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Guns and Domestic Abuse Don't Mix, Says Virginia Governor

Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va)
governor's office
Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-Va)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed legislation to allow people who are protected by a protective order to carry a hidden handgun without getting a permit.

McAuliffe said Thursday that the legislation would have encouraged victims of domestic abuse to introduce guns into already dangerous situations.

The governor, a Democrat, tried unsuccessfully earlier this year to amend the legislation. McAuliffe wanted people protected by a protective order to take a firearms safety class before they could carry a concealed weapon, among other changes.

Republican supporters of the legislation said it would help victims of domestic violence better protect themselves.

McAuliffe also vetoed a bill that would have narrowed the circumstances when a person could be charged for illegally pointing or brandishing a firearm.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.