GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1137, which would allow a concealed handgun permit holder to have a loaded shotgun or rifle in their vehicle on a public highway in a locality that prohibits transportation of a loaded shotgun or rifle.

This legislation ignores long-established firearm safety procedures and could endanger law enforcement officers in the line of duty. In 2006, a State Trooper was killed while responding to a vehicle crash. As the crashed vehicle was being loaded on a wrecker, the loaded rifle discharged killing the trooper. No one at the crash scene knew that the loaded rifle was in the vehicle.

Additionally, there is no relationship between being a valid concealed handgun permit holder and transporting a loaded shotgun or rifle. Concealed handgun permit holders have no required training regarding shotguns or rifles. Therefore, no logical nexus exists to confer on a concealed handgun permit holder a new shotgun or rifle benefit that supersedes local restrictions.

Protecting law enforcement officers and upholding local firearms safety requirements far outweigh any minor conveniences sought by this legislation.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.