Newport News, Va. --- Jeanette Richardson and other gun laws advocates say they're struggling to understand the deal Gov. Terry McAuliffe made with republican lawmakers over guns.
It's personal for Richardson, whose son was murdered outside of her home in 2004. Calling it "definite betrayal," Richardson finds herself in the unusual spot of being on the other side of the governor. "He's been our hero," said Richardson. "To see this sidestep, he's jumped in a hole."
The legislature still needs to approve the plan, but it would reverse an order from Attorney General Mark Herring. Under it, the Commonwealth wouldn't have recognized concealed carry permits from 25 states, including North Carolina. The deal would take guns away from people with protective orders against them and would allow for more voluntary background checks at gun shows.
"I have always believed that these gun issues are non-partisan issues," Gov. McAuliffe said in a news conference.
Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell, a republican, says the reversal of the Attorney General's order was clearly important to the deal, but it's too much for advocates like Richardson.
"If we would like to rescind it, we're giving him another chance to take a second look," said Richardson.
In a radio interview on Monday, Gov. McAuliffe defended the deal, saying he had to compromise and saying the deal will save lives.
