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The Senate Courts of Justice Committee Wednesday advanced a round of bills aimed at restoring reciprocity for concealed handgun permit holders who travel to and from Virginia.

The bill is in response to a decision last year by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring to end concealed carry reciprocity with 25 states that he said had more permissive gun regulations than Virginia.

Meanwhile, the panel dispatched bills brought by Democrats that would prohibit gun sales without background checks, limit handgun purchases to one a month and restrict the issuance of concealed permits to people who have received treatment for mental health or substance abuse issues.

The panel heard from Andy Parker, the father of Alison Parker, a TV reporter for WDBJ in Roanoke who was shot to death on live television last year along with cameraman Adam Ward by a disgruntled former station employee.