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Bills saying it is all right to use deadly force against intruders in your home, including one from Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, R-Staunton, are moving easily through the General Assembly.

On January 31, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1508, originally a solid shooting range protection bill, and House Bill 2471, a background check reform bill.

On Wednesday, February 8, three NRA-opposed bills will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in Hearing Room 343 of the Capital Building, at 1:00 p.m.

This Monday, February 6, the Virginia Senate is expected to cast its final vote on Senate Bill 323, legislation which would repeal the archaic prohibition of purchasing more than one handgun per month.  This vote is expected to be very close so it is important that you continue to contact your state Senator and urge him or her to vote for this legislation on Monday.

Senate Bill 2975 is slated to be heard in the Senate Public Safety, Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee (PGM) on Thursday, February 9th at 2:45 p.m. in conference room 224.  Introduced by state Senator Shan Tsutsui (D-4), this anti-gun legislation would mandate that all Hawaii gun owners report the theft of a stolen firearm within 72 hours of discovering that theft.

As expected, the State Senate passed by for the day final consideration of SB 323, Senator Bill Carrico's bill to repeal Virginia's handgun rationing bill.  It is expected that the bill will be debated and a final vote on passage will be held on Monday, February 6.

Arizona House Bill 2728, NRA-backed pro-hunting legislation introduced earlier this week by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety on Wednesday, February 8th.  Enactment of HB 2728 would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.  This bill needs your support!  Please contact committee members and request their support of this pro-hunting legislation.

Arizona House Bill 2728, NRA-backed pro-hunting legislation introduced earlier this week by state Representative David Gowan (R-30), is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety on Wednesday, February 8th.  Enactment of HB 2728 would allow hunters in Arizona to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting.  This bill needs your support!  Please contact committee members and request their support of this pro-hunting legislation.

Senate Bill 26, sponsored by state Senator Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque), received a “do pass” recommendation in the Senate Public Affairs Committee on January 31.  This legislation is now expected to be considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee TOMORROW (Saturday, February 4) although at press time an exact time is not known.  Senators will be working this weekend, so please call Senate Judiciary Committee members on Saturday morning and urge them to support SB 26.  Contact information for the Committee Members can be found here.

House Bill 4045 is scheduled for a hearing and possible work session in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, February 6, at 8:00 a.m.  Introduced by state Representative Kim Thatcher (R-25), HB 4045 would provide for the confidentiality of Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders’ personal information.  A similar measure was introduced last session and passed in the state House, but was held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

On Wednesday, February 1, NRA-backed Senate Bill 243 received final passage in the Indiana Senate by an overwhelming 42 to 8 vote, after adoption of an amendment that clarifies misdemeanor charges for unlawful hunting with a suppressor. 

An air of inevitability seems to be setting in among those who oppose repealing Virginia's handgun rationing law.  Evidence this article in today's Washington Post.
This time around, with more conservative Republicans in the Senate, the bill made it out of committee. The full Senate passed it in a preliminary vote Thursday, one day after the House passed its own version of the measure. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) has indicated that he will sign the legislation.This is not to say that opponents of repealing the law are going away quietly.  They continue to dredge up the fear mongering we heard almost 20 years ago when the law was passed and signed into law.
Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), who opposed the legislation, predicted that illegal gun-running will once again thrive in the commonwealth.

“We’re going to become the gun distribution center of the East Coast, just like we were before,” he said.The gun ban lobby tells us it is thriving now, which is why they say we need to close the so-called "gun show loophole."

Some 40 bills related to firearms have been introduced this year, the vast majority advancing the rights of law abiding gun owners.  Most of these will pass and be signed into law.  It will be a good year for gun owners in the Commonwealth.

The State Senate will convene at 11:00 AM today.  SB 323, repeal of handgun rationing is on Third Reading Regular Calendar (bills that were not reported unanimously from committee).  It is likely all of the bills on Third Reading Regular Calendar will be passed by for the day so legislators can get home for the weekend, but it is no guaranteed.  VSSA will monitor the proceedings and will post as soon as action is taken.

On Wednesday, February 1, West Virginia Senator John Unger (D-16) introduced Senate Bill 478, which would create an apprentice hunting license for all residents and non-residents of West Virginia.  SB 478 is similar to current youth hunting licenses, as its goal is to place new hunters afield under the supervision of an adult eighteen years of age or older who possesses a valid West Virginia hunting license.  This would allow the “apprentice” to be introduced to hunting without having to take the otherwise required hunter education course.

The state House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on a critical firearm bill on Monday, February 6. Please call AND e-mail your state Representative today and urge him or her to support HB 1523.  This much-needed pro-gun bill would make critical changes to enhance Pennsylvania’s firearm preemption law.

Vitriolic anti-gun mayor Michael Bloomberg (I-NYC) and his gun control group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), are paying for their 30 seconds of fame.  According to a New York Times piece, Bloomberg will join his gun-grabbing cohort, Mayor Tom Menino of Boston (D), in a Super Bowl-themed ad calling for more gun control laws.