ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 14, 1997 TAG: 9703140030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
State police are enforcing a policy that mandates FBI fingerprint checks for gun-permit applicants. The fingerprint checks can take up to 60 days; concealed-weapons permits must be issued or denied within 45 days.
Some felons might be able to get concealed-weapons permits in Virginia because of a change in the way criminal background checks are conducted.
In the past, local police have been able to tap into FBI computer files to get an instant criminal background check. The information was given to judges who issue the permits.
But Virginia State Police are now enforcing an FBI policy that allows police to access the computer files only for criminal investigations. Local police now have go get FBI fingerprint checks, which they say can take up to 60 days.
State law requires judges to issue or deny concealed-weapons permits within 45 days after receiving the application, so some judges could be forced to give out permits without having criminal background information.
State police Capt. R. Lewis Vass said checking out ordinary citizens, such as those who want gun permits, is considered a ``non-criminal justice purpose.''
The change was outlined in a state police directive issued last month and makes the job of keeping guns out of criminals' hands tougher.
An applicant ``could be a known felon in California and that wouldn't show up'' in a Virginia background check, said Charles Bailey, head of the Alexandria police section that handles such checks. ``It's kind of scary.''
Processing improvements and increased automation over the next few years should gradually speed up fingerprint checks, officials said. But some authorities have suggested asking the General Assembly to extend the 45-day waiting period.
That is unlikely to happen, said Del. James Almand, D-Arlington and chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee. ``The people who like the concealed-weapons law would object because they want [permits] to be issued as soon as possible,'' he said.
Virginia has issued more than 52,100 concealed-gun permits since July 1995, when a new law made it easier to get them.
Before the law was changed, applicants had to convince a judge that they needed to carry a gun. Now permits are issued routinely if applicants do not have a felony conviction or a history of mental illness.
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