A bill to close a loophole in Virginia law that allows unlicensed dealers at gun shows to skirt criminal background checks for buyers died in a House committee Friday, likely spelling doom for the highly touted gun-control measure spurred by the Virginia Tech massacre.
In a 13-9 vote that split along party lines in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee, the Republican majority scuttled two measures that would have required “firearms show vendors” to check criminal history of the buyer. Under existing law, only federally licensed gun dealers are required to conduct the checks.
The vote passed over the objection of both Gov. Tim Kaine and families of victims in the April 16 Tech shootings, who attended Thursday’s hearing to urge the bill’s passage. A similar measure has much stronger chances in the state Senate, which came under Democratic control this year following the November elections, but would likely face a similar fate when it is reviewed by the House later in the session.
“Our bill is in the Senate, and we have great expectations for the decision there,” said Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey. “If we can get it out of that one house, that will be a major victory.”
In defending the decision, Republicans pointed to the fact that student gunman Sueng-Hui Cho did not purchase either of the guns he used in the massacre, which killed 32 students and faculty, at a gun show. They also challenged the use of the term “gun show loophole,” because guns can change hands at other settings like yard sales and through newspaper ads without background checks.
“There is no such thing as a gun show loophole,” said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, a member of committee.
“That’s a term of art that’s been adopted by the anti-gun left to try and advance an agenda that will end in the absolute restriction on private sale of guns.”
Del. Dave Marsden, D-Burke, who submitted one of the two bills shot down by the committee Thursday, said a gun show gives an easy outlet for someone legally prohibited to buy a gun to acquire one.
“We have laws against felons, adjudicated mentally ill people, and people under protective order for abuse from getting guns, and this is merely trying to enforce that law at gun shows,” he said.
