General Assembly wrap up

House considers bill to expand Sunday liquor sales

Selling liquor on Sunday traditionally has been
prohibited in Virginia, but a bill in the House would
allow state-owned liquor stores in several cities to
stay open seven days a week.

Delegate Thomas D. Gear, R-Hampton, introduced
House Bill 908 to let ABC stores in cities
with 100,000 residents or more sell alcohol on
Sundays. The list includes Richmond, Hampton,
Newport News and Chesapeake.

In 2004, a bill was passed that allowed the
liquor stores operated by the Virginia Department
of Alcoholic Beverage Control to open on Sunday
in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and some cities in
Northern Virginia.

“If they want hard liquor, I’d rather them buy it
at the (ABC) store and take it home . than go to
a restaurant and drive home,” Gear said.

One group opposed to the bill is the Virginia Assembly
of Independent Baptists. Executive Director
Jack Knapp said alcohol is already too available.

“If I could have my way, we would go back to
prohibition, but I know that’s not going to happen,”
Knapp said.

Knapp lobbied against the expansion of liquor
sales in 2004. He said if it passed, Sunday hours
would incrementally be authorized in more localities
in the future.

Brief by Alexander Harris

School sex-offender ban might be extended

Sex offenders will not be allowed on school
property at any time if a new bill is passed in the
General Assembly. Currently, offenders are banned
only during school hours.

House Bill 567, proposed by Delegate Anne
B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville, would make it
illegal for a convicted, violent sex offender to be
on the premises of a public or private elementary
school, a secondary school or a children’s day-care
center at any time without prior consent from the
commonwealth’s attorney and from the facilities’
administration.

The bill is being addressed in the House Courts
of Justice Criminal Law subcommittee.

Caleb Cox, Crockett-Stark’s legislative assistant,
said the bill aims to clear up language on whether
school hours include activities, such as sports, that
usually take place after a normal school day.

A Wythe County assistant commonwealth attorney
suggested the bill after noting that a violent
sex offender was attending every pee-wee football
game held at one of the county schools.

Cox said the bill would act as an additional
safeguard against offenders who aren’t approved
to be on school property.

Brief by Travis Lyle

No satisfaction for Virginia song lovers

If there is a song in the hearts of Virginians, the
Senate has put it on pause for a year.

Senate Bill 736, sponsored by Sen. Ralph K.
Smith, R-Roanoke, would have made “Cradle of
Liberty,” by Thomas L. DeBusk, Virginia’s official
state song. However, the bill was carried over
until next year in the Senate General Laws and
Technology Committee.

Cynthia Langley of Norfolk sang along to a
recording of “Cradle of Liberty” in front of the
Senate committee Wednesday.

DeBusk said he and Langley are friends and first
met in church, where they sang in the choir.

Both the committee and the audience applauded
after the performance. A few audience members
stood to whistle and shout praise.

Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, said the
song was “one of the better versions I’ve heard,” but
he called for the formation of a commission to select
a new state song from a group of applicants.

“It made it farther than last year, as it didn’t get
killed immediately. So, I’m happy with that,” DeBusk
said. “It got a great response here today, so I think
over time, perhaps, it will carry some weight.”

While Langley remained optimistic, she said she
wished the committee had sent the song for a vote
in the full Senate and then to the House.

Brief by Alex Bahr