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The Virginia Tech Betrayal, New York Times, February 7, 2009 -- With no background checks required on customers, the dealers present convicted felons and sociopaths an enormous loophole for mayhem. . . . Bereft of courage as public servants, the Richmond senators made clear their crocodile tears about “closure,” shed in the immediate horror of students gunned down. They also made clear the need for a federal law to bypass cowardly statehouses and to close gun-show loopholes.  ...read the full article.

Virginia Still Holds Guns and Tobacco Dear Washingtonpost.com RICHMOND, Feb.3, 2009 -- The Virginia Senate showed Tuesday that tobacco and guns are still valued and protected, both culturally and politically, by many of the state's residents ...read the full article.

Gun Bill Beaten, but New Vote Set Today Richmond Times-Dispatch Feb. 4, 2009-  The green button means "yes." The red button means "no." Yesterday, a Virginia senator's mistake of pressing red when he meant to press green gave new life to a bill that seeks to close the "gun-show loophole." But its new life may be short-lived ...read the full article.

Virginia Lawmakers Should Close the Gun Show Loophole  Washingtonpost.com  Jan. 30, 2009-- THE VIRGINIA Senate has an unprecedented opportunity today to begin to reverse the state's abysmal record on gun regulation. For years, state lawmakers have defeated bills requiring vendors at gun shows to conduct background checks of would-be buyers. Yet such legislation squeaked by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee by an 8 to 7 vote this week and is poised for a vote in the full Senate. Politicians of both parties, including self-described gun rights advocates, should endorse this modest bill. ...read the full article.

Virginia Senate Panel Votes to Tighten 'gun-show loophole' Richmond Times-Dispatch Jan 27, 2009 -- Legislation to require criminal background checks for individuals before they buy firearms from private dealers at gun shows passed a significant hurdle Monday with the help of two local senators. The bill, SB1257, advanced out of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on an 8-7 vote. It still must pass the full Senate and the House of Delegates before the measure could become law....read the full article.

Advocates Determined to Close Gun Show Loophole in Commonwealth  Jan 13, 2009 --On January 13, staff from the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence was honored to join victims and survivors from the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech; concerned students from Longwood University; and representatives from Protest Easy Guns, the Virginia Chapters of the Million Mom March, the Virginia Center for Public Safety, and Students for Gun Free Schools as they attended a hearing of the Virginia State Crime Commission in Richmond...read the full article.

Virginia Tech Victims Renew Call to Close Gun Show Loophole  Washingtonpost.com RICHMOND, Dec. 9, 2008 -- One year after his sister was gunned down during the Virginia Tech massacre, 25-year-old Omar Samaha walked into a Richmond area gun show and was immediately greeted with offers from unlicensed gun dealers hawking their wares. - TIm Craig ...read the full article.            

Bush Administration Overturns Ban on Firearms in National Parks The Huffington Post. December 6, 2008  WASHINGTON — People will soon be able to carry concealed, loaded guns in most national parks and wildlife refuges. The Bush administration said Friday it is overturning a 25-year-old federal rule that severely restricts loaded guns in National Parks. - Matthew Daly ...read the full article.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Handgun Ban June 26, 2008 "The Supreme Court Decision Strikes Down D.C. 30 year Handgun Ban which majority of D.C. residents, their legislators, and police wanted kept in place. In the same decision, the Court determined: "The Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose." ...click here for full pdf.

Protest Easy Guns response to the Supreme Court decision:    "Americans have known all along that the real 'slippery slope' in the United States is not taking away guns from legitimate gun purchasers, but the disastrous consequences of criminals and dangerous individuals' easy access to guns because of our country's lax gun laws. That's the murderous and threatening slip and slide our country is now recklessly heading down. With this Supreme Court decision, it's high noon in the United States and citizens are poised and ready to strip away easy access to guns by those intent on murdering, maiming, and threatening Americans. Dangerous individuals have lost their right to bear arms in the United States. We implore our legislators to stop protecting lax gun laws which make it easy for dangerous individuals to procure guns and begin protecting the American people with better gun regulations. Our children, our police, and all Americans want a safer country. A good place to start is by closing the gunshow loophole and requiring background checks on all gun purchasers, which the majority of Americans, gun owners, and both presidential candidates want done -- sooner rather than later."  ---  Abigail Spangler, Ph.D.,  Founder, ProtestEasyGuns.com