.”
Other longtime conservative goals are making similar headway in Richmond. On Wednesday, the state Senate approved a contentious measure requiring women seeking abortions to first undergo ultrasound examinations, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. “The GOP-dominated House of Delegates is expected to give the measure swift approval,” the paper reports, and Governor Bob McDonnell is expected to sign it.
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