Posted on 07/27/2009 10:24:14 AM PDT by HokieMom
Walking the jam-packed aisles of Virginia's biggest gun show, Richard Begay carried a .30-06 Sauer hunting rifle and a hand-lettered cardboard sign on his back asking $1,199.
< snip >
The question of how much to regulate the sale and possession of guns has always been a dividing line in Virginia political contests. This year's gubernatorial candidates -- former attorney general Robert F. McDonnell (R) and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D) -- both have extensive pro-gun records. But the campaign is unfolding at a turbulent and uncertain time in the nation's debate over guns. One unresolved issue in Virginia, where 36 percent of households have a firearm, is whether to close the so-called gun show loophole, which permits freelance sellers like Begay.
The issue gained momentum after the April 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, which left 33 dead, including the student gunman.
"Virginia is ground zero for this debate," said Alexander Howe, a spokesman for Americans United for Safe Streets. Legislation to require background checks for every transaction at a gun show is pending in Congress as both sides strive for the advantage.
President Obama's election triggered a surge in sales among gun buyers, who feared that he and a Democratic-led Congress would push for new regulations. Instead, gun owners have cheered moves by Congress to allow people to carry concealed weapons in national parks and to link voting rights for the District to looser gun regulations.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Damn straight!
Is McDonnell pro-gun enough now to earn the endorsement of the NRA? The article claims they endorsed Deeds last time.
McDonnell is an A+ on guns in my book. He should also be with the NRA.
McDonnell is an A+ on guns in my book. He should also be with the NRA.
"The focus of the families of Virginia Tech, given the magnitude of the tragedy, is the desire to make sure that that pain and suffering and grief is not foisted on anyone else," Haas said. "We suspect that the average seller at a gun show would be more than happy to ask the potential buyer to take the two minutes necessary to do a background check, knowing that that could save the life of their son or daughter, their father or their mother, their grocer or their convenience store clerk, their sheriff or their police officer or their fellow citizen."
My understanding is the shooter at Virginia Tech did undergo a background check and passed because mental health records were disallowed for review at that time.
Good, I’m really sick of the recent trend for dims to win in VA.
That's good. Law enforcement seems to like him, too. 111 Public Safety Leaders Form “Law Enforcement for McDonnell” Coalition
never trust a guy who poarts his name on the side..
never trust a guy who parts his name on the side..
LOL! OK laddie.
There is already an NICS check for purchasers of guns sold at gun shows. This media/leftist advanced fraud has been around forever and is totally untrue. There is no “gunshow” loophole.
Since when is there a background check for rifles and shotguns? I thought that only handguns were covered by that.
Deeds moved decidedly to the left after the Virginia Tech shootings.
He's self-described as being in the "Warner-Kaine" tradition.
Translation: "I'll lie my @$$ off to win, then I'll do what my lib buddies want me to anyway."
I don't know though P8riot might.
So THAT's why the WP endorsed him.
There is a federal background check, the NICS check, along with a state check run on any firearm purchase from a dealer in Virginia, regardless of where the dealer makes the sale. Every state has the NICS requirement for dealers and I believe most, if not all, also run a state check.
In Virginia, like most states, in-state private sales, commonly called face-to-face, do not require a background check. e.g., if you’re a Virginia resident who isn’t a dealer and you want to sell your shotgun, rifle or pistol to your friend down the street who’s also a Va resident, you don’t have to run a background check or keep a record of the sale.
In fact, there is no mechanism for an individual to run a background check - if you wanted to do it, you would have to go to a dealer and pay a transaction fee to have them process the sale.
Purchases from a dealer require the background check, regardless of whether it’s at a gun show or at the dealer’s store. Private transactions don’t require a check, regardless of whether it’s at a gun show or at another location.
The anti-gun liars would have you believe the laws are different at a gun show. In Virginia, the exact same laws apply. There is no loophole.
Some states have passed laws requiring background checks for all sales at gun shows whether by dealers or private parties. That’s what the anti’s are pushing for in Virginia.
Purchases of all modern firearms (black powder guns are not covered - yet) whether they be handguns, rifles, or shotguns through a dealer require a background check. Depending on where you live private transactions do not require a background check.
Thanks for the explanation.
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