Virginia House committee passes gun control measures

RICHMOND, Va. (AP/WHSV) — Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates are advancing a package of gun-control measures less than a week after tens of thousands of pro-gun advocates from around the country rallied at the state Capitol.

But the advancing bills don’t include a proposed 'assault weapon' ban, a top priority for Gov. Ralph Northam and one that’s drawn fierce resistance from gun-rights advocates.

The bill would redefine what constitutes an 'assault rifle' under Virginia law and ban anyone from possessing said weapons. For anyone already possessing a weapon under the new definition as of the law's implementation, it would require them to obtain a permit to possess the weapons from Virginia State Police.

So far, that bill has stayed in committee. Its Senate counterpart was killed early in the General Assembly session while other gun bills, like universal background checks, passed.