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http://www.newsmax.com/us/virginia_gun_laws/2008/01/08/62707.html
Va. Gov Proposes Gun-Show Sales Checks
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Timothy Kaine on Tuesday proposed requiring background
checks for anyone who buys firearms at a gun show, weighing in on a
politically sensitive issue that has grown more heated since the Virginia
Tech shootings.
In Virginia and most other states, people can buy firearms from private,
unlicensed dealers at gun shows without going through a background check.
Such checks are required for sales by licensed dealers, whether they are at
gun shows or somewhere else.
Attempts to expand background checks in the state have failed repeatedly,
but the latest effort has support from relatives of several of those killed
or wounded by a mentally ill student at Virginia Tech. Some of the family
members joined Kaine for his announcement Tuesday at Virginia State Police
headquarters in Richmond.
The gunman, who killed 32 people before committing suicide April 16, passed
a background check and bought two guns from stores despite having been
deemed mentally defective by a Virginia court. Kaine has since signed an
executive order requiring that anyone ordered by a court to get mental
health treatment be added to a state police database of people barred from
buying guns.
Opponents of expanding background checks at gun shows have noted the weapons
used in the attack were not purchased at a gun show, but supporters say
changes are needed to better prevent mentally disturbed people from arming
themselves.
Last month, Kaine proposed remedies for failings in the state's mental
health system that were exposed by the shootings, during which a mentally
ill student killed 32 people and himself.
Va. Gov Proposes Gun-Show Sales Checks
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
RICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Timothy Kaine on Tuesday proposed requiring background
checks for anyone who buys firearms at a gun show, weighing in on a
politically sensitive issue that has grown more heated since the Virginia
Tech shootings.
In Virginia and most other states, people can buy firearms from private,
unlicensed dealers at gun shows without going through a background check.
Such checks are required for sales by licensed dealers, whether they are at
gun shows or somewhere else.
Attempts to expand background checks in the state have failed repeatedly,
but the latest effort has support from relatives of several of those killed
or wounded by a mentally ill student at Virginia Tech. Some of the family
members joined Kaine for his announcement Tuesday at Virginia State Police
headquarters in Richmond.
The gunman, who killed 32 people before committing suicide April 16, passed
a background check and bought two guns from stores despite having been
deemed mentally defective by a Virginia court. Kaine has since signed an
executive order requiring that anyone ordered by a court to get mental
health treatment be added to a state police database of people barred from
buying guns.
Opponents of expanding background checks at gun shows have noted the weapons
used in the attack were not purchased at a gun show, but supporters say
changes are needed to better prevent mentally disturbed people from arming
themselves.
Last month, Kaine proposed remedies for failings in the state's mental
health system that were exposed by the shootings, during which a mentally
ill student killed 32 people and himself.
