RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ State budget woes have sunk a proposal to begin issuing lifetime concealed-handgun permits in Virginia. As lawmakers struggle to close a $2.4 billion revenue gap, the Senate Finance Committee declined Tuesday to advance a bill to establish a system for concealed-carry permits that never expire. Under current law, the permits must be renewed every five years. The proposal from Republican Sen. Richard Black of Loudoun County would have cost an estimated $1.2 million next year and $600,000 each year after that. Much of the money would go to hire additional State Police personnel to perform background checks and process required documentation. Budget considerations also caused the demise of another bill that would have prohibited a person convicted of stalking, domestic assault or sexual battery from possessing a firearm.
