RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Senate has advanced two pieces of Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed gun-control measures after previously rejecting them.
The Senate voted Wednesday to advance legislation that would require gun owners to report to police any lost or stolen firearms and to toughen the penalty for leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm in a reckless manner that endangers a child.
Northam’s office agreed to water down both measures in order to to win support of some Democrats who rejected earlier versions.
Northam initially wanted to make it a felony to leave an unsecured firearm around a child. The new version keeps the penalty as misdemeanor, albeit a more serious one than what’s in current law.
The Senate also changed legislation to give gun owners 48 hours instead of 24 hours to report stolen or lost guns. a change sought by Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.
Lawmakers are set to give final passage in coming days to seven out of eight gun-control bills backed by Northam. The Senate has already killed legislation to ban the sale of assault weapons.
