A Virginia State Senate Panel Has Defeated A Democratic Push For Stricter Gun Laws. A Republican-Led Panel Has Voted To Block Legislation That Would Allow Cities And Counties To Ban Firearms At Certain Public Events. The Panel Also Voted Down A Bill To Expand Mandatory Background Checks On Gun Buyers. The Vote After Newly Sworn-In Gov. Ralph Northam, A Democrat, Pushed For Universal Background Checks During His Inaugural Address.