A Senate
committee on Wednesday killed legislation to require private sellers at
gun shows to obtain a criminal background check on buyers.
The Courts of Justice committee voted 9-4 to reject the
measure, marking the fifth consecutive year that lawmakers have refused
to close the so-called gun show loophole.
Under current law, licensed dealers are required to run
background checks on buyers at gun shows but unlicensed dealers —
typically individuals selling guns from their personal collection —
aren't.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis,
R-Fairfax, would have required unlicensed sellers to run a background
check through a licensed dealer before completing a sale. Davis said
the bill would help prevent the sale of guns to criminals.
Davis acknowledged that most gun show customers are law-abiding
citizens but added that "clearly a lot of criminals also go to gun
shows to procure firearms." [Measure to close `gun show loophole' fails for fifth time]
