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Bill Extending Background Check Processing Time for Gun Purchases Moving Forward

Last year, Democrats took action on a host of new gun control laws. Now, they are coming back around to make some changes.

The State Police currently have three days to do a background check on someone who wants to buy a firearm. But Delegate Alfonso Lopez, a Democrat from Arlington, says the State Police should have five days to do that check. And, he says there are hundreds of examples for why this change is needed. 

 

“787 transactions in 2020 were denied in three days or less," Lopez says. "However, 235 took more than three days. So a purchase would have been allowed to go forward. 235 examples." 

 

But, Phillip Van Cleve of the Virginia Citizens Defense League says the delay won't help anyone. 

 

"If we keep expanding the time, you're taking the pressure off the police to do it in a timely fashion," explains Van Cleve. "This whole system was sold to gun owners as an instant check, and the longer you stretch it the more that becomes a joke. We strongly oppose it." 

 

The bill Lopez introduced expanding the number of days for a background check has already passed the House and it’s now being considered in the Senate, where it passed a committee on a party-line vote.

 

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

Michael Pope is an author and journalist who lives in Old Town Alexandria.