Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced on Friday that he vetoed legislation that would have limited the sharing of information on concealed handgun permit holders in a state database, one of 17 pieces of legislation passed during the 2015 legislative session he vetoed ahead of aSunday midnight deadline.
Mr. McAuliffe’s office said the bill, which would bar law enforcement officials in states without reciprocity agreements from accessing information on concealed handgun permit holders in the Virginia Criminal Information Network, could unnecessarily hamper criminal investigations in other states and put law enforcement officers at risk.
But Sen. Richard Stuart, Stafford Republican and sponsor of the measure, said in a statement that he was “shocked” that Mr. McAuliffe “chose not to stand with law-abiding Virginians who are being victimized when they travel in other states.”
Being a permit holder “does not make anyone a suspect or criminal,” Mr. Stuart said.
Mr. McAuliffe vetoed another gun-related measure that would have exempted lawful concealed carry permit holders from local ordinances barring them from carrying or transporting a loaded shotgun or rifle in a vehicle on public streets.
His office said the legislation “ignores long-established firearm safety procedures and could endanger law enforcement officers in the line of duty.”
The governor also vetoed a bill dealing with certification from law enforcement officers for certain kinds of firearms.
Mr. McAuliffe also vetoed legislation known as the “Tebow bill,” passed after years of trying, that would allow home-schooled children to play on public school sports teams. The nickname is a reference to former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who was home schooled in Florida but played football on a local high school team.
The governor’s office said it would create a double standard with students not subject to academic or attendance requirements of public schools being able to compete on public school teams. Proponents of the measure, though, say the measure is about opportunity; a student would have to demonstrate evidence of progress in two straight academic years and comply with other requirements.
Mr. McAuliffe also vetoed legislation that would have prevented the state Board of Education from implementing the Common Core education standards without prior approval of the General Assembly. The standards have become a thorn in the side of many conservatives across the country.
“This bill infringes on the authority of the Virginia Board of Education, particularly given [the] fact that Virginia has no plans to adopt the Common Core State Standards,” his office said.
The legislature is scheduled to return April 15 to act on the governor’s vetoes and amendments to legislation.
He offered changes to an ethics bill passed late in the session by proposing an aggregate gift cap of $100 legislators can receive from a lobbyist, lobbyist principal, or entities seeking a contract with the state, rather than a $100 cap per gift.
“While I sought a much stronger bill, my top priority is amending this bill to include a $100 aggregate cap on gifts, so that leaders cannot receive unlimited $100 gifts from lobbyists and those seeking influence with the state,” Mr. McAuliffe said. “That is a reasonable step that I hope the General Assembly will accept this year, so that we can begin preparing to further advance this important cause in the next legislative session.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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