Committee conforms SB 1329 to House bill and advances measure addressing firearms left in vehicles

Senator Marston introduced Senate Bill 1329, saying the bill would revert Virginia law to its pre-February 2010 standard and require a concealed-carry permit to lawfully have a concealed firearm in a vehicle. "We're having a just a a horrible situation with guns stolen from cars," Marston said, citing stolen-gun counts in several Virginia localities during his presentation.

The committee conformed SB 1329 to House Bill 15 97 by voice vote and then voted 6-4 to report SB 1329 with a substitute to the next stage. Delegate Helmer moved to conform the Senate bill to House Bill 15 97; the motion was seconded and adopted. Later, a motion to report the bill as conformed carried on a recorded vote of 6 yes and 4 no.

Why it matters: supporters said reverting to the pre-2010 rule would keep unlicensed, unsecured firearms out of public circulation and reduce thefts from vehicles; opponents said the bill creates practical and legal problems for law-abiding gun owners and could conflict with other bills and case law.

Supporters' arguments and evidence Lori Haas of Richmond told the committee she supports the bill as a response to an "ongoing and growing problem of firearms left in vehicles." Senator Marston cited municipal counts, saying Henrico had about 209 stolen guns last year, Chesterfield 235, and that Richmond had more than 600 (figures presented by the sponsor during the hearing). He framed the bill as restoring the prior legal regime under which a person needed a concealed-carry permit to have a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

Opponents' concerns Philip Van Cleve of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) argued the bill fails to account for court interpretations and practical storage issues, saying the requirement for a firearm to be in a closed, latched compartment in some cases would force a person without a permit to leave a firearm in plain view. Van Cleve said that would increase theft and could expose owners to other risks. An online commenter, Taylor McKee, said the bill would make it harder for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.

Committee discussion and alignment with other bills Committee members noted overlapping measures. Delegate Helmer and committee counsel identified House Bill 15 97 (secure storage penalties) and House Bill 16 22 as related measures; committee members moved to conform SB 1329 to House Bill 15 97 to align the policies. The committee accepted the conforming motion and later reported SB 1329, with a substitute, on a 6-4 vote.

What the bill would do (as described in the hearing) Sponsor remarks characterized the change as a reversion to the law before February 2010, when a concealed firearm in a vehicle required a concealed-carry permit unless lawfully carried on the person. The sponsor said the change is intended to reduce opportunities for stolen guns to reach people who should not have them.

Next steps SB 1329 will proceed as reported with a substitute. The committee record shows the bill was conformed to House Bill 15 97 and reported by a 6-4 vote; the committee did not adopt an immediate amendment beyond the substitute reported.

Closing note The measure drew sustained public comment both in support and opposition and produced a recorded committee vote to advance the conformed bill with a substitute.