Va Senate kills gun-show loophole bill -again
Published: February 4, 2009
Updated: February 4, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Senate has voted again to kill a bill requiring background checks of most buyers at gun shows.
Senators rejected the bill on Tuesday, but then voted to reconsider it a day later. Without discussion, they killed the bill on a 19-21 vote on Wednesday.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Henry Marsh, had said there may be attempts to water down the bill to make it more likely to pass. But on Wednesday, he asked for a vote on the original bill.
Marsh’s bill would have closed the so-called “gun-show loophole,“ where private sellers at the public events are not required to conduct the background checks that licensed dealers must perform.
It would have required background checks on everyone except those who already have a permit to carry a concealed weapon or those purchasing antique guns.
Reader Reactions
Since the aim was not to prevent anyone from purchasing a firearm - this bill made sense. It merely means that the person buying the gun has to wait a little longer before they can buy the gun. The cost for background check could be recovered with the price of the gun.
SO - perhaps making all private sellers responsible for any (IF any) illegal activity with that weapon would make them more careful as to whom they are selling to?
Why are we so afraid to take this step? I guess the NRA lobbyists are just too powerful.
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