1. Personal Firearm Possession: Some people feel safer when other people's firearm possession is closely regulated; some people say they feel safer when carrying a gun. Is it your opinion that the present gun laws in Virginia provide a fair balance of these interests, or would you advocate further legislation? If you would advocate further legislation, please specify the nature of that legislation.

Answer: Gun safety is not just who has one, and who doesn't, but who has access to guns who we all believe should not. Even the NRA agrees that felons and mental patients should be forbidden gun ownership. Yet a buyer who has met the legal qualifications (as verified by a background check) can, with no penalty, transfer that same weapon to someone who may use it to commit a crime.

If I want to sell a car, however, the registration must be transferred and new ownership acknowledged. I would support legislation that would penalize persons who would sell or otherwise transfer a pistol to someone else without having the new owner register the weapon. Such registration could be accomplished at any licensed gun shop. (This would, incidentally, limit the "straw buyer" problem, even though the one-gun-a-month limitation has put a real dent in Virginia's status as the main source for guns used in crime up and down the Eastern seaboard.)

The other class of people who should not have access to guns is children. All new weapons should be sold only with trigger locks and public information campaigns should be mounted regularly to alert parents to the dangers of unsecured guns.

2. Guns in Recreation Centers and Government Spaces: Do you think that localities should have the ability to keep weapons out of recreation centers and other government spaces, either by ordinance or administrative policy? Or do you think that uniform statewide legislation on the issue is needed?

Answer: The State should authorize the local regulation of firearms in public spaces controlled by that locality.

3. Weapons on School Grounds: Students may not bring weapons on school grounds. An exception has been sought for unloaded weapons locked in vehicles for use after school during hunting season. Do you believe a specific exception should be made in this instance? Case-by-case in other special circumstances as they arise?

Answer: I believe that a hunting season exception should be allowed and that school administrations should be encouraged to use common sense and understand that no one rule can fit all cases. The sometimes absurd response of school officials (to finger pointing, bang-bang, for example) trivializes sensible regulation and may discourage children from reporting when guns are actually seen or known to be in a school.

I would also support gun training (not training to shoot) that educates children about the dangers of guns and the need for caution and safe handling. A program similar to the DARE program, funded by gun supporters and others who want to protect our children, would be valuable.

Al Weed (electronic mail, November 5, 2001)