Talking with Legislators about Gun Violence

by James E. Atwood

Gun violence across our nation and in our individual states is in large measure the direct result of irresponsible, even absurd laws that our elected public officials make or support. Below you will find a set of questions concerned citizens can ask their public officials in order to hold them responsible for laws they write or support that literally are the difference between life and death.

A key part of our work in Virginia to stop gun violence is to identify the stance of public officials who are making our state and local laws on guns. We are now working on a set of questions to identify the stance of our leaders on their views on guns. May I suggest that these questions are applicable for use in your state to address our ongoing gun violence problem.

1. Brady Background Checks at Gun Shows:

Under federal law, federally licensed gun dealers must conduct Brady criminal background checks on anyone buying a gun whether they are selling from a gun store or at a gun show. But under federal law, and in most states, unlicensed sellers can sell guns at gun shows without background checks on anyone buying those guns. Many unscrupulous gun sellers exploit this loophole to operate gun-selling businesses. Many of these unregulated sales are used in crimes and are difficult, if not impossible, to trace. Gun shows have become easy places for felons, juveniles, would-be terrorists, and domestic abusers to purchase firearms, even assault weapons, without a Brady background check. We support requiring the same background checks at gun shows as now exist at gun stores.

Would you support or oppose legislation requiring Brady background checks on all gun purchasers at gun shows in Virginia?

I support requiring Brady background checks on all gun purchasers at Virginia gun shows:___

I oppose requiring Brady background checks on all gun purchasers at Virginia gun shows:___

2. Curbing the flow of guns to the illegal market:

In 1993, Virginia passed an anti-trafficking law to limit the “bulk buying” of handguns. The law limits handgun purchases at licensed dealers to "One-Handgun-Per-Month.” Prior to 1993, gun traffickers could legally buy 20, 30 or more handguns in bulk from licensed dealers and then sell them illegally on the streets. Virginia was known as the "firearms supermarket" for the East Coast. Prior to enactment of the law, Virginia gun dealers supplied more than 40% of guns seized in crime in New York City. After passage of the law, the percentage of guns traced back to Virginia gun dealers fell by 61% for guns recovered in New York, 67% for guns recovered in Massachusetts, and 38% for guns recovered in New Jersey. The Virginia State Crime Commission concluded that, "Virginia's [One-Handgun-Per-Month] statute has had its intended effect of reducing Virginia's status as a source state for gun trafficking. The imposition of the law does not appear to create an onerous burden for law-abiding gun purchasers."

Would you support or oppose the continued enforcement of the “one-handgun-a-month” law in Virginia?

I support enforcement of the current anti-trafficking law to limit handgun purchases to one per month ___

I oppose enforcement of the current anti-trafficking law to limit handgun purchases to one per month ___

3. Guns on Campus and in the Workplace Legislation:

The gun lobby is pushing legislation nationwide to force college campuses and employers and owners of private property to allow loaded guns on their premises. These laws seek to allow almost anyone to bring loaded guns, including military-style assault weapons, on to private property and campus grounds, whether the business owners or college administrators like it or not. Many in the college community, large corporations and small businesses are concerned about school violence and workplace shootings. We believe that owners of private property and college administrators have the right to determine whether guns should be carried on to their property.

Would you oppose or support legislation forcing colleges and private property owners, large corporations and small business owners to allow almost anyone to bring loaded guns onto their own property?

I oppose legislation forcing colleges, private property owners, large corporations and small business owners to allow almost anyone to bring loaded guns onto their property. ____

I support legislation forcing colleges, private property owners, large corporations and small business owners to allow almost anyone to bring loaded guns onto their property. ____

4. Expansion of Concealed Carry Law:

Virginia law currently prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons into elementary, secondary, and high schools, licensed liquor establishments, and courthouses. We believe that concealed handguns have no place in these facilities and each year we strongly oppose the gun lobby’s attempts in numerous states to allow hidden guns to be carried into schools, bars, and public buildings.

Would you support or oppose legislation allowing concealed handguns into places that serve alcohol, schools and courthouses?

I support keeping concealed handguns out of places that serve alcohol, schools and courthouses: ____

I oppose keeping concealed handguns out of places that serve alcohol, schools and courthouses: ____

5. Disarming Domestic Violence Offenders:

Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing guns. However, Virginia law has no such provision, making it very difficult for local police to ensure that domestic abusers do not illegally possess firearms. We believe that Virginia should prohibit possession of firearms by domestic abusers, in the same way that Virginia currently prohibits possession of firearms by felons (mirroring federal law) and that law enforcement should take a proactive role in ensuring that domestic abusers do not illegally possess guns.

Would you support or oppose efforts to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers?

I support making possession of firearms by persons convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order a crime under Virginia Law: ____

I oppose making possession of firearms by persons convicted of domestic violence or subject to a domestic violence restraining order a crime under Virginia law: _____

6. Local Gun Laws – Preemption:

Local cities and counties face the brunt of gun violence and are in the best position to know what types of additional legislation is needed to address gun violence in their communities. While strong, responsible statewide gun laws are essential to public safety, cities and counties need the authority to enact gun regulations to meet specific local problems. We support allowing local cities and counties to enact gun laws that are stronger than state law or fill in gaps in state law. Virginia cities and counties should not be preempted from enacting local gun laws.
Would you support or oppose the rights of local municipalities to enact important gun laws?

I support allowing local governments to enact stronger gun laws: ____

I oppose allowing local governments to enact stronger gun laws: ____

7. Rapid-Fire Ammunition Magazines:

Ammunition magazines attach to semiautomatic weapons and allow 20, 50 even 100 bullets to be rapidly fired without reloading. These large capacity ammunition magazines can be sold with almost no restrictions in Virginia - no age requirements, no background checks, and no waiting period. Tens of thousands of these rapid-fire magazines are readily available in gun stores, gun magazines, gun shows and on the Internet. This, in fact, turns a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun. We support restricting the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds to military and police.

Would you support or oppose legislation to limit large-capacity ammunition magazines?

I support restricting the sale of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds to the military and police:___

I oppose restricting the sale of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds to the military and police: ___