Lawmakers Move Straw Bill Forward

A panel of Virginia lawmakers has recommended moving forward with somewhat weakened version of a bipartisan plan to curb ‘straw purchases’ of guns. As originally proposed and passed by the Senate, the bill would have increased the “straw man’s” punishment from 1-5 years in prison to 2-10 years. The committee amended the bill to simply require the offender to serve at least one year of any sentence received– eliminating the possibility of a suspended sentence. Straw purchases occur when a person legally buys a gun with the intent to transfer it to someone who is prohibited from possessing a firearm.