Governor Terry McAuliffe signed a bill today that ensures that anyone with a concealed carry permit issued anywhere in the United States can carry in Virginia, in a stunning reversal of an attempt by Attorney General Merk Herring to sever reciprocity agreements with 25 states.

The National Rifle Association is pleased with the deal.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) commends Virginia’s leaders for reaching an agreement to secure the rights of law-abiding concealed carry permit holders. H.B. 1163 and S.B. 610 which will restore and promote concealed carry reciprocity for permit holders in the Commonwealth and around the country, were signed into law today.

“Now, more than six million law-abiding gun owners will be free to travel in and out of Virginia with their Second Amendment rights intact,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.  “Self-defense is a fundamental right that must be respected.”

On Dec. 22, 2015, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring decided to sever concealed carry reciprocity agreements with half the country. The change was set to take effect early in 2016. The decision nullified agreements with the following states; Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

In addition to providing concealed carry recognition for valid permits from other states, the bipartisan legislation signed today requires the Virginia State Police to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states where needed.

“Concealed carry permit holders are among the safest groups of citizens in Virginia and throughout the country. On behalf of the NRA’s more than five million members, we commend this effort to protect public safety and fundamental freedoms. Hopefully this effort will encourage Congress to pass national right to carry reciprocity legislation as soon as possible,” concluded Cox. Governor McAuliffe signed the legislation earlier today despite a repeated onslaught of attacks from New York City Billionaire Michael Bloomberg and his misguided gun control allies.

Michael Bloomberg, the hypocritical billionaire gun control supporter who has his own private army of armed body guards and armored vehicles, and who funded both McAuliffe and Herring with millions in both direct and indirect spending, was much less happy that the politicians he thought he’d bought bent to overwhelming public pressure.

“Governor McAuliffe cut a backroom deal with the NRA that betrays gun violence survivors and endangers the safety of all Virginians. We expected more from him,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. The group, backed by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, spent more than $2.4 million in last year’s elections to help McAuliffe and Democratic candidates.