Aug. 8, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has until next Tuesday to sign three major bills the Senate sent to him after it forwarded the mass of legislation he finished acting on Tuesday night. But one of the three already has been signed, according to Sen. Emmett Hansen II.
The governor telephoned Hansen on Wednesday morning to say that he had signed the tough gun-control bill Hansen sponsored into law.
One of the two remaining bills would grant more autonomy to the territory's hospitals. The other would authorize a new government entity to issue bonds backed by anticipated revenues from the territory's share of the nationwide tobacco settlement.
Hansen's gun control-bill increases the first-offense fine for illegal gun possession to from $1,000 to $5,000, and the maximum prison term from two years to five. A second offense would increase the fine from $2,000 to $10,000, with imprisonment of up to 15 years.
For a felon carrying an illegal firearm or using one in a crime of violence, the fine goes from $10,000 to $25,000, with imprisonment from 15 to 20 years. For using a machine gun in a violent crime, the fine is raised from $12,000 to $50,000, with 20 years in prison.
The Senate passed the bill on a 12-1 vote. Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen cast the negative vote. Sen. Adelbert Bryan was off the floor for the vote, and Sen.Vargrave Richards was excused from the session.
Hansen described the bill as the "most unfortunate" measure he has had to deal with, but one of the most necessary.
According to the Senate legal counsel's office, the three bills were sent to Government House on Aug. 1. By law, the governor has 10 working days to act on measures from the date of their receipt. He can sign them, veto them or allow them automatically to become law without his signature.