The Latest: Public weighs in on guns after Virginia shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Latest on a Virginia hearing on gun legislation (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
A commission tasked with studying gun safety proposals after a mass shooting left 12 people dead in Virginia Beach is hearing from members of the public and special interest groups from across the ideological spectrum.
The Virginia State Crime Commission was scheduled to hear hours of testimony from dozens of speakers Tuesday and then review bills introduced during a special legislative session in July. The committee is working to make recommendations on what legislation lawmakers should consider when they reconvene in November.
Gun control advocates spoke to the panel, calling for measures such as expanded background checks, child-access prevention laws, red-flag laws, and bans or limits on assault-style weapons and magazines. But gun rights advocates said such measures would do nothing to stop criminals and would infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
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10:45 a.m.
Members of the public and interest groups are expected to testify during a hearing before a Virginia commission tasked with studying gun safety proposals following a mass shooting that left 12 people dead in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia State Crime Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday for a second day to hear testimony and review bills introduced during a special legislative session in July.
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam called the special session after a city employee opened fire in a Virginia Beach municipal complex May 31.
Northam proposed universal background checks, a red flag law and other measures. The Republican-controlled legislature quickly adjourned the session and referred the legislation to the crime commission for further study.
On Monday, the commission heard more than a half dozen presentations on gun violence.
