ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 20, 1993                   TAG: 9302200192
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

GUN BILL BATTLE HEATS UP

House Speaker Thomas Moss vowed Friday to use "whatever legitimate means of coercion I have at my disposal" to push tough handgun-purchase limits, as lawmakers headed into the last weekend of their 1993 session still at odds over two versions of a "gun-a-month" bill.

Meanwhile, the gun-limit plan backed by Moss picked up the endorsement of national handgun-control leader Sarah Brady and the lobby she heads, Handgun Control Inc.

"The public is demanding that the strongest bill possible be passed," said Brady, wife of former White House press secretary Jim Brady. "I urge the delegates not to retreat or reverse."

Foreshadowing a weekend of arm-twisting, Moss, D-Norfolk, said he will bargain for votes "with the budget or anything else," short of promising committee assignments or asking delegates to violate philosophical principle.

Meanwhile, advocates of a less-restrictive gun limit passed by the state Senate - product of a compromise between Republicans and Gov. Douglas Wilder - continued to press their case.

"I'm just sort of counting noses," said Senate Minority Leader Joseph Benedetti, R-Richmond, who challenges claims that the compromise is the "weaker bill."

As for Brady's endorsement, "I don't know that Sarah Brady has any influence down here," he said.

Set against complaints that Virginia has become the East Coast's major gun-running state, the handgun limit has been the dominant issue of the legislative session that winds up one week from today.

The Senate version of the bill would allow multiple handgun purchases by law-abiding Virginia residents who convince police they have a "lawful business or personal use" for the guns. The House bill does not include that exemption to the one-a-month cap.

Expected votes Friday by the House on whether to reaffirm its support for the tougher bill or shift to the compromise were delayed by Moss until Monday. Two backers of the tougher bill were absent, and Moss did not want to risk voting without them.

When the House vote comes, it expected to be close. Some opponents of gun limits, including Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, said they will vote against either version. For procedural reasons, that would favor the Senate plan.

But others, such as Del. Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville, who also opposes any limits, said they'll side with Moss on a procedural vote to bring the House bill - rather than the Senate version - to the floor.

Similar tactics will apply in the Senate as a committee there votes Sunday on which version of the bill to send to the Senate floor.

Also Friday, Brady and her group endorsed Del. Clinton Miller, R-Woodstock, for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Miller is one of few Republicans to speak out strongly for the tougher gun-a-month bill.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993 

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.
by Archana Subramaniam by CNB