On Jan. 23, the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted down SB-109, Gov. Tim Kaine’s (D) proposed legislation requiring background checks for all private firearm transfers at gun shows in the state.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) said the bill would have been a first step toward requiring government approval before individuals may sell their private property, even between family and friends. The bill was defeated by a 9-6 vote, but was referred to the Virginia Crime Commission for further study.

The Newport News Daily Press noted that last November, lawmakers and political insiders incessantly wondered how the General Assembly would change with Democrats in control of the Senate. After the Jan. 23 committee votes on gun bills, The Daily Press noted that not much has changed. The votes were by almost the same margin as last year.

Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) sponsored two restriction proposals and she stepped to the podium to defend them shortly after another gun-control bill died. She began her pitch with a realistic tone: “I suffer from no delusions.”

One of Locke’s bills would allow cities and counties to ban firearms from libraries and the other would keep gunowners from bringing firearms to outdoor festivals and carnivals. Locke noted that libraries ban knives, bats and other weapons, but do not have the power to stop gunowners.
The Virginia Municipal League and lobbyists for Newport News and Portsmouth backed Locke’s proposals. But she faced tough questioning from Republican lawmakers and strong opposition from gun rights groups like the NRA and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), according to the newspaper.

On Jan. 24, SB-617, a bill to establish an “apprentice” hunter-licensing program, passed out of the full Virginia Senate with a 69-0 vote. The measure would allow new hunters to hunt accompanied by an experienced licensed hunter in the field without being required to take a Hunters Education class beforehand.