The House Public Safety firearms subcommittee on Oct. 12 adopted a committee substitute and line amendments to House Bill 1597, a comprehensive safe-storage measure that would require secured storage of firearms in homes and unattended vehicles and add a statewide public-education campaign. After amendments, a motion to lay the bill on the table failed by a vote of 5 to 4, keeping the bill active in the subcommittee.

Delegate Don Scott Fagan presented the substitute, which he said adds language to require firearms in homes with minors or prohibited persons be secured in a firearm safety device, and expands acceptable devices to include biometric safes. The substitute also requires firearms left in unattended vehicles be stored in locked, affixed containers not visible from outside and adds reporting requirements for firearms stolen from premises or vehicles.

"This bill reflects a commitment to responsible gun ownership and addresses preventable tragedies," Delegate Fagan said, citing national statistics offered in testimony: that firearms are a leading cause of death for children and teens, millions of children live in homes with unlocked guns, and veteran suicides often involve firearms.

Supporters included the Virginia Chapter of Giffords, the American Academy of Pediatrics (represented by Dr. Cassandra Stegall), the League of Women Voters, Moms Demand Action and the Virginia Center for Public Safety. Testifiers described incidents of child injury and death linked to unsecured guns and supported the addition of education and reporting provisions.

Opponents, including Philip Van Cleave of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, the National Rifle Association and the Virginia Shooting Sports Association, raised practical concerns about the vehicle storage requirement, the cost and reliability of biometric safes, and scenarios where prompt access to a firearm may be needed for self-defense. Patricia Webb, a Hanover resident, said biometric safes can be unreliable and expensive.

The subcommittee approved two line amendments offered by the chair removing language that would have created a new felony tied to losses or thefts; the amendments retained a reporting requirement for stolen firearms but struck the proposed felony enhancement. After debate a motion to lay the bill on the table failed 5-4, leaving HB 1597 eligible to be scheduled for full committee consideration under the subcommittee's procedural rules.