Two Democrats on the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee changed their vote on legislation to close the "gun-show loophole" after Friday's committee meeting in order to take advantage of parliamentary rules.

The panel initially voted 13-9 to "pass by indefinitely" a bill that would require background checks on buyers who want to purchase firearms from unlicensed dealers at gun shows.

The vote changed to 15-7 afterward, when two Democratic delegates from Fairfax County, David E. Poisson and James M. Scott, switched to side with the majority. Members who vote in the majority can later ask for a vote to be reconsidered.

Poisson said he changed so that he can ask that the "gun-show loophole" legislation be reconsidered when the committee next meets on Friday. His move was prompted by families of victims of the Virginia Tech massacre who spoke at the committee meeting in favor of requiring the background checks.

"This was purely about giving the Tech families that kind of respect they were due," he said. "They asked for the chance to have a second bite at the apple. They are citizens of the commonwealth who have suffered a tragedy unlike any imaginable, and I could not find it in my heart to say no."

Committee members originally voted with little explanation nearly along party lines -- Republicans against closing the exception and Democrats in favor of closing it. Poisson said he couldn't say whether any will change their minds. -- Olympia Meola