Richmond's Mayor and Police Chief went all dealers -- including gun-show sellers -- to perform background checks at gun shows.
A bill before a General Assembly committee Thursday would have done that.
"This would be another tool in our arsenal to reduce crime", said Mayor Dwight Jones, Chairman of the Virginia Chapter of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, testifying today on House Bill 1234. A bill sponsored by Delegate Jennifer McClellan of Richmond.
"We live with the horror of the tragedy of that day everyday 24/7. What we're trying to do is prevent that pain and that tragedy on someone else", said Lori Haas, the mother of a Virginia Tech student wounded during the shootings.
House Bill 1234 would require all prospective buyers at a gun show to undergo an instant criminal background check.
But before the vote, opponents argued that most criminals get guns by stealing them, and secondly, they believe the bill would hurt the promoters of local gun shows.
In the end, House Bill 1234 was defeated 4-1.
Henrico Delegate Bill Janis (Henrico) says that's a good thing because if it were to become law, it would be the first time Virginia would place restrictions on the casual sale of guns, using a gun show as a pretense.
"Think about the other casual sales and transfer of firearms. What happens when my grandfather wants to give my son the family heirloom shot gun [will he need to run a background check]"? says Janis.
Despite today's loss, Delegate McClellan still believes in the bill.
"I think this is a step forward. We will keep going until we make progress", says McClellan
CBS 6 wanted to know what your new governor thinks of the so-called gun show loop hole.
McDonnell spokesperson Tucker Martin said, in part, " What is really being discussed here is mandating government regulation of firearms between law-abiding individuals... And Bob McDonnell does not support such an expansion of government regulation into the private affairs of law abiding citizens".
A bill before a General Assembly committee Thursday would have done that.
"This would be another tool in our arsenal to reduce crime", said Mayor Dwight Jones, Chairman of the Virginia Chapter of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, testifying today on House Bill 1234. A bill sponsored by Delegate Jennifer McClellan of Richmond.
"We live with the horror of the tragedy of that day everyday 24/7. What we're trying to do is prevent that pain and that tragedy on someone else", said Lori Haas, the mother of a Virginia Tech student wounded during the shootings.
House Bill 1234 would require all prospective buyers at a gun show to undergo an instant criminal background check.
But before the vote, opponents argued that most criminals get guns by stealing them, and secondly, they believe the bill would hurt the promoters of local gun shows.
In the end, House Bill 1234 was defeated 4-1.
Henrico Delegate Bill Janis (Henrico) says that's a good thing because if it were to become law, it would be the first time Virginia would place restrictions on the casual sale of guns, using a gun show as a pretense.
"Think about the other casual sales and transfer of firearms. What happens when my grandfather wants to give my son the family heirloom shot gun [will he need to run a background check]"? says Janis.
Despite today's loss, Delegate McClellan still believes in the bill.
"I think this is a step forward. We will keep going until we make progress", says McClellan
CBS 6 wanted to know what your new governor thinks of the so-called gun show loop hole.
McDonnell spokesperson Tucker Martin said, in part, " What is really being discussed here is mandating government regulation of firearms between law-abiding individuals... And Bob McDonnell does not support such an expansion of government regulation into the private affairs of law abiding citizens".
