Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 27, 1993 TAG: 9302270119
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
GUN LIMIT STILL CAN BE EVADED
If you're still determined to buy more than one handgun a month and don't mind risking a year in jail, you'll probably find it easy to sidestep the state's new gun-purchase limit.Law enforcement officials acknowledged Friday that it may be virtually impossible to monitor many private-weapons sales between individuals when Virginia's much-praised handgun-a-month bill takes effect July 1.
The law will curb multiple sales at gun shops and gun shows. Before you can buy a gun from a licensed dealer, he or she will run a computer check of your police record and whether you've purchased a handgun within the last 30 days. If you have, you'll be unable to buy another gun unless you've received written permission from police.
But if you purchase from private citizens - for example, buying one handgun from each of three different neighbors during a 30-day period - there's little chance that police will know.
Nor do police have much hope of monitoring scores of guns sold by individuals through local advertising publications.
Lawmakers say they don't know what to do about the loophole. "The law is virtually unenforceable when it comes to private sales," said Del. Robert McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, a vocal supporter of the gun reform.
State Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, said he considered introducing legislation this year that would have given private gun sellers access to the computer files, but was discouraged by state police.
McDonnell said he and other legislators will study the problem this year to see if there's a way to close the loophole.
State police Superintendent Carl Baker said the problem "absolutely does not concern me."
Baker said the intent of the new law was to stop gunrunning from Virginia to other states. The overwhelming majority of gunrunners make multiple weapons purchases from gun stores, not private individuals.
"What matters most is stopping the illegal use of and transportation of handguns used in drug trafficking, and this bill will stop this," he said.
Under the bill, a private citizen who unwittingly sold a handgun to a person who already had made a purchase that month would not be subject to prosecution.
But if you buy more than one handgun during a month, you'll face a maximum of one year in jail and $2,500 fine. That is, of course, if you're caught.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993