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"Five Democratic candidates from Northern Virginia met here to
criticize Republican legislators who voted to weaken a bill that would have
made it easier to expell students who bring guns onto school property"
(R. H. Melton, The Washington Post, September 14, 1999).
"Led by Del. Linda T. 'Toddy' Puller (Fairfax) who hopes to
capture a state Senate seat in November, Democrats from Fairfax and neighboring
Prince William County said they wanted an absolute state-wide ban on guns
on school property" (R. H. Melton, The Washington Post, September
14, 1999).
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| Delegate Toddy Puller |
"[Republican Governor] Gilmore, who has been featured in advertisements
for the National Rifle Association, unsuccessfully revived an attempt to
permit students with hunting licenses to store an unloaded gun inside their
locked vehicles. The guns would have had to have been locked in a case and
the ammunition stored separately" (Michael Hardy, The Richmond Times-Dispatch,
September 14, 1999).
"'They're boxing with ghosts' said Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for
the Republican Party of Virginia. 'The loophole [for student hunters to
store rifles in their vehicles ons chool property] is closed and will stay
closed" (Michael Hardy, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 14,
1999).
According to the Washington Post, "'Current law allows rural
school boards to adopt local hunting exemptions for young people, who have
long been allowed to keep unloaded firearms locked in their car trunks in
school parking lots'" (R. H. Melton, The Washington Post, September
14, 1999).
Provisions of Section 18.2-308.1 of the Virginia Code (Possession
of firearm, stun weapon or other weapon on school property prohibited)
"'shall not apply to ...(vi) a person who posesses an unloaded firearm
which is in a closed container, or a knife having a metal blade, in or upon
a motor vehicle, or an unloaded shotgun or rifle in a firearms rack in or
upon a motor vehicle'".
"This week Puller was joined by Leslie L. Byrne, a former member
of the House of Delegates and Congress who is locked in a fierce battle
for another Senate seat from Fairfax, and Del. A. Donald McEachin, a Richmond
lawyer. The trio sought again to put a partisan spin on the issue"
(R.H. Melton, The Washington Post, September 23, 1999).
"'If you live in a suburban area and you want a legislator who
thinks it's not that big a deal to have guns in school, then vote Republican,'
McEachin told reporters. 'But if you think guns have no place on school
property, then vote Democratic'" (R.H. Melton, The Washington Post,
September 23, 1999).
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| Delgate Donald McEachin |
"Asked whether they were criticizing the 16 Democrats who voted
the same way, participants in the press conference said they were only highlighting
the votes of suburban Republicans who did not appear to be in line with
their constituents" (Christina Nuckols, The Roanoke Times, September
22, 1999).
"'Those in other areas where hunting is more prevalent and it's
a more lackadaisical attitude toward bringing guns around other folks may
have a different point of view,' said Leslie Byrne, a Democratic Senate
candidate running in Fairfax County" (Christina Nuckols, The Roanoke
Times, September 22, 1999).
Not all Democrats, of course, think the same. "[House Democratic
Leader Richard] "Cranwell said he complained to staff members at the
Democratic Party of Virginia last week ... 'I expect you'll see less of
that in the future,' he said. 'I do not want the impression that this is
a Democratic caucus issue. It is not. it is a Northern Virginia Democratic
issue, and it is a Tidewater issue ... The Democrats in Southwest Virginia
have a different attitude than Democrats in Northern Virginia'" (Christina
Nuckols, The Roanoke Times, September 22, 1999).
"Cranwell said he intends to submit legislation next year that
would make murder of a child at school a capital offense. But he's not in
political trouble over his vote on guns on school property. His Republican
opponent, Al Bedrosian, is endorsed by the Gun Owners of America, a group
that believes Cranwell is too soft on gun rights issues" (Christina
Nuckols, The Roanoke Times, September 22, 1999).
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