|
 McAuliffe, a Democrat, struck the deal with the
Republican-controlled legislature last month. Some lawmakers and gun
rights groups had objected to Attorney General Keith Herring's
decision in December to stop honoring concealed-handgun permits from
25 states.
"Virginians elect their leaders to work together to get things done,
and today I am proud to say we did just that," McAuliffe said in a
statement.
McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, called
the package the biggest step forward on gun safety in more than two
decades.
Under the new laws, Virginia must recognize concealed-handgun
permits from all other states, a rollback of Herring's stance.
 Virginia can confiscate firearms from anyone who is under a
permanent protective order for domestic violence offenses. The
legislature had rejected such measures for years.
Virginia State Police also will attend gun shows to provide
voluntary background checks for private sellers.
Because of the compromise, McAuliffe has come under criticism from
gun control advocates, including Everytown for Gun Safety, the
organization founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Everytown for Gun Safety had poured money last year into Virginia,
the home of the National Rifle Association gun lobby, in a failed
bid to have Democrats take control of the state Senate.
[to top of second column] |
Reacting to McAuliffe's approval of the legislation, the Coalition
to Stop Gun Violence praised the domestic abuse provision as a step
in the right direction.
But it said the concealed-carry law would let Virginians who are not
eligible for a permit to circumvent it by getting a permit from
another state and then carry a gun in Virginia.
"In addition to the public safety concerns, this new approach sends
a terrible message that Virginia is unwilling to enforce its own
laws," the group said.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
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