Guns a safety issue
2/5/2016, 6:19 p.m.
On the holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gov. Terry McAuliffe stood in front of hundreds of gun violence prevention supporters and activists and told them that “we are not finished” making Virginia a safer place.
Unfortunately, less than two weeks later, Gov. McAuliffe made a deal with the National Rifle Association and pro-gun members of the General Assembly that will make Virginia a more dangerous place.
The deal includes reversing Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s decision to end concealed carry reciprocity agreements with 25 states that fail to meet Virginia’s standards.
In fact, it broadens reciprocity with all of the other 49 states in the country. This would allow individuals from other states that do little to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons to legally carry such weapons in Virginia. That means convicted stalkers and abusers, habitual drunks, those with severe mental illness and other dangerous individuals could carry weapons in the Commonwealth.
How does this make our communities safer?
We don’t want the George Zimmermans of the world to be armed in our neighborhoods. We want the governor, whom we elected to keep us safe, to stand up to the NRA and reject this bad deal.
Call your state senator and urge a vote against Senate Bill 610, which embodies the agreement.
KAYLA HICKS
Hampton
The writer is the African-American outreach director for Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.
