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Health & Fitness

News From the Virginia Legislature

Bill to Ban Guns in Legislative Meetings Advances in the Virginia House. For more news on the Bill's Progress, and other local legal news, see our blog at www.stronglawfirm.com

As some of you may know, I have been blogging about gun control since the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  I vowed to keep tabs on the Virignia legislature's efforts at dealing with the new world of gun violence that is creeping into our otherwise-safer-than-ever-communities in Virginia. 

So today comes news about a new bill (HB 1391) proposing to ban handguns from (other than assembly members and police) public legislative meeetings. 

Sounds like a sound idea to promote civil discourse and reduce the risk of tempers getting dangerously out of control leading to use of weapons at public meetings, right?  We have plenty of experience with angry citizens shouting and disrupting a variety of public meetings over the Health Care Law two years ago, and more such outbursts could lead to use of those guns.  What is the compelling need to carry the guns in the first place at such meetings?  There is just no need for guns in public political meetings.

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Well, the infomal survey posted on this bill has it losing two-to-one by responding visitors on the Virginia Sunlight Web blog as of today (1/18/13). 

The bill's progress in the Virginia House is faring better.  It has been referred to the Rules Committee with amendments.  Some thought this might die in the Public Safety Committee, but it is still alive and would certainly get my vote!

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 Michael Strong

 

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