Companion bills that would end Virginia's law limiting handgun purchases to one a month to address the state's reputation as a regional mecca for gun runners advanced in Virginia's House and Senate.

On a largely party-line vote, the House passed the measure 66-32 with only two Democrats -- Portsmouth's Johnny Joannou and Washington County's Joe Johnson -- siding with the GOP majority. One Republican, David Albo of Fairfax, voted with Democrats to oppose it.

A similar Senate bill was engrossed overwhelmingly on a voice vote before being reconsidered and delayed for a day.

Both would end one of the legacy laws of Democratic former Gov. Doug Wilder, who pushed for it after Virginia became a prime supplier of guns used in crimes in major East Coast cities.