RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia law bars people taking guns, knives and other weapons into religious meetings unless a person has what is termed a "good and sufficient reason" to carry one - but a state lawmaker wants to lift the ban. Senate Bill 372 by Sen. Ben Chafin, a Russell County Republican,

RICHMOND, Va. - President Obama's emotional call for more gun-purchase background checks is drawing a mixed response in Virginia, largely split along party lines. The president on Tuesday issued an executive order expanding the types of gun sellers that have to require background checks, closing a

RICHMOND, Va. - The time is right to reform Virginia's juvenile justice system, according to a new nonpartisan coalition called RISE for Youth. The coalition wants to replace the big juvenile prisons with community-based corrections. States around the country have been changing how they treat young

WASHINGTON - Another major Supreme Court decision on campaign finance could come as early as next week. In McCutcheon v. Federal Elections Commission, Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon said his First Amendment rights are violated when he cannot give a $2,600 donation to as many parties and candid

RICHMOND, Va. – A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds firearm homicide rates dropped in major metropolitan areas between 2006 and 2010, but more people used guns to commit suicide. Jim Mercy, a behavioral scientist with the CDC's Division of Violence Pre

RICHMOND, Va. - In light of the recent school shooting in Connecticut, Gov. Bob McDonnell formed the Campus and School Safety Task Force - consisting of school administrators, law enforcement, mental health practitioners and others - to examine school safety issues and establish safety guidelines fo

RICHMOND, Va. - New and existing laws about protective orders for victims of domestic, sexual and intimate-partner violence are on the docket at a conference which begins today in Richmond. Law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys and victim advocates are attending. They'll hear from people such

RICHMOND, Va. – It's Valentine's Day, but one group isn't feeling the love from the General Assembly – and to signify that, is delivering empty broken-heart boxes to legislators today. Jay Johnson, treasurer for Virginia Organizing, says the statewide group is disappointed by the vast m