In Virginia, licensed gun dealers (known as Federal Firearms Licensees, or FFLs) are required to conduct a criminal background check on each and every individual they sell a gun to. However, due to a loophole in federal and state law, unlicensed sellers are also allowed to sell firearms at Virginia gun shows without conducting background checks on purchasers. The Virginia State Police report that between 22 and 35 percent of the firearms sellers at Virginia gun shows do not possess an FFL and are not required by law to perform background checks. This dangerous gun show loophole allows criminals and other prohibited purchasers to obtain firearms without any paper trail or accountability.
In Virginia, licensed gun dealers (known as Federal Firearms Licensees, or FFLs) are required to conduct a criminal background check on each and every individual they sell a gun to. However, due to a loophole in federal and state law, unlicensed sellers are also allowed to sell firearms at Virginia gun shows without conducting background checks on purchasers. The Virginia State Police report that between 22 and 35 percent of the firearms sellers at Virginia gun shows do not possess an FFL and are not required by law to perform background checks. This dangerous gun show loophole allows criminals and other prohibited purchasers to obtain firearms without any paper trail or accountability.
We, the undersigned, urge you to pass legislation during the current legislative session to close the gun show loophole in Virginia.
We know that background checks work. In 2005, the Virginia State Police reported that background checks by licensed dealers prevented 2,668 illegal gun transactions in Virginia. It is time to extend background checks to all gun sales in Virginia so that we can be certain that those buying guns in the Commonwealth are indeed "law-abiding citizens." This is the minimum that we should do to honor not only those lost at Virginia Tech, but also the 800 other Virginians lost to gun violence every year.
Governor Kaine's Executive Order No. 50 was important and praiseworthy, but additional measures are necessary to prevent dangerous individuals from purchasing firearms in the Commonwealth. Passing legislation to require background checks on all firearms sales at gun shows is a good, common-sense next step to protect public safety in Virginia.
We signed the "CLOSE VIRGINIA'S GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE" petition!
# 390:
1:55 pm PST, Nov 16,Dallas Sweezy, Virginia
# 389:
9:04 am PST, Nov 2,Avid Kollector, Washington D.C.
This constitutes a violation of the Second Amendment. This is the "infringe" part of the sentence "shall not be infringed." As a PRIVATE collector, I can sell, trade and buy from anyone, and anywhere. There IS NO loophole. All I have to do is contact a private seller, and buy or trade with this individual. "Closing" this "loophole" will only give criminals additional incentive to violate laws that are already in place. Your argument is weak.
# 388:
8:35 am PDT, Oct 10,Margaret Bowman, Virginia
# 385:
6:12 pm PDT, Aug 18,Betsy Flowers, Virginia
My husband and son are hunters, hunting guns have always been in our home, however they were purchased legally, with background checks. Why would any law abiidng citizen be opposed to a background check ? It's just common sense, in this day and age, to do all that is possible, to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. I don't understand how any rational citizen could oppose this law.
# 379:
9:30 am PDT, Jun 23,Colin Goddard, Virginia
# 375:
6:58 am PDT, May 12,Name not displayed, Virginia
To this day thinking about Virginia Tech brings tears. My child lived through, survived and graduated from VT. Only you can your child's advocate.
# 372:
6:29 pm PDT, Apr 22,Haley Flanagan, Virginia
# 371:
11:10 am PDT, Apr 21,Amber Smith, Virginia
# 368:
2:06 pm PDT, Apr 19,Heather Wrenn, Virginia
As a Virginia resident my entire life and friend too many VT students that were affected by the tragedy I am very concerned about this loophole. I am scared to know that firearms can so easily be purchased and I am committed to supporting the effort to close this loophole for good!
# 367:
9:15 am PDT, Apr 16,82hokie Fleet, Virginia
A waiting period should apply to ALL gun purchases.
# 365:
7:15 pm PDT, Apr 15,Name not displayed, Virginia
# 364:
7:11 pm PDT, Apr 15,Lisa Hamilton, Virginia
# 362:
1:05 pm PDT, Apr 13,Kris Favreaux, Virginia
when loopholes like this deteriorate the fabric of our most basic rights, to life, comfort and safety it is inherently unconstitutional and must be changed. we must stop sacrificing inalienable rights to cater to special interest groups who can not see that they support massacre on a daily basis, and for what? the comfort that a gun can compensate for their cowardice?
# 361:
12:27 pm PDT, Apr 13,Name not displayed, Virginia
This gun show loophole is a disgrace!!
# 359:
8:52 pm PDT, Apr 12,Rosemary Gallant, Armed Forces Pacific
I am a Virginia taxpayer and resident although I am posted overseas for the government. It is almost impossible to explain events like Virginia Tech to people from other countries. We need to close this loophole to prevent further tragedies.
# 352:
9:28 pm PDT, Apr 5,Rebecca Lawrence, Virginia
There are many rights we need to protect in our country, but the right to buy a gun at a gun show is not a freedom we are handling responsibly.
