Can I Get An Amen: Virginia AG Mark Herring Smacks Back At The NRA

When he was running to be Virginia’s Attorney General, the National Rifle Association [NRA] was so afraid of Mark Herring that they pumped over $20,000 into the campaign coffers of his opponent.

And now Attorney general Herring — yes, he won the election — is proving that the NRA had a need to be afraid. He is closing down a loophole that allows everyone with a concealed carry permit from another state to carry a firearm in Virginia:

"Our General Assembly has already identified who can and cannot conceal handguns in Virginia, and we cannot have that decision undermined by recognizing permits from other states with more permissive standards.”

And this new restriction flies in the face of one of the NRA’s latest moves, which is to get Congress to pass national right-to-carry reciprocity legislation, which would allow folks from one state to bring their guns into another state.

But, beginning February 1, Virginia will no longer allow people with concealed carry permits from other states — like Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming — to automatically carry concealed handguns in Virginia.

And that’s because the attorney general's office found that those 25 states grant concealed carry permits using “more permissive standards,” than Virginia; in fact, some of those states allow people with histories of stalking, drug dealing, domestic violence and mental health problems to obtain permits to carry a concealed weapon.

Now, visitors from other states — such as West Virginia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah — will still be allowed to carry concealed weapons if they enter Virginia and that’s because requirements for a concealed carry permit in those states meets or surpasses the Virginia statute. And much to the chagrin of the NRA, even the State Police Superintendent Steven Flaherty signed off on the new restrictions and will implement and enforce the change.

And what is even more amazing is that Herring made this move even though he is facing reelection next year. His only opponent so far is Delegate Robert Bell III, a former state prosecutor, who will, no doubt, be getting a big fat check from the NRA.

And here’s hoping that money goes to waste as well.

NCRM