The state Senate yesterday handily approved a measure that would allow motorists who do not have concealed-weapon permits to stash their firearms in a locked container when transporting them.

Senators were more reluctant to back two other proposed gun laws involving holders of concealed-weapon permits.

At the request of Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, senators voted to put off until next year consideration of Senate Bill 529. It would limit public access to the state police database of permit holders but would allow the public to access permit applicant information at the circuit court level.

Opponents of the measure had proposed various amendments that would further limit access to the public record at the circuit court level.

With tonight's midnight deadline looming for the passage of bills by the House of Delegates and the Senate, Houck recommended that the measure be referred to the Freedom of Information Advisory Council. The organization had first proposed the database limitation after the online publication of the information last year.

"I'm not sure we can resolve all of this on the floor of the Senate" by the deadline, Houck said.

On Friday, the House passed a companion bill, House Bill 982, which would restrict access at the circuit court and give the court clerk discretion on whether to release the names of permit holders.

Senators also put off until today a vote on another gun bill that would allow holders of concealed weapon permits to bring their concealed firearms into restaurants.

Senate Bill 476, sponsored by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, cleared the Courts of Justice Committee by a 9-4 vote last week, but it faced opposition from restaurant owners concerned that they would have no way of knowing whether someone they were serving alcohol would be armed.

Hanger's bill stipulates that someone carrying a concealed weapon into a restaurant would be prohibited from drinking. Currently, unless prohibited by a business owner, gun owners can bring their weapons into an establishment as long as they are visible.

By a vote of 31-9, senators approved Senate Bill 436, which allows weapons to be stowed in vehicles. Currently, only holders of concealed-weapon permits can conceal weapons in vehicles.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, said the bill would prevent people form having to leave their weapons exposed to the public, or to children riding inside a vehicle.

"It's a simple solution to a practical problem," Vogel said.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.