Virginia House advances gun restrictions

Democrats in the Virginia House are advancing a package of gun-control measures they said are needed to improve public safety.

The new Democratic majority in the House voted Wednesday to advance a package of gun measures over vocal opposition from Republicans, who said the measures infringe on law-abiding gun owners' rights.

The bills include limiting handgun purchases to once a month; universal background checks on gun purchases; allowing localities to ban guns in certain areas; and a red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily take guns away from anyone deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others.

A final vote is expected Thursday to pass the measures and then send them to the House. The Senate has

already passed versions of its own gun-control bills

So far, neither chamber has approved

a proposed assault weapon ban

, a top priority for Gov. Ralph Northam and one that's drawn fierce resistance from gun-rights advocates.

Attempts to pass red flag laws in past years had all been killed in Republican-controlled committees before ever advancing to full-floor votes.

Last week, the House killed several pro-gun measures in a subcommittee meeting. Those GOP-backed measures included a bill to allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit and to repeal a limit on carrying weapons in churches and other places of worship.