VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will recall lawmakers to the state Capitol in coming weeks to take up a package of gun-control legislation he said is urgently needed to prevent killings like Fridays mass shooting in Virginia Beach.
Northam, a Democrat, told The Associated Press ahead of his announcement today that he plans to convene a special legislative session later this summer.
He said in an interview that he wants the Republican-controlled General Assembly to hear from the public about the need for common-sense law related to guns and accessories.
Republicans have previously rejected Northams gun control bills out of hand, but a top GOP lawmaker signaled Monday that hes open to a legislative debate.
Northams expected announcement comes less than a week after Virginia Beach city employee DeWayne Craddock used two semi-automatic handguns, a silencer and extended ammunition magazines to kill 12 people, all but one them colleagues he had worked with for years, and injure several others. Craddock was then killed in an intense gunbattle with police during which a bullet hit one officer in a bulletproof vest.
Northams package of bills includes legislation that directly relates to Fridays shooting __ including a ban on silencers and high capacity ammunition magazines as well as broadening the ability of local governments to limit guns in city buildings. But Northam said other recent shootings, including the death last month of a 9-year-old girl who was shot at a community cookout in Richmond, are also driving his call for a special session.
Under Virginia law, the governor can call a special session but has no say in how its conducted. But GOP Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment indicated Monday that theres some willingness to debate whether to ban large-capacity magazines, according to the Virginia Gazette.
Northam hinted Saturday in news interviews that he may be considering some kind of executive action related to gun control efforts that would bypass the legislature, but his office declined to say what specific actions he may take.
Republicans did not immediately comment on Northams plans for a special session, but some of Northams opponents have said the governor is trying to use Fridays shooting to deflect attention from his own troubles. The governor flatly denied that accusation.
Im not playing politics. … Im bringing people to the special session to save lives, Northam said.
