Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991 TAG: 9102050404
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The bill's supporters criticized the National Rifle Association's lobbying tactics and touted the proposal as a way to deter crimes of passion and gun-running. Opponents argued that a waiting period would not reduce crime.
Waving and pointing a toy pistol, Del. Jean Cunningham said she was upset by the NRA's advertising campaign against her bill.
"I resent the confusion on this issue," said Cunningham, D-Richmond. "I can't fight back with full-page newspaper ads . . . I have to fight back with logic and reason."
In addition to full-page ads in some of the state's large newspapers, the NRA had been running radio commercials implying that "real Virginians" live south of the Rappahannock River and do not support gun control.
"This is probably the most cynical use of divide-and-conquer I've ever seen," said Del. Leslie Byrne, D-Falls Church. "They're trying to reinvent the War Between the States. This is the same old fear-mongering that's been going on in this state the last 20 years, and it's time for it to stop."
Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, accused gun lobbyists of "playing the politics of fear and reprehension" while refusing to "sit down eyeball-to-eyeball to discuss the merits of this legislation."
Cunningham emphasized that the bill would not impose a three-day waiting period but would simply allow a referendum on the issue.
Turning to Del. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta and a supporter of parental notification before a minor can get an abortion, Cunningham said: "This bill is for both of us - it's pro-life and pro-choice."
Cunningham said a three-day waiting period would deter crimes of passion and gun-running.
Del. William Robinson, D-Norfolk, said criminals from northeastern states come to Virginia and enlist the aid of local residents in purchasing handguns. If the local resident doesn't have a criminal record, the criminals can leave with a trunk full of guns in a matter of minutes, Robinson said.
But Del. George Allen, R-Charlottesville, argued that the state's computerized background check is doing a good job of keeping guns out of criminals' hands. He added that the House has passed a bill expanding the law to cover all firearms.
The vote was largely along party lines, although enough Democrats joined Republicans to succeed in killing the measure.
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