Legislators who passed the nation's first law requiring instant background checks on people wanting to buy certain guns say they hope to end Virginia's reputation as a supplier of firearms to drug dealers.

The deadline for signing the bill is midnight today; Gov. Gerald Baliles has said he supports the measure and is expected to sign it. It would take effect Nov. 1.

Debate on the bill saw weapons drawn in the halls of the General Assembly.

The sponsor of the measure took a Soviet-designed AK-47 assault rifle to a Senate committee hearing, saying he wanted to show that dangerous guns can be sold to anyone who has the money.

The measure awaiting Baliles' signature