Virginia extends reciprocity deadline to March 1; Deal may overturn decision altogether

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office recently notified Buckeye Firearms Association that it had received notification from the Commonwealth of Virginia indicating that state has extended the time before revoking concealed handgun license reciprocity Ohio and many other states to March 1.

In the letter, dated January 29, the Superntendent of Department of State Police said that ongoing conversations between Gov. Terry McAuliffe Virginia's General Assembly make it likely that changes to Virginia law will negate VA Attorney General Mark "Red" Herring's decision to arbitrarily sever concealed carry reciprocity agreements with half of the United States.

Superintent Steve Flaherty writes "I appreciate your continued patience as Virginia's legislators and Governor continue to engage in a dialogue on the matter of concealed carry reciprocity. As the situation continues to evolve, I will keep you apprised of any changes.

According to TheHill.com, a deal appears to be in the works that would prevent the mass revocation from ever taking place.

The move comes as a shocking betrayal for gun control advocates.

McAuliffe has touted his “F-rating” from the NRA, but Everytown for Gun Safety accused the governor of “caving to the gun lobby’s demands.”

“Terry McAuliffe has been a good friend and strong ally to those of us in the gun violence prevention movement in Virginia,” said Lori Haas, director of the Virginia chapter of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

“Unfortunately, this deal with the NRA and pro-gun politicians is a mistake that, on the whole, would do far more harm than good,” she added.

In the days after the announcement of the revocations was first made, Gov. McAuliffe voice his support for it, and also announced that he had signed an anti-gun executive order banning openly-carried firearms from government grounds.

Soon thereafter, a state legislator introduced a bill seeking to defund the governor's protective detail, saying "If he is so afraid of guns, then I am not going to surround him with armed policemen."

According to TheHill.com, the deal is structured so that Virginia will continue allow gun owners from other states to carry in the commonwealth, and that state police will be instructed to confiscate firearms from people convicted of domestic abuse. The state will also move to expand voluntary background checks.

Click here to read the Virginia Extension Letter it its entirely.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.