RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)—January is shaping up to be a loaded legislative session, in Virginia and nationally.
Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey announced Wednesday that he will introduce a plan to ban assault style weapons, along with large capacity magazines. Morrissey criticized Gov. Bob McDonnell’s idea to “arm teachers,” which was discussed Tuesday during the show “Ask the Governor” on WTOP radio.
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (FAWB), expired on September 13, 2004. The President said Tuesday that he will support the efforts of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, to introduce legislation to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
“Virginia should not wait for Congress to act. Virginia needs to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines during the 2013 General Assembly session!”
New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California all have bans of assault style/semi-automatic weapons.
“Lets do something today…the time to act is now!,” said Morrissey, and he referenced the recent tragedy in Newtown, as well as other mass shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, and Oregon.
The delegate said that semi-automatic/assault style weapons “have no place other than on the battlefield.” He also dismissed the claims that sportsmen need such weapons.
“How is it ‘sport’ to go out and shoot Bambi using an assault rifle and accompanying 50 cartridge magazine?” said Morrissey.
Governor McDonnell joins the governor of Texas and several legislators across the country, embracing the idea of arming adults in schools. Parents are split on the idea in Virginia.
A day after announcing that he “sobbed” in front of the television with his wife as news of the tragic Newtown shooting came in; McDonnell discussed allowing guns on campus. He also called for a school task force to review school safety in Virginias.
Morrissey said that he is introducing this legislation in part because “the answer is not to arm our administrators and teachers, but rather, ban these hideous weapons.”
The delegate’s legislation will be introduced on the first day of the 2013 General Assembly Session.
