Virginia Reverses Course on Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the Republican speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates are set to announce a rare compromise on gun policies that has leaders in both parties applauding.

The gun agreement, which still needs the General Assembly’s approval, would reverse Attorney General Mark R. Herring’s decision last month to sever the reciprocity rights of gun owners in 25 states with standards looser than Virginia’s. The state could take guns away from anyone under a two-year protective order for domestic-violence offenses.

In exchange, the deal requires state police “to be present at every firearms show in the Commonwealth to perform background checks on a voluntary basis”.

Virginia State Police (VSP) had been directed by Herring to stop accepting concealed carry permits those 25 states starting Monday, February 1.

“Our actions today are Virginia wins”, said the governor.

“Gov. McAuliffe should not be willing to recognize concealed carry permits from states where you can get a permit with no safety training, or even if you have a violent criminal record or a stalking conviction – all in exchange for the NRA’s support of watered-down gun safety bills”, said Parker in a statement released through Everytown on Thursday.

People look at handguns as thousands of customers and hundreds of dealers sell, show, and buy guns and other items during The Nation’s Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center Oct. 3.

On December 22 WAPO reported that Attorney General Mark Herring (D) issued unilateral orders to end reciprocal agreements with “Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming”. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence posted a message on their Facebook page, saying McAuliffe had bragged about “his administration’s aggressive new approach to confronting the National Rifle Association”.

“Now he’s preparing to cave to them in a unusual backroom deal”.

Another measure will prohibit the subjects of permanent protective orders from having concealed handgun permits. “I am proud that we were able to strike a historic accord that will keep guns out of the hands of people who would use them for harm”.

Instead, Republican leaders and the governor have been negotiating a compromise out of the situation that has resulted in restoration of reciprocity agreements with other states.

However, since then a packet of anti-gun proposals was scuttled by the Virginia Senate for the second year in a row while a move to bring constitutional carry to the state advanced. The concealed carry permits they issued would no longer be recognized in Virginia.