Virginia’s Democratic Leadership To Push For Action On Gun Control Following Mass Shooting
Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring, all Democrats, want lawmakers to tighten the state鈥檚 gun laws, which are among the most permissive in the nation. Over the weekend, several other Virginia Democrats took to social media to say that Friday鈥檚 shooting demonstrated the need to take control of the legislature this fall and pass restrictions on guns, as well, and a top Republican lawmaker said he is open to discussions.
All three of Virginia鈥檚 statewide elected officials plan to stand together Tuesday to call for tighter gun safety policies in the wake of Friday鈥檚 mass shooting in Virginia Beach. Gov. Ralph Northam, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring, all Democrats, expressed frustration over the weekend that Republicans who control the General Assembly have repeatedly stifled efforts to consider any form of gun control. (Schneider, 6/3)
The massacre on Friday of 12 people at a Virginia Beach, Virginia, municipal building was the work a veteran employee who had sent in his resignation hours before opening fire, according to police. The attack stands as the second-deadliest U.S. workplace shooting since 2000. Here are some of the others. (Goldberg, 6/3)
DeWayne Craddock submitted a short and courteous resignation letter Friday, telling a Virginia Beach official it had been a 鈥減leasure鈥 to work for the city. Hours later, he fatally shot 12 people, almost all of whom were colleagues. The striking disconnect in the email released Monday by Virginia Beach officials deepened the mystery around what prompted the nation鈥檚 worst mass shooting this year. Investigators continue to probe Craddock鈥檚 personal and professional life, looking for a motive. (Miller, Shapira and Zauzmer, 6/3)
