RICHMOND — The day after a bill that would have legalized the sale of brass knuckles, switchblades and throwing stars passed the House, lawmakers reversed themselves, killing the proposal for the year.
The House on Wednesday reconsidered the bill and voted it down, 83 to 17. Initially, the bill passed narrowly, 56 to 42, along party lines, with Republicans in favor. It had passed the Senate, 25 to 13, last week.
Sen. Thomas A. Garrett Jr. (R-Buckingham), the bill’s primary sponsor, had argued that there was no reason for throwing stars — known in Virginia as “oriental darts” — to be illegal when there is no such prohibition on guns, knives and swords in the state.
The idea was brought to him by the nonprofit American Knife & Tool Institute, which believes that the current law is unconstitutional and discriminates against people of lesser means who want to exercise their right to bear arms but can’t afford expensive firearms.
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Garrett said he was caught off guard by the House’s action Wednesday.
“I guess maybe this was their tribute to ninjas,” he said. “Sneaking in, you thought it was alive, but it’s not. ... I wouldn’t purport to know what their motive was.”
Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), chairman of the Republican caucus, said once lawmakers looked more closely at the bill they realized it was unnecessary.
“I think initially a lot of people thought it was just for collectors and then read the bill closer and thought it was too broad,” he said. “It was a pretty overwhelming vote for reconsideration.”
House Democrats, including Del. Alfonso H. Lopez (Arlington), had argued that the bill was dangerous in part because it included no age restrictions.
“I’m very happy that people realized the language of the bill was broader than intended and would have endangered communities unnecessarily,” he said.
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