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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Opponent Likely to Air Ads Hitting Cuccinelli for Supporting the 2nd Amendment

This just in from hte Cuccinelli campaign:

"...Put on your helmets. Our opponent has been funded from unidentified sources to buy a whopping $200,000 worth of broadcast television advertising starting today through Monday, November 5th. As they say – Yikes.

"We expect them to start running ads on the 2nd amendment issue later this morning.

"One thing is clear, we need to be prepared to get out our positive message in response. The problem is, we’re at the end of our moola here at the end of the campaign.

"We do not have $200,000 (I know you’re surprised), and we already sent out our last mailing requesting donations. So, please, help us gather as much money as we can to fight back with our own positive, conservative message. Please donate today by clicking here! We’re in the final sprint, and they’re dropping ‘the big one’ on our head on broadcast T.V. No one had ever gone on broadcast television in NoVa for a state senate race until this year. Now we get to be part of the fun.

"Please help us respond by donating today.

"We’re Still Working!We have always survived based on support from a committed base of volunteers. Won’t you please help us? Now is crunch time! If you’re willing to help, please give us a call at 703-293-9001 or email Mike@Cuccinelli.com. Please don’t delay! We are working EVERY DAY!

"We still need more volunteers. We have a lot of work to do in this must-win race, and we still need more people involved to help us get over the top. Can you adjust your schedule for 6 days to carve out time to help us in this critical race? Today? This weekend? Will you take election day off (or even just part of it)?

"Retired folks, can you make phone calls from home or at an office where we have a phone bank running? If so, please call us at 703-293-9001 or email Mike@Cuccinelli.com. We really do need your help."

If you can, please help this pro-gun candidate with a donation or by volunteering in this last week of the campaign.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Provision Protects 2nd Amendment Rights on Certain Public Lands

On October 24th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment sponsored by Utah Congressman Rob Bishop that will ensure there will be no federal infringement of Second Amendment rights on certain public lands. The provision, which came in the form of the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 1483, a bill to expand and create certain National Heritage Areas, stipulates that all designated lands within these areas would be exclusively governed by state and local laws regarding hunting, fishing, and the possession or use of a weapon, trap, or net.

“What we’re basically saying is that on these public lands, state and local firearm and hunting laws come first and will be enforced,” Congressman Bishop said. “This amendment makes an important clarification that local and state ordinances will have primacy, and that the rights which so many have enjoyed on these lands for generations will not be threatened by federal action.”

According to Congressman Bishop, “This was a win for states’ rights and for individual rights.”The Bishop language was added to the underlying legislation, the Celebrating America’s Heritage Act, by a vote of 344-71. H.R. 1483, as amended, now heads to the U.S. Senate for further action.

Hat tip to the NSSF Bullet Points weekly newsletter.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Fred Thompson on UN Gun Control

The Gun Nut has this exclusive from Fred Thompson on the continuing efforts of the UN to override the U.S. Constitution and restrict the ability of Americans to keep and bear arms. If Hillary Clinton is elected president, this could be closer to reality than you think.

Virginia Democratic Party Hit FitzSimmonds on Guns

Bob FitzSimmonds is running against Democratic State Senator Charles "Chuck" Colgan for the 29th District seat in the Virginia Senate. Senator Colgan is no friend of gun owners while FitzSimmonds, who has served as a legislative aide to Delegate Scott Lingamfelter and Senator Ken Cuccinelli, is pro-gun. The Democratic Party of Virginia has sent a similar mailer out against Fitzsimmonds as was sent by the party against Senator Cuccinelli.

Colgan says he does not see anything sent out by the Party until it is public. Such mailings are called indendendant expenditures and thus cannot be coordinated with the candidate. I guess the best proof of this is the fact that they also hit FitzSimmonds for being against abortion. Thing is, so is Senator Colgan.

You can read the article about this latest attack on a pro-gun candidate here. If you live in the 29th Senate District, please contact the FitzSimmonds campaign by calling 703-393-8939 and ask how you can help in the last week of the campaign.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Governor Bill Richardson at the NRA's Celebration of American Values

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was not able to attend the event but provided a video presenation. He is the lone Democrat running for President that is pro-gun.

Governor Kaine Sets Date for Special Election

Governor Tim Kaine has scheduled a special election for December 11th to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by the death of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.

Congresswoman Davis was a strong proponent for 2nd Amendment rights and she was a regular attendee at the Fredericksburg Friends of NRA banquet.

At least a half-dozen Republicans, including Davis' widower, Chuck Davis, have either announced plans to run for the office or interest in a possible run.

Republican Davis died October 6th after a two-year battle with breast cancer at the age of 57. She had represented the 1st District seat that runs from Prince William county to Newport News since 2000.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Roanoke Times Says No to Showmasters' Ad

I think most Virginia gun owners know that the Roanoke Times is not gun friendly. All you have to do is recall how they put the personal information of 135,000 CHP holders on their web site without regard for whether some of those permit holders were trying to keep hidden from abusive former spouses or former boyfriends. Well, now they have told one of their local businesses, Showmasters Gun Shows, that their business ads are no longer welcome.

I have never been one to promote or suggest boycotts. It is more effective to instead, keep copies of receipts where you purchase a product from a similar merchant, and then fax it to the corporate office of the business that tells you your guns are not welcome, accompanied with a note each time that says something like "I would have like to have purchased this product from your but you have a sign on your door that says I am not welcome because I carry a firearm." If every gun owner did this it would be something tangible that shows a merchant how much money they are losing because of their policy - much more so than just saying, I am going to boycott your business.

If you own a business and currently advertise in the Roanoke Times, consider finding an alternative method of advertising your business. After receiving the receipt for payment each time you purchase advertising, fax a copy of it to the Roanoke Times and let them know this could have been their ad if they had not started this new policy.

If you live around Roanoke, be sure to stop by the Roanoke gun show this weekend at the Roanoke Civic Center to show your support for Showmasters.

The Protest

As posted earlier last week, thirty two protesters participated in the Brady Campaign "lie-in" at noon across the street from the Richmond Gun Show Saturday. I consider these Brady stunts to be tasteless, especially when they use the families of victims to promote a political agenda. Worse, they provide talking points that have no basis in fact for their participants to regurgitate.

The facts are clear - 98% of all firearm transactions at gun shows go through licensed dealers. The term "unlicensed" dealer is both misleading and false. There is no such classification. If you are selling firearms as a primary function, and you are doing it without a license, you are violating federal law and the penalty is 10 years in federal prison. Someone who sells firearms from their personal collection for any reason is not a dealer - unlicensed or otherwise.

You can read the Richmond Times Dispatch's coverage of the protest by clicking here.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

VDGIF Votes To Allow Unplugged Shotguns

Virginia`s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries convened yesterday for its periodic regulation review, deciding on dozens of proposed amendments to state regulations governing game wildlife, hunting, trapping, wildlife diversity, fishing and fisheries resources and boating. Among the regulations was a proposal to allow unplugged shotguns for non-migratory birds. The General Assembly passed a bill earlier this year that allowed DGIF to approve such a proposal.

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, the issue brought the most division among the members of the board.

Bob Duncan, the department's wildlife division director, pointed out that different states are split on the issue. The Carolinas and West Virginia allow the use of unplugged shotguns, while Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Georgia do not. Questions of safety were raised, which Duncan said weren't an issue in states that allowed unplugged guns. Ultimately the board voted 5-4 to allow the use of unplugged guns.

The effective date of that regulation was moved up to Oct. 26 (the standard date for hunting and firearms regulations was July 1, 2008) to allow hunters to use unplugged guns when fall turkey season opens Oct. 27.

The Board also approved a proposal to allow an additional week of early muzzleloader deer season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

VSSA Endorsed Jeff Frederick Needs Your Help

There are just 19 days left before election day and 52nd District Delegate Jeff Frederick needs your support more then ever right now. His opponent has decided to put aside any ideas he may have and instead run a purely negative campaign. He's not letting the facts get in the way of his attacks. While Jeff is focusing on the issues that matter most to the voters of the 52nd district, Jeff's opponent is resorting to out-right lies. Jeff is endorsed by VSSA for his spotless legislative record on the Second Amendment and I hope you’ll be able to get involved and help us to victory on November 6th. If you live in the 52nd House District, you can contact the campaign by calling (703) 490-8405 or you can sign up to volunteer on his web site.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

State Democratic Party Hits Cuccinelli on Gun Rights

I was chastised a while back by a reader who identified himself as a Democrat for using the term "Democrat" instead of Democratic in a prior post. He went on to detail how the way I phrased the use of the term was similar to what had been done in some "Republican talking points" several years ago. The reader said that some gun owning Democrats are turned off by the NRA because it is perceived to be an extension of the Republican Party and that my post may cause the same feelings to be directed toward VSSA by Virginia gun owning Democrats. I explained that no slight was intended, that VSSA is a non-partisan group, and has endorsed and worked closely with pro-gun Democratic legislators in the General Assembly.

However, there is a reason why gun groups tend to lean toward one party over the other when it comes to supporting candidates. Whether it is the recent Gallup Poll that shows Democrats favor more gun control laws than do Independents and Republicans (albeit at lower levels now than in 2000 - more on that in a later post) or stunts like the one the Democratic Party of Virginia just pulled in trying to unseat Senator Ken Cuccinelli.

Several of VSSA's Board members and a good number of VSSA members live in Senator Cuccinelli's district. Senator Cuccinelli has been an unapologetic supporter of the Second Amendment and he is a member of the Arlington -Fairfax IWLA range. So you can imagine their reaction to a mailer that recently hit mailboxes in the district that was paid for by the Virginia Democratic Party.

The mailer in question has a photo of a window pane with what appears to be damage caused by a bullet hole. The mailer reads, "Criminals who can buy guns at gun shows have a message for Ken Cuccinelli." Then, below and to the right of the hole in the glass, there is the statement, "Thanks Ken."

On the reverse side is a photo background of what can be described as a less than mint condition automatic handgun, with Senator Cuccinelli's photo situated like it is attached to the gun, and in large type reads, "Ken Cuccinelli voted to allow criminals to buy guns at gun shows and is against nearly all common-sense gun laws."

The mailer then states that Senator Cuccinelli voted against "closing the gun show loophole" to "make it easier for criminals to buy guns."

The mailer does not mention the fact that six of his Democratic colleagues (Deeds, Edwards, Houck, Lucas, Puckett, Reynolds) voted with Senator Cuccinelli to defeat the bill.

And that's not all. The mailer goes on to distort other votes he cast in favor of the rights of gun owners without mentioning he was joined by two of his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Courts of Justice committee when those bills were killed in committee. It also does not mention that every pro-gun bill that passed in the last six years received the votes of at least five of the Democrat legislators mentioned above (Lucas being the exception as she usually votes anti-gun but had a brief moment of commonsense in the case of the gun show bill) and was signed into law by Democratic Governors.

I understand that political mailings often give distorted information or take many things out of context. But it seems to me a strange way to show your support for the right to keep and bear arms as stated in the state party platform.

VSSA continues to support our friends on the Democratic side of both the House and the Senate and we thank you for standing up for the rights of gun owners, despite what those sitting in Democratic Party HQ in Richmond may think of you.

For gun owners who would like to help Senator Cuccinelli in these final critical weeks of the campaign, you can call (703) 293-9001 or sign-up on his web site to be a volunteer.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The stuff really stacks up when you don't post for a week

Here is another item that popped up while I was on posting hiatus. As is usually the case Northern Virginia localities put together a legislative package that they hope the General Assembly will consider and pass. Inevitably it includes one or more gun control recommendations. It is usually the same rehash from year to year, banning firearms in recreation centers, blah blah blah. This year, Arlington has come up with a new idea. According to the Sun Gazette Newspaper the Arlington County Civic Association wants the General Assembly to allow officials to furnish to media outlets the names of people who have purchased handguns. Newspapers and other media organizations can then determine whether to publish them.

Apparently, Arlington did not learn the lesson that gun owners taught the Roanoke Times after it published the names and addresses of Virginia's 135,000 CHP holders. That led the State Police after an opinion from the AG to limit access to the list.

Speaking of the Roanoke Times and publishing the personal information of CHP holders, a friend forwarded a story from an October 8th WDBJ news report about a new proposal that would keep the public from using the Freedom of Information Act to access identifying information about permit holders.

According to the report, a subcommittee of the General Assembly's Freedom of Information Advisory Council is recommending personal identifiable information of concealed carry holders be kept private. Under their proposal, folks could request statistical information, like what percentage of the population in the Roanoke Valley has a concealed gun permit.

Law enforcement could still access the complete data for their jobs. The proposal must be approved by the General Assembly before it becomes law.

VSSA will keep gun owners informed on this issue and when a bill is introduced next session.

Gun Show to Draw Protests

If you are planning to attend the Dixie Classic Gun and Knife Trader's Show and Sale (C and E Gun Shows) in Richmond at the Showplace October 20th (Saturday) you may have to walk around or over a few bodies to get in the door. The Million Mom March/Brady Campaign is planning to conduct its signature "lie-in" at noon near the building.

These protesters will be women wearing black and they plan to lie down for two minutes to represent the amount of time it took the Virginia Tech shooter to get his guns. Never mind that it actually took him thirty days if you count the time required to wait between purchases of the two hand guns.

Why they feel the need to protest a gun show to bring attention to the act of a deranged individual is still a mystery to me. Cho did not buy his guns at a gun show. But, that is a fact that is also lost on Governor Tim Kaine's Virginia Tech Review Panel as they recommended requiring background checks on private sales (closing the so-called "gun show loophole").

This is always a very popular gun show and I hope all gun owners will pack the show on Saturday before or at noon to show your support for the right to keep and bear arms. The Showplace is located at 3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike. The show is open from 9 to 5 on Saturday and 9 to 4 on Sunday.

"Deal of the Day" a Must Read

Sorry for the lack of posts over the last week. I was attending a conference for my job then had to get my articles together for the next issue of VSSA's publication, The Bullet.

The International Association of Chief's of Police (IACP) are holding their annual conference this week in New Orleans. This group is well known for its love for more gun control. This week is no different where they are calling for passage of a new "assault weapons" ban among other restrictions. They say this is needed because cops are out gunned on the street by thugs who are "carrying more AK 47s."

Maybe instead of lobbying congress for more gun control they should be lobbying their state legislatures to pass tougher sentencing standards for criminals similar to what Virginia did in 1994 when parole was abolished for criminals convicted after 1994, we passed three strikes legislation, and passed truth in sentencing.

All we have to do to see why violent crime is increasing in some areas of the country is to look at the sentences that are being handed out in our courts, many times to people who should have been in prison instead of on the street committing the crime for which they are facing light sentences.

Cam Edwards of NRA News' Cam & Company, heard nightly on Sirius Satellite Radio (Patriot 144) as well as live on the Internet on www.nranews.com, has a segment each night known as "The Deal of the Day" where he highlights instances of criminals making out like bandits when it comes to the sentences they receive. He has also created a blog so you can read the actual news report. It is well worth the read and is a great ammunition to respond to the antis when they whine that we need more gun control. You can respond, "no we need criminal control" and then site why you are right. You can find "The Deal of the Day" by clicking here.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

HR 2640 - NICS Improvement Act

In an effort to provide you with the most up-to-date information to help address any confusion or misrepresentation over H.R. 2640, the "NICS Improvement Amendments Act," NRA-ILA has provided the below helpful links to NRA-ILA fact sheets and recent articles written to further clarify the legislation.

H.R. 2640, the "NICS Improvement Amendments Act"

"Clearing the Air on the Instant Check Bill"

"HR 2640: Sensible Solution or Trojan Horse?"

"Gun Bill Not Anti-Veteran"

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

South Richmond Baskin-Robbins Manager Charged

I have refrained from posting about this story because there were so many unanswered questions about the events but now that the ice cream store manager has been charged with reckless discharge of a firearm while defending himself, other employees and his store against a career criminal with a record of robberies and prison time, I felt it was time to include a post on the story.

Some background - David Fielding, a 21-year-old art student at Virginia Commonwealth University who was shift manager at a Forest Hill Avenue Baskin-Robbins store was working on Sept. 6, the night of the robbery. Fielding fatally shot Jerome Davis, during the robbery just after 9 p.m. Fielding had been on duty when another man robbed the store Aug. 14.

Following that robbery, he purchased a 9mm handgun and took it with him to the store, according to a Richmond Times Dispatch (RTD) report. Richmond police said Davis entered the store with a BB-gun copy of a semiautomatic handgun and demanded money from the cash register. He then ordered two ice-cream parlor employees to retreat to the back of the store. That's when Fielding got his gun and fired at least eight shots at the suspect, according to police. One of the shots shattered the window to the store. Police said one shot hit 43-year-old Davis in the hand, and another struck him in the back.

On September 28th, Richmond prosecutors announced they will seek a felony indictment on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm against Feilding.

The RTD quoted Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Herring as saying "We have considered everything the police officers have brought in, the witnesses interviewed, the review of the scene and the forensic evidence collected, and I believe there is probable cause that a crime has been committed,"

Investigators told the RTD it appears three of the shots fired that night by Fielding were fired from inside the store. Outside the store, investigators found evidence of eight additional shots fired.

Community members collected over 500 signatures requesting the Commonwealth's Attorney to not seek charges. Now that charges have been filed, the leader of the effort, Richard Diggs said that he understood Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring's decision to seek to have Fielding indicted on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm. "I guess the grand jury couldn't be a better place to decide this," Diggs told the RTD.

I will keep you posted on the outcome of this story. To read more you can go here.

Monday, October 1, 2007

VSSA Endorsements

In the coming days, VSSA will be announcing official endorsements for legislators that are engaged in tough election battles for re-election to the General Assembly. VSSA is a non-partisan organization and the Board has endorsed Democrats and Republicans for re-election. There are many friends of gun owners in the General Assembly but the Board opted to officially endorse those who have tough re-election campaigns. VSSA urges gun owners to review the NRA-PVF endorsements that will appear in your October NRA publications for a complete list of those that deserve gun owner support.

If the anti-gunners win...

Dave Kopel last week reviewed "Brady II" over at the Volokh Conspiracy. For those who don't remember, Brady II was introduced in Congress during 1994 but the Clinton Administration was focused on the Crime Bill with it's so-called assault weapons ban so Brady II never came up for a vote. When the Republicans won a majority in Congress (partly as a result of the NRA's all out push to defeat those members who voted for the assault weapons ban) Brady II did not resurface.

With a presidential campaign looming, and the two front-runners (Clinton and Guiliani) have less than stellar records on the issue of guns, Kopel apparently thought it would be good to give gun owners a look of what we might face if an anti-gun president and anti-gun leadership in Congress (at least in the House with Harry Reid in the Senate being pro-gun).

Brady II included:

Arsenal licensing - Any person who owns 20 or more firearms or more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition or primers (e.g. two "bricks" of rimfire ammo) would be required to get an "arsenal" license.

Licensing - Every handgun buyer would be required to obtain a state handgun license. The license would be good for no more than two years. No-one could obtain a license without passing a state-controlled "safety" course.

Taxes - Brady II would increase the taxes to 30% on handguns, and 50% on ammunition. So a $500 pistol would cost $650, and a $20 box of ammunition would cost $30.

There are other provision. You can read them all here. Hat tip to NRANews' Cam & Company for bringing this to my attention.