Efforts in Virginia to relax certain gun laws will likely not get a chance to be considered because of a move by Senate Democrats.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee created a new subcommittee to handle bills concerning guns and other issues.
The State Senate is controlled by Democrats. They stacked the subcommittee with four anti-gun Democrats and one Republican.
Democrats hold a 10-5 majority in the full committee, but at least three party members regularly vote with Republicans on pro-gun legislation.
Repealing Virginia's one-gun-a-month law and exempting guns made in Virginia from federal law were more likely to pass without the creation of the subcommittee.
Republicans said allowing the subcommittee to kill bills would be contrary to the state's traditions.
