Virginia Congressional Primaries Set for June 12th

Virginia's congressional primaries will take place as scheduled on June 12th as scheduled.  Roll Call reports that the U.S. Justice Department had no objections to the redistricting maps approved by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year. The new district lines were basically incumbent protection plans, though Senate Democrats wanted a second racially gerrymandered district to insure election of a second minority congressman in addition to the already racially gerrymandered 3rd District.

Colonial Shooting Academy

Another Sign We Are Winning

We can find little things to prove that the pro-rights forces are not only winning legislatively, but gaining ground in the debate as well.  This from The College of William and Mary's college newspaper in a story about Governor McDonnell signing the repeal of Virginia's one gun-a-month law:

McDonnell’s decision to sign the bill came as no surprise — before the legislation process began, he said that he was against gun rationing. He also explained that more extensive background checks and new laws pertaining to handgun purchases would help maintain public safety.

Note that the author used the term "gun rationing" to describe the purpose of the almost twenty year-old law.  Yes, the subject of the story is that the families of victims of the Virginia Tech shooting lost in their attempt to have the bill vetoed, but the fact that a term usually used by pro-rights forces found its way into the story is another sign that we are changing the terms of the debate too.

Women Overwhelmingly Represented on NRA All-American Rifle Teams

Look at the photos included with this post over on the NRABlog and what do you notice?  The new face of the shooting sports.  Of the 46 college students pictured on the various All-American Teams announced at the end of the NCAA Rifle Championships, over half, 29, were women.  In many cases, these women shooters are competing on co-ed teams, and out performing male shooters.

Does This Mean That Photo ID Requirements to Buy Firearms Will Also Be Tossed by Justice Dept.?

Apparently half of Texas' Hispanic registered voters (meaning they are supposedly here legally and U.S. citizens) don't have Photo IDs and therefore would not be able to vote under Texas' new voter ID law.  Eric Holder says this means Texas' new law disproportionately affects Hispanic voters and is therefore unconstitutional. So, does this mean Justice is now going to stand up for the rights of those Hispanic citizens to buy firearms and throw out ID requirements for such purchases?

Anti-gun Group Joins Chorus of Those Applauding Death of Castle Legislation

Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws sent this email today applauding yesterday's effective defeat of the last remaining Castle Doctrine bills.  Refering to the bills as "shoot first" legislation, the group called the bills dangerous and unnecessary.

Ironically, the group used language similar to language used by a gun rights group in opposing the bills, explaining that Virginia law on the issue of self defense has been carefully crafted by the courts. A Virginia gun rights group was actively opposing the Castle bills during the General Assembly.

But Andrew Goddard, president of the gun ban group and father of a survivor of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, went further saying if the bills had passed they would have caused an increase in unnecessary death and violence.

VSSA and the NRA supported the legislation and worked with patrons to address concerns raised by some that the bills would override protections already in common law.

In the end, the legislature, mired in a fight over the budget, decided they could not spend additional time addressing those concerns after taking steps to change the section of the code the bills addressed from the criminal to the civil code, and in the case of HB48, including specific language clarifying the bill:

"...shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law prior to the effective date of this law."

VSSA will continue to work with our friends in the legislature to insure maximum protections for Virginians that are forced to use a firearm in self defense.

Castle Doctrine Bills Effectively Dead for 2012

The two remaining Castle Doctrine Bills, HB 48 and SB 4 are effectively dead for the year.  HB 48 had been in a conference committee of the House and Senate until yesterday.  Today, the House of Delegates passed by the Conference Report indefinitely and the Senate recommitted the bill to Senate Courts of Justice, pursuant to Senate Rule 20 (g).  Rule 20 (g) states:

The Senate, upon consideration of any bill or resolution on the Calendar, may recommit, in accordance with these Rules, the bill or resolution to the Committee reporting the same, and direct the Committee to continue the bill or resolution until the following odd-numbered year regular session, and hold such hearings or render such further consideration of the bill or resolution as the committee may deem proper.

In short, HB 48 is on life support.  Any action that may be taken will be completed in the fall when committees determine what they will do with legislation carried over from the previous session.  Historically, carried over bills do not have a great history of advancing.

SB 4, which emerged from House Courts of Justice on Friday in a form similar to HB 48, was on final reading today and was rereferred back to Courts of Justice, effectively defeating the bill for the year as all committee action had to be completed by March 5th.

Both HB 48 and SB 4 fell victim to several things, not least of which was an active campaign by some claiming that the bills would harm the status quo related to self defense (Virginia is what is commonly referred to as a "stand your ground" state).  Both bills however only addressed Virginia's Civil Code, and HB 48 included a provision that stated:

This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law prior to the effective date of this law.

While Virginia common law is good when it comes to self defense, it has always been VSSA's position that we should not wait until some enterprising lawyer decides to sue on behalf of a criminal or his/her family, an individual who defended themselves from an attack.  Just because such a case has not occurred to date does not mean one will never occur.  VSSA will continue to work with legislators to pass a Castle Doctrine law that both preserves the protections already in law and provides additional protection for an individual who may be forced to use lethal force to defend themselves and their family.

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Picks Up Senator Janet Howell's Discredited Claim

Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence sent this email yesterday where he touts his recent blog post on the Huffington Post.  The post is entitled When Buying a Gun Becomes Easier than Voting.

You may recall that VSSA posted here about a similar claim made by State Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) a couple of weeks ago.  The Richmond Times Dispatch's PolitiFact checker found Senator Howell's claim to be only half true.

The fact is there are more restrictions on purchasing a firearm than there are on voting, and last time I checked, you have to present a Photo ID to purchase a firearm.