REUTERS

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.

Portsmouth - The Virginia Senate passed legislation on Monday to dump the state's limit of one handgun purchase per month, set in 1993 to curb gun-smuggling operations, and Republican Governor Bob McDonnell is poised to sign it into law.

The measure is one of a host of pro-gun measures moving through the Republican-controlled legislature.

The state Senate voted 21-19 to amend Virginia law to eliminate the monthly limit. The House of Delegates passed the measure in a 66-32 vote earlier this month. The governor's spokesman Jeff Caldwell said McDonnell plans to sign the bill into law.

The one-a-month limit on handgun purchases was enacted by former Democratic Governor Douglas Wilder at a time when Virginia had the reputation as a US state where gunrunners could arrange to purchase a volume of weapons to sell on the streets of cities such as New York.

Lawmakers who favour lifting the limit said doing so will bring Virginia into line with the majority of states. California, Maryland and New Jersey are the only others with such handgun purchasing limits, Republican Senator Charles Carrico Sr. said during an earlier debate.

Opponents of the repeal expressed concern about an increase in violence.

One of the worst shootings in US history took place at Virginia Tech University, where 32 people were killed in April 2007 by a student. Another shooting there last year left a police officer dead.

Other pro-gun measures the Virginia legislature is considering include removing localities' rights to require fingerprints for concealed handgun permits and prohibiting clerks of the court from disclosing information contained in concealed handgun permit applications and permit-issuing orders. - Reuters