Va. Democrats unveil gun background check petition

[SecularMotion]

Eight days after two journalists were fatally shot during a live broadcast at a Virginia resort, several Democratic legislators produced a petition with nearly 28,000 signatures supporting expanded background checks for gun buyers.

The northern Virginia lawmakers unveiled the petition Thursday at a news conference in Arlington. Del. Patrick Hope, who organized the petition drive, said he will submit legislation in the 2016 General Assembly to require universal background checks for gun purchasers - a proposal that has been rejected in previous sessions. Currently, private sales - including those conducted at gun shows - are not subject to background checks.

"We can no longer just stick our heads in the sand," Hope said in a telephone interview. "I know universal background checks won't prevent every tragedy. But we also know that people are dying every day."

Hope and like-minded lawmakers face an uphill struggle in the General Assembly. Since the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, legislators have actually worked to loosen gun regulations - allowing concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns in bars and repealing the state's one-handgun-a-month purchase limit, for example.

http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/ap/article_24628925-b782-51b0-bd26-54db59b99fb8.html

[Duckhunter935]

1. Means very little without better data

The shooter got his weapon because of bad data and went through a background check. I have no issue with this but it is always down to the details and what else gets loaded onto the proposed bill.

[DonP]

2. "I know universal background checks won't prevent every tragedy."

How about a few examples where a background check actually stopped a crime or tragedy? Maybe one example?

I'm struggling to come up with an example of a "Mass shooting" where they actually didn't pass a background check. Maybe you can put your "Google Fu" to work and provide a list for us so we can share in your outrage.

Then you can share with us what the hell "Expanded" background checks means in real terms. That's kind of vague and fuzzy.

Medical records? Voluntary commitments included? Mental Health screenings?