Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The State Senate Tuesday approved, without any debate, an assault weapons ban. Senators also approved a requirement that gun owners lock up their weapons and ammunition if there are children present. Failure to do so would be a Class 4 Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine.
The "lock" requirement proposal follows the wounding of a teacher at Richneck Elementary in Newport News by a six-year old. The child used the family's legally purchased firearm. Opponents of the bill argued there are other laws that would cover this exact circumstance.
The bills now head to the House of Delegates, where there is a Republican majority. The assault weapons ban is unlikely to pass, and the lock requirement is not likely to pass either. In the bill, an assault weapon is defined the same as it was in the 1994 Federal assault weapons ban.
Includes Assault Weapons Ban
