Info@vahv.org

 

 

State Office


P. O.  Box  271
Norfolk,VA        23501

 

(757) 623-7918 (phone)
(757) 625-1946 (fax) 

 

 

www. vahv.org

2001 Virginia General Assembly Candidates' Questionnaire

 

Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to answer the questions on this form. You may expect a follow-up contact from one of your constituents who supports our positions on these issues.

Virginians Against Handgun Violence pledges to report your answers accurately and without embellishment. If you are an incumbent, we will also report your voting record on gun violence issues. Once compiled, this data will be reported to our membership and supporters. We will present your responses to neutral reporting organizations such as Project Vote Smart, to organizations which may endorse candidates, and to the media. In addition, this data will also be made available through our website.

We understand that your final decision will be based on the actual wording of any proposed legislation, please answer the questions to the best of your ability by marking the appropriate box in the grid following the questions. A space for any comments is provided on the fourth page. Before each question you'll find an explanation as to why Virginians Against Handgun Violence has concern regarding these issues. Feel free to add any comments you wish or to offer suggestions, and don't forget to sign and date the survey on the last page.  Once again, thank you for your time.

 

 Please return by mail or fax to (757) 625-1946, by October 13, 2001

 

(To mail this back, simply fold the entire form the opposite of the way it came, with the address section below visable. Either tape or staple it shut. If you choose to fax it back, you need to send only the last two pages.)

Please use the grid after the text of the questions to indicate your response

Question #1

The purpose of handgun safety locks is to prevent access to guns by children and other unauthorized users. Currently nearly every consumer product, including teddy bears, has to meet minimum safety standards. Firearm safety locks are not required to meet such standards. From 1994-1997 in Virginia, 35 young people under the age of 20 were killed by unintentional firearm shootings and an additional 248 young people were wounded.

1a.) Would you SUPPORT legislation to develop and require safety standards for child safety locks in Virginia?
1b.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that requires that only approved safety locks (those that have met the safety standards) be included with the sale of all handguns in Virginia?

Question #2
Currently only individuals who purchase a gun at a gun show from a Federally Licensed Firearms (FFL) dealer are required to undergo a background check. Criminals and other unauthorized buyers can (and do) purchase guns at gun shows, without submitting to a background check, if they buy a gun from an unregulated "private" seller who is not an FFL dealer, (i.e. the "gun show loophole"). For example, some of the guns used in the Columbine shooting were purchased at a gun show.

2.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would close the gun show loophole (e.g., require that ALL gun buyers at gun shows undergo a background check regardless of whether the gun was purchased from an FFL dealer or private seller)?

Question #3
Currently Federal law (but NOT Virginia state law) prohibits the transport, purchase, and possession of firearms by convicted stalkers and batterers. Virginia authorities do not have the jurisdiction to enforce the Federal statute. Nationally, in 1999, firearms were used in two-thirds of domestic violence homicides, including 41 in Virginia.

3.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would prevent convicted stalkers and domestic abusers from transporting, purchasing and possessing firearms?

Question #4
Currently it is legal to bring firearms onto school property if: 1) the weapon is kept unloaded and separate from the firearm's ammunition; and/or 2) the firearm carrier has a concealed weapon's permit and brings the weapon to the school for an after-hours function such as an evening basketball game or a PTA meeting.

4.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would allow school boards and localities to prohibit the possession of guns on school property, except for law enforcement or specifically authorized school-sponsored programs?

Question #5
Currently concealed weapons permit holders cannot legally bring hidden guns into places that serve alcohol. The gun lobby is seeking to change this statute by allowing those with a concealed weapons permit to bring their guns into such establishments.

5.) Would you SUPPORT retaining current laws which prohibit concealed weapons permit holders from bringing their guns into bars and other places that serve alcohol?

Question #6

Currently gun stores are licensed by the Federal Government and therefore they can only be inspected by a Federal agency (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, or BATF) once every 12 months. Yet, in 1998, nearly 30% of the FFLs inspected were cited for some violations. Additionally, The BATF has reported that 89% of all crime guns traced have changed hands at least once before being used in the crime. It is difficult to stop guns from ending up in the wrong hands because the BATF is staffed to conduct only 600 gun trafficking investigations per year. Legislation is necessary to make it mandatory for state and local officials to conduct inspections of FFL's, and to work with the BATF to trace all guns involved in violent crimes. This will help ensure that gun dealers: 1) are subject to more frequent inspections; 2) keep proper records of gun sales; 3) adhere to mandated regulations; 4) have completed appropriate background checks on gun shop employees; and 5) do not knowingly sell guns to criminals.

6.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would allow state and local law enforcement officials to inspect federal firearms licensed (FFL) dealers' place of business and operations, as well as facilitating additional coordination between Federal, state and local officials to reduce gun trafficking?

Question #7

Current Virginia statutes prohibit individuals from purchasing more than one handgun per month. Since it's passage in 1993, this landmark legislation has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of guns being used in crimes in other states which originally were purchased in Virginia because of the ease of such purchases here. There have been discussions among those opposed to this law to attempt to bring about it's repeal.

7.) Would you SUPPORT retaining the current "one handgun a month " law by voting against any proposed bill which would repeal this law?

Question #8

Despite background checks on gun buyers, unauthorized purchasers still are able to buy guns from FFL dealers in Virginia. For example National Instant Criminal Backround Check System (NICS) records do not contain information on persons committed to mental institutions or who have domestic violence convictions. We need legislation to: 1) ensure that criminal history records, mental health records, and domestic violence conviction records are available to appropriate state agencies; 2) improve the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of the retained records; and 3) control and tighten the access to these records.

8.) Would you SUPPORT legislation designed to streamline the process required to complete background checks for gun buyers and tighten loopholes that allow criminals to purchase guns from FFL dealers?

 

Please put your answers to these questions in this grid Support Oppose
1a.) Would you SUPPORT legislation to develop and require safety standards for child safety locks in Virginia? 1 1
1b.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that requires that only approved safety locks (those that have met the safety standards) be included with the sale of all handguns in Virginia? 1 1
2.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would close the gun show loophole (e.g., require that ALL gun buyers at gun shows undergo a background check regardless of whether the gun was purchased from an FFL dealer or private seller)? 1 1
3.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would prevent convicted stalkers and domestic abusers from transporting, purchasing and possessing firearms? 1 1
4.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would allow school boards and localities to ban the possession of guns on school property, except for law enforcement or specifically authorized school-sponsored programs? 1 1
5.) Would you SUPPORT retaining current laws which prohibit concealed weapons permit holders from bringing their guns into bars and other places that serve alcohol?

1

1
6.) Would you SUPPORT legislation that would allow state and local law enforcement officials to inspect federal firearms licensed (FFL) dealers' place of business and operations, as well as facilitating additional coordination between Federal, state and local officials to reduce gun trafficking?

1

1
7.) Would you SUPPORT retaining the current "one handgun a month " law by voting against any proposed bill which would repeal this law?

1

1
8.) Would you SUPPORT legislation designed to streamline the process required to complete background checks for gun buyers and tighten loopholes that allow criminals to purchase guns from FFL dealers?

1

1

 

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