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One Gun Control Bill Survives General Assembly Scrutiny

Virginia lawmakers have been mulling over a series of gun bills-and only one gun-control measure has survived a Senate Committee.  While the bill has lost some of its teeth, its sponsor says it nevertheless makes progress in the fight against domestic violence. 

Senator Barbara Favola's bill was originally defeated. But a Senate Committee reconsidered it and passed a watered-down version that was sent to the Finance panel.

"Those who have been convicted of misdemeanor stalking of a household member, sexual battery, or sexual assault of a household member, would now lose their right to possess or transport a firearm for one year, and then they could petition the court to have that right restored. I had it at five years--the committee chose to amend it to one".

Those convicted in federal court would be able to petition for some restoration of rights.  Favola says this is directly tied to women’s and family issues because more women are likely to be murdered in homes where domestic abusers own a gun.  The bill is the only one of several measures supported by Governor McAuliffe that has survived legislative scrutiny.

Tommie McNeil is a State Capitol reporter who has been covering Virginia and Virginia politics for more than a decade. He originally hails from Maryland, and also doubles as the evening anchor for 1140 WRVA in Richmond.
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