WHAT'S NEXT FOR GUN BILL?

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

DATE: MONDAY, February 22, 1993                   TAG: 9302220033
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
WHAT'S NEXT FOR GUN BILL?
A Senate committee on Sunday toughened a bill to ban sales of "street sweeper" semiautomatic guns in Virginia but weakened restrictions another measure would place on handgun sales.
The actions by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee propelled both measures into a final week of jockeying over whether to accept House or Senate versions of the bills - or compromise language. The General Assembly adjourns Saturday.
By an 11-4 vote, the committee added a ban on the sale of Tec-9 semiautomatic pistols to the "street sweeper" bill. Tec-9s, described as the gun of choice of many drug dealers, originally were included in the proposal by Del. Jean W. Cunningham, D-Richmond, but were deleted on the House floor.
An attempt to add about a half-dozen similar guns to the ban failed the Senate committee on a 9-6 count, however.
Meanwhile, as expected, the committee reiterated its and the Senate's preference for a compromise "gun-a-month" handgun limit. The Senate plan would allow multiple sales for "lawful business and personal use," while the House plan would not.
Intrigue over the plans continues today with the focus on whether the House or Senate will act next. Those hoping to put the tougher House version on Gov. Douglas Wilder's desk were undecided Sunday on which body to turn to first.
Flux in both bodies makes it unclear which is more likely now to pass the tougher bill, even though the House did originally.
"I haven't decided" whether a House vote will be taken tomorrow, or after the Senate acts Tuesday, said Del. James Almand, D-Arlington, chief sponsor of the House bill.
Those arguing to add Tec-9s to the street sweeper ban said the guns can unload about 64 bullets per minute, and are of little use except to criminals.
"There's a direct relationship between these kinds of weapons and the infiltration of drugs," said Cunningham.
The bill approved by the Senate would ban purchase, sale, transfer and importation of street sweepers and Tec-9s. It would not prohibit their possession, however.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB