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Rules committee refers firearms bills back to jurisdiction after contested hearing and public turnout
Summary
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted 6–1 on Oct. 9 to remove two firearms-related bills (36-05 and 36-0144) from its agenda and send them back to the committee of jurisdiction for further work.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted to refer two firearms measures back to the committee of jurisdiction after a contentious exchange and public testimony. On Oct. 9, 2025, Senator Kenneth L. Gittens moved that bills 36-05 and 36-0144 be removed from the Rules agenda and returned to the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety; the motion passed on a roll call vote of 6–1.
Supporters of the motion said the bills needed further drafting and that the prime sponsor had asked for more time to refine proposed amendments. Senator Kenneth L. Gittens said the motion gave the sponsor "ample time to address the amendments needed" and that it was proper to allow the committee of jurisdiction additional work before the measures proceeded.
Opponents and several testifiers in the gallery objected to the late change. Senator Carla J. Joseph, who presided over the hearing, noted the committee's obligation to hear residents and apologized to those who traveled to testify when the measures were removed. Senator Clifford A. Joseph Sr. said, "I'm very disappointed with that motion," arguing attendees had a right to be heard. The clerk recorded the roll call: Senators Angel L. Bocas Jr., Kenneth L. Gittens, Alma Francis Heiliger, Clifford A. Joseph Sr., Avery L. Lewis and Milton E. Potter voted yes; Senator Carla J. Joseph voted no.
The clerk released scheduled testifiers after the vote. Invited witnesses listed on the agenda included Mario Brooks of the Virgin Islands Department of Justice and members of local gun-owner groups.
No formal vote on the underlying firearms measures was taken in Rules; the committee sent both bills back to the committee of jurisdiction for further amendments and consideration. The action preserves the sponsor's opportunity to revise the measures and ensures further vetting before the full Legislature considers them.
What happened next: The Rules committee recessed after the referral action and returned later to consider other items on Block 3 of the agenda. The referral record and the roll-call tally will appear in the committee minutes forwarded to the full Legislature.
