Please Stand-Up and Make Your Voice Heard!
Today, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee took action on two anti-gun bills.
First, the Committee passed Senate Bill 1257 by a vote of 8-7. This legislation would require that all firearms transactions taking place at gun shows be subject to background checks, require gun show promoters to register all vendors (private citizens as well as federally licensed dealers), and maintain that registry for four years following the date of the gun show. Anti-gun activists are attempting to end gun shows in Virginia by pushing legislation that will restrict the right of citizens to sell their private property without government permission.
The Committee also referred Senate Bill 1166, sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-10), to the Senate Finance Committee. This bill would increase the gun tax charged by the Virginia State Police to run the mandatory instant background check from $2 to $5, a 150% increase for Virginia residents. For non-state residents, the legislation mandates an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8.
Please contact your State Senator TODAY and respectfully urge him or her to oppose SB1257 when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here. Also, please contact the members of the Senate Finance Committee and respectfully urge them to oppose SB1166 when it is considered by the Committee. Contact information for the Committee can be found below.
Contact Information for the Senate Finance Committee:
State Senator John Watkins (R-10)
(804) 698-7510
[email protected]
State Senator William C. Wampler (R-40)
(804) 698-7540
[email protected]
State Senator Walter A. Stosch (R-12)
(804) 698-7512
[email protected]
State Senator Edward Houck (D-17)
(804) 698-7517
[email protected]
State Senator Janet Howell (D-32)
(804) 698-7532
[email protected]
State Senator Richard Saslaw (D-35)
(804) 698-7535
[email protected]
State Senator Kenneth Stolle (R-8)
(804) 698-7508
[email protected]
State Senator Frederick Quayle (R-13)
(804) 698-7513
[email protected]
State Senator Thomas Norment, Jr. (R-3)
(804) 698-7503
[email protected]
State Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R-24)
(804) 698-7524
[email protected]
State Senator John Miller (D-1)
(804) 698-7501
[email protected]
State Senator Henry Marsh, III (D-16)
(804) 698-7516
[email protected]
State Senator Louise Lucas (D-18)
(804) 698-7518
[email protected]
State Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31)
(804) 698-7531
[email protected]
State Senator Roscoe Reynolds (D-20)
(804) 698-7520
[email protected]