Last October, Virginia’s Governor used executive action to ban concealed-carry in state offices. There was an immediate backlash from many pro-gun advocates, and Wednesday in Richmond they got the chance to speak out.
State employees aren’t allowed to carry firearms into work, but the Governor’s order extended that prohibition to everyone else, including concealed carry permit holders.
Lori Haas is state director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
“State agencies are buildings where people work, and you know, it’s just not necessary to carry a gun everywhere you go,” says Haas, who has been a leader in gun violence prevention since her daughter was shot and survived the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech.
But many Virginians, like Vicki Lindsey, feel the Governor’s regulation is misguided.
“Because we need retired officers, we need people that are trained that have a good heart and a good criminal past, no criminal record -- we need those people carrying guns and we need them all over the place,” says Lindsey, a small business owner from outside Richmond.
Hass and Lindsey both got the chance Wednesday to give their opinions to state officials, who are now in the process of making the original emergency regulation, permanent.
Public comments won’t prevent that from happening, but they could influence details of the regulation. For instance, the initial rules have already been tweaked so they no longer affect rest areas on highways and lodges in state parks.
Share Your Comment: The state is accepting comments through October 21, 2016.
