2 concealed gun bills face House votes

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Two bills favored by Virginia's powerful gun-rights lobby are likely to win easy House passage on Wednesday.

One bill would conceal from public disclosure names of people who hold state-issued permits to carry concealed weapons.

Opponents noted that lists of marriages, hunting licenses and numerous other privileges are public record and the public deserves access to information about who's secretly packing heat.

Supporters said such records only invite trouble and invade a gun owner's privacy.

Another bill ends the ability of localities to require fingerprints of those applying for concealed carry permits.

Democratic Del. Joe Morrissey noted that no identification card is necessary for concealed gun permits, but Republicans want to require photo IDs to vote. Morrissey said someone could apply as John Dillinger and still receive a permit.