Gun Rights on the Capitol

Colin Hannifin

Columnist

With the tragedy in Tucson barely a week old, the gun control debate has found new life in Virginia, making its way to Richmond’s 2011 Lobby Day. The day, which fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, found both proponents and opponents of gun control rallying for their cause.
Gun control, a topic of perennial debate, was thrust back into the national spotlight in light of the Jan. 8 shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, among several others, in Tucson, Ariz.. The tragedy highlighted the dangers of lax gun control, and the very real danger a single individual with a firearm can present.
The debate has made it to Virginia with renewed vigor. Many opponents to increased gun control worry the Tucson tragedy will lead to a wave of new legislation while proponents retort that new, stricter legislation is exactly what’s needed.
Legislative bodies, both at the state and federal level, are left trying to balance the rights of individuals to own and carry guns with their obligation to ensure public safety. It’s a fine line to walk, and most have their own ideals of the balance between the rights of the individual and the safety of the public.
For Virginia residents, both the United States and Virginia constitutions protect the right for the individual to own a firearm and it is unlikely that any legislation in the near future will undo this right. The debate truly focuses on how to restrict access to and purchases to firearms. While it is right for legislators to again consider this topic, it is important to do so in a responsible manner, and not part of a larger emotional backlash from the Tucson incident.
After the Tucson shooting, much has been placed on restricting the access the mentally ill have to firearms. Virginia law does prohibit the purchase, possession or transportation of any firearm by any “mentally incapacitated” person. Also, the sale of any firearm through a licensed dealer is subject to a background check. However, a private sale is not the most concerning provision for many. This is commonly referred to as the gun-show loophole, due to the fact that private sellers at gun shows can sell guns to anyone at their discretion, without a background check. Gun control advocates continue to push for the closure of this loophole.
Meanwhile, gun right advocates continue to work for the passage of several bills that would make gun ownership and carrying easier for the individual. These include legislation like House Bill 2069 by Delegate Clifford L. Athey, which allows individuals to carry concealed firearms without a special permit.
The debate continues, and rightfully so. While the right to bear arms is one that should be protected, it must be balanced against public safety. A gun carrier does not necessarily present a threat to public safety, though a person that possesses a gun due to easy and legal access along with a will to kill can. Legislative bodies owe it to their constituents to give the issue renewed thought, but to do so in a responsible and logical manner so that a bolder line between rights and safety may achieved.