"People with permits from one state to carry a concealed firearm would generally be able to exercise that right elsewhere under a bill introduced quietly by Sen. George Allen.

'The bill would simply require states to recognize each other's concealed-carry permits and licenses, just as they recognize drivers' licenses,' Allen, R-Va., said in a statement in the Congressional Record when he introduced the bill May 26.

Allen's office issues frequent news releases about his bills and views on important topics, but didn't issue one when the concealed-weapons bill was introduced.

'He's trying to shore up his base with the [National Rifle Association] people,' contended Jim Sollo, executive director of Virginians Against Handgun Violence.

'Why not do it early in the campaign and kind of quietly, before the heat of the election campaign?' Sollo said yesterday.

Allen is running for a second term. Democrats Harris Miller and James Webb are vying in a June 13 primary for the nomination to run against him.

John Reid, Allen's communications director, said he held off issuing a news release when the bill was introduced because Allen was departing for overseas. Reid said he wanted to issue a release when Allen would be present to answer news media questions about the bill.

In his statement introducing the bill, Allen said it was a companion to one introduced in the House by Reps. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., and Rick Boucher, D-9th.

'The right-to-carry movement has enjoyed great success throughout our nation,' Allen said. In Virginia, he said, the murder rate has plunged 40 percent since a right-to-carry law that he signed as governor took effect in 1995.

There were 8.7 murders per 100,000 Virginia residents in 1994 and 5.2 murders per 100,000 in 2005, according to data from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Allen's office said Friday.

The 1995 law was written to make it easier for Virginians to carry concealed weapons. Advocates for gun rights sought it to revoke judges' discretion in awarding the permits.

Sollo of Virginians Against Handgun Violence said his group would oppose Allen's Senate bill, based on what he knew about it so far.

Standards for permits to carry a concealed weapon differ from state to state so there would be no way to determine, in the case of a permit-holder coming to Virginia from elsewhere, what training he had with his weapon, Sollo said.

He also questioned how Virginia State Police would verify the validity of an individual's permit issued by another state.

Allen said May 26 his bill had 12 co-sponsors, including Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. The other 11 are Republicans.

Republican Reps. Jo Ann Davis of the 1st District, J. Randy Forbes of the 4th and Virgil H. Goode Jr. of the 5th are among 69 co-sponsors of the House bill." (Peter Hardin, Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 4, 2006)

Contact staff writer Peter Hardin at phardin@mediageneral.com or (202) 662-7669.