Tuesday, February 03, 2009

NRA Alert: VA State Senate threatening gun rights

Gun Show Bill to be Reconsidered by the Virginia Senate!
Please Continue Contacting Your State Senator!


On Tuesday, February 3, the Virginia Senate voted 18-22 to defeat Senate Bill 1257. However, the Senate then voted to reconsider the bill as early as tomorrow. SB1257 remains a serious threat to our rights. Since the Senate may reconsider SB1257 as early as tomorrow, it is important that you contact your State Senator immediately. Please ask your Senator to oppose SB1257 in any form, without any amendments or substitutes.

SB1257 would impose sweeping restrictions on our Second Amendment rights and set the stage for a ban on all private firearm sales in Virginia. Senate Bill 1257 would require that all firearms transactions taking place at gun shows be subjected to background checks, even those occurring between family and friends. Any violations would be a felony and could result in the loss of your gun rights.

If passed, this bill will set the stage for a ban on all private firearms sales in Virginia that don’t go through a dealer, as gun ban advocates will no doubt call for a ban on private sales as well.

The bill would also require gun show promoters to register anyone wishing to sell a firearm at a gun show, including private citizens, as a “vendor”. Gun show promoters would be required to maintain that registry for four years following the date of the gun show and transmit the name and address of any “vendors” (anyone selling a firearm) to law enforcement. The names and addresses of those selling a firearm at a gun show would be available to the public.

It is imperative that you contact your State Senator IMMEDIATELY at their Richmond office at (804) 698-7410 or (804) 698-1470 and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 1257 without any amendments or substitutes. More contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.

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