Virginia Democrat Senator Pushes For Gun Registry In Richmond

John Matthews
WMAL.com

ARLINGTON — (WMAL) Sen. Barbara Favola says she doesn’t want to take away your guns. She just wants to know what you’re packing.

The Arlington Democrat is proposing to have the state study whether the registration of firearms in Virginia is feasible, because she believes arming police with a database of gun records would provide them with an additional tool to fight crime. But she knows even a study will draw opposition in Richmond.

“There will be folks who say ‘No, we don’t even want to study this. No, we don’t even want to go down that path,” She admits.

On that score, Favola is absolutely right.

“My guess is that there will not be a single Republican who will vote for this bill,” says Sen Richard Black (R-Loudoun). “The whole purpose of [the study] is to pave the way for the confiscation of firearms from law abiding citizens,” he adds.

Despite those odds, Favola says she will push ahead when lawmakers meet in Richmond next month. After all, she says, all she’s asking for is a study – not an actual bill to register guns.

“If the study does demonstrate there are some public health benefits, then yes, I will advocate more aggressively for the registry of firearms,” she says.

Black says he doesn’t see the point of a registry, because only law-abiding gun owners would comply.

“Killers do not line up to register their firearms,” Black points out.

Six states and the District of Columbia require registration of some or all firearms, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Eight other states go the opposite route, expressly forbidding gun registries.