Lawmakers To Vote On Compromise Gun Bill

State lawmakers are voting on a flurry of bills today, the last day of the formal legislative calendar.

Among the bills is new gun control legislation, that would toughen the state's already strict gun control laws.

Lawmakers from the House and Senate yesterday night reached a compromise over how much discretion to give police chiefs to deny firearm identification cards -- which are needed to purchase shotguns and rifles — to people they deemed unsuitable.

The original House version of the bill granted police chiefs broad authority to deny the permits, but the Senate stripped that provision of the bill,  inciting criticism from police chiefs around the state.

The compromise version of the bill lets police chiefs petition a judge if they think someone who wants to purchase a rifle or shotgun could pose a public safety risk.

Both state gun rights advocates and police chiefs have voiced their support of the compromise bill.