Kory, Marsden address gun control at Town Hall
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| Del. Kory and Sen. Marsden speak at a Town Hall Meeting. |
The tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14 has drawn renewed
attention to the issue of gun control, but isn’t likely to lead to more
restrictive gun laws in Virginia this session, said Del. Kaye Kory. It will
change the conversation, though added Sen. Dave Marsden. The two lawmakers, both Democrats,
spoke to constituents at a Town Hall Meeting at Belvedere Elementary School
Saturday morning.
Marsden said he will re-introduced a bill to restrict air-fired guns, which are now considered “toys.” Legislation to close
the gun show loophole also is likely to be re-introduced, he said. Under current law,
people walking around a gun show can sell firearms without background checks
because it’s considered a private sale.
the gun show loophole also is likely to be re-introduced, he said. Under current law,
people walking around a gun show can sell firearms without background checks
because it’s considered a private sale.
In addition, Marsden said he plans to draft legislation on “gun
ownership accountability” that would make a person criminally and civilly
liable if someone uses his or her gun to commit a crime. The wording has not
been finalized, but he would like to address the situation like that where the mother of
the Newtown shooter knew her son was mentally ill and still kept lots of
firearms in their home.
ownership accountability” that would make a person criminally and civilly
liable if someone uses his or her gun to commit a crime. The wording has not
been finalized, but he would like to address the situation like that where the mother of
the Newtown shooter knew her son was mentally ill and still kept lots of
firearms in their home.
The big issue for the legislature this session will be
transportation funding. “We’ve reached the crisis point” after “maxing out the
state’s credit card on bonds,” Marsden said, and it will be close to 2020
before the state can issue any more debt. Meanwhile, the governor paid for
transportation by shifting funds from other areas, including $60 million from
Fairfax County schools.
transportation funding. “We’ve reached the crisis point” after “maxing out the
state’s credit card on bonds,” Marsden said, and it will be close to 2020
before the state can issue any more debt. Meanwhile, the governor paid for
transportation by shifting funds from other areas, including $60 million from
Fairfax County schools.
According to Marsden, the governor is expected to propose
indexing the gas tax for inflation. Legislation to do that passed the Senate
last year but died in the House of Delegates. If it passes this year, it will
help but won’t go far enough, he said. Kory noted that the lack of funding has led to deterioration
of the state’s infrastructure, which has resulted in Virginia dropping from no.
1 to no. 3 on the list of best states for business.
indexing the gas tax for inflation. Legislation to do that passed the Senate
last year but died in the House of Delegates. If it passes this year, it will
help but won’t go far enough, he said. Kory noted that the lack of funding has led to deterioration
of the state’s infrastructure, which has resulted in Virginia dropping from no.
1 to no. 3 on the list of best states for business.
Both Kory and Marsden support a complicated bill proposed by
Sen. John Watkins, a Republican who represents suburban Richmond. The bill
would impose a 5 percent wholesale tax on gasoline with the proceeds used to
support transportation projects. It’s estimated that about a third of the tax
would be paid by tourists and truckers passing through Virginia.
Sen. John Watkins, a Republican who represents suburban Richmond. The bill
would impose a 5 percent wholesale tax on gasoline with the proceeds used to
support transportation projects. It’s estimated that about a third of the tax
would be paid by tourists and truckers passing through Virginia.
The bill would offset the higher gas tax by reducing the
income tax burden for lower and middle-income people, so most people wouldn’t see their taxes rise significantly. To offset the lower tax rate, several tax exemptions and tax credits would be eliminated. The Watkins bill isn’t expected to pass this
year because of the strong opposition in the legislature to impose any tax
increases, particularly among the 30 lawmakers who signed Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge. Marsden, however, indicated the solid line against any tax increase may be beginning to crack.
income tax burden for lower and middle-income people, so most people wouldn’t see their taxes rise significantly. To offset the lower tax rate, several tax exemptions and tax credits would be eliminated. The Watkins bill isn’t expected to pass this
year because of the strong opposition in the legislature to impose any tax
increases, particularly among the 30 lawmakers who signed Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge. Marsden, however, indicated the solid line against any tax increase may be beginning to crack.
Kory asked the audience for input on a series of bills she
is considering proposing in the upcoming legislative session. Delegates cannot
introduce more than 15 bills, so Kory is considering which proposals have the best
chance of passage, have broad support across the state, and wouldn’t cost too
much.
is considering proposing in the upcoming legislative session. Delegates cannot
introduce more than 15 bills, so Kory is considering which proposals have the best
chance of passage, have broad support across the state, and wouldn’t cost too
much.
Kory has already filed one bill—to allow local government
employees, such as clinic aides in K-12 schools, to administer epi-pens to students
in case of severe allergic reactions. The law already allows school employees
to do this. She is already a co-patron on two other bills—to require people
seeking a concealed handgun permit to take a gun safety course and to allow
K-12 school boards to start school before Labor Day.
employees, such as clinic aides in K-12 schools, to administer epi-pens to students
in case of severe allergic reactions. The law already allows school employees
to do this. She is already a co-patron on two other bills—to require people
seeking a concealed handgun permit to take a gun safety course and to allow
K-12 school boards to start school before Labor Day.
Some of the bills Kory is considering proposing would:
- Allow all Virginia high school graduates to pay in-state
tuition at community colleges. - Permit community colleges to let high schools know how many
of their graduates had to take remedial courses. - Repeal the requirement for compulsory trans-abdominal
ultrasound exams for women seeking abortions. - Expand the hours for absentee voting in emergency
situations. - Prohibit schools from starting before 8 a.m.
- Make texting while driving a stoppable offense. Now you can
be fined for texting if you’re pulled over for something else like reckless
driving.
Marsden plans to introduce bills to:
- Ban “fox penning,” an inhumane practice of training hunting
dogs using foxes enclosed in pens. - Give judges more leeway in sentencing with the goal of fewer youths sentenced to
life in prison without a chance for parole. - Limit the number of contact practices for high school
football players to reduce the opportunity for concussions. - Allow court-appointed special advocates to work with youths past
the age of 18.
2 responses to “Kory, Marsden address gun control at Town Hall”
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Marsden's so-called accountability law is more feel-good legislation that won't stand up to any legal scrutiny in the rare occurrence that it passes.
Excellent Article. Thanks for going and providing all of us such detailed information about a wide variety of complex subject matter.