imported post
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/12/state-crime-panel-delays-decision-gunshow-sales
The Associated Press
© December 9, 2008 By DENA POTTER
RICHMOND
The Virginia State Crime Commission put off a decision on whether to recommend legislation closing the so-called gun-show loophole Tuesday, but promised to do so before the General Assembly convenes in January.
Victims and family members of those injured or killed by a student gunman in 2007 at Virginia Tech pleaded with the commission to support closing the loophole, in which private sellers at gun shows are not required to perform the background checks on buyers that commercial dealers must provide.
Others, most carrying weapons, asked members not to confuse the issue with the tragedy at Virginia Tech because Seung-Hui Cho did not buy the two guns he used to kill 32 others and himself from a gun show.
Some victims' family members accused commission chairman Del. David Albo of putting off a vote to protect fellow Republicans on the commission who oppose further checks.
Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle and Del. Rob Bell, both Republicans, tried to kill a vote on a technicality, saying that the commission's charge was to study federal and state laws concerning gun shows and not to recommend changes to the law.
Albo agreed, but said the commission usually studies issues then recommends legislation. He said he simply wanted everyone involved to be aware before a vote was taken.
"This is not an effort for me to wimp out on a vote. I like record checks at gun shows," Albo said. "My ruling is one of procedure that I don't think that the General Assembly or committees or the Crime Commission should be taking action on things that the public wasn't properly" given notice.
The issue was listed among eight others under the heading "Possible Legislation" on the commission's agenda.
Albo said he would call another meeting in January to vote on the issue but would not take comment from any of the 15 individuals who spoke Tuesday.
"I was slightly disappointed, but I know that's what politics is," Omar Samaha, 25, whose sister Reema was killed at Virginia Tech, said afterward. "They're trying to keep the guys who are going to give a no vote out of the hot water right now, but that's the way it works. But we'll be back. We're going to keep doing this until it gets changed."
Proposals to require checks of private sellers at gun shows have been proposed for the past five years, but the effort gained fury last winter when the Virginia Tech families got behind it.
Despite their support, legislators killed the bill and sent it to the Crime Commission for study.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, reminded the commission that even if the checks were required, it would not have prevented the Virginia Tech shootings. Cho purchased a Glock 9mm at a Virginia gun store and a .22-caliber pistol over the Internet.
"Evil is just a tough thing to legislate out of the world," he said. "I wish you could do it, but you can't."
But the families said if Cho hadn't been able to buy his weapons he likely would have turned to a private dealer at a gun show.
"The next one is coming. Are any of you really willing to take the chance that the next mass killing might be by a person that gets his gun from a gun show just because he knew he could avoid a background check?" Lori Haas, whose daughter Emily was shot but survived, asked legislators.
Lily Habtu, 23, said her family brought her to Virginia from Africa when she was 5 to get away from violence. She said they never imagined she would be shot twice — in the face and the wrist — while sitting in a classroom.
A bullet remains lodged in Habtu's jaw.
"By not closing the gun show loophole we are only protecting the criminals here, we are not undermining our Second Amendment rights to own guns," she told the commission.
It was the first time Habtu publicly has spoken about the April 16, 2007 shootings. She said she would continue to do so until something changed.
"I don't care if it takes a decade. I'm serious," she said. "No one should have to go through what I went through."
