ANTI-GUN GROUP MAKES THREAT OF VA. BOYCOTT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 14, 1993                   TAG: 9301140255
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short
ANTI-GUN GROUP MAKES THREAT OF VA. BOYCOTT
An anti-gun group Wednesday threatened Virginia with a boycott if the General Assembly doesn't pass a bill that would restrict gun sales to one a month per person.
The boycott would be aimed at Virginia's convention and tourist industry, which tops $8 billion a year, said Michael K. Beard, president of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
The boycott threat came two days after several firearm-rights groups said they would boycott the state because of the proposal.
The anti-gun group said the legislation is needed because a significant number of guns used by criminals elsewhere are bought in Virginia.
"The incredibly lax gun-control laws in Virginia are no longer a matter of concern only to residents of the Old Dominion," Beard said at a news conference in Washington.
"Virginia has become the favorite shopping mall for gunrunners who then resell their bought-in-Virginia arsenal to thugs and dope dealers up and down the I-95 corridor."
Beard said his group would call for the boycott if the bill isn't passed this legislative session.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB