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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Proof That Legislation Never Really Dies

The Virginia General Assembly is known for more resurrections than the Bible and yesterday almost saw another bill come back to life. Those who watch the General Assembly know that any bill can be reconsidered once before it is finally dead. The Richmond Times Dispatch reported this morning that is what almost happened yesterday with Senator Marsh's "gun show loophole" bill. Senator John Edwards, who voted to kill the bill in Senate Courts of Justice last week, tried to have the bill reconsidered so it could be amended to provide that gun show promoters could make background checks available for private sales for a reasonable fee. Edwards viewed this as a compromise saying that both sides have been using this as a political football and he said he was only trying to look at it rationally and find a middle way.

Virginia gun owners need to stay vigilant as this maneuver could occur with any bill that has been voted down.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Governor Kaine Opposes Overturning D.C. Gun Ban

This one got by me with everything going on at the General Assembly. On the January 8th edition of the WWBT 12 (Richmond NBC Affiliate) evening news, they did a report on Attorney General Bob McDonnell's joining an amicus brief supporting Heller in Heller vs. District of Columbia that is headed to the Supreme Court.

The report quoted McDonnell as saying “This is the most important Second Amendment case in all of history. Virginia has pretty much always understood it to be an individual right and so the gun laws in Virginia have reflected that philosophy."

Kaine on the other hand doesn't agree and doesn't advocate overturning D.C.'s ban. Gov. Kaine told WWBT “I don't support overturning what DC has done in this instance but the AG has by statute clear ability to file legal briefs in his capacity as attorney general and you know that could lead him to file briefs i don't completely agree with but the statute is very plain.”

U.S. Senator, Jim Webb (D-Virginia) to his credit agrees with McDonnell that the handgun ban in D.C.should be overturned. Webb told WWBT, “What they've done in my opinion is put a burden on law abiding people who have difficulty in defending themselves.”

Yet Kaine stills insists that he "supports the Second Amendment." Just more proof when a politician will not detail what he or she means when they make that blanket statement, you better hold on to your guns.

You can read the entire report and watch video of the report here.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Help VSSA Make History at the Supreme Court!

Recently, a group of state firearms rights associations banded together for the purpose of filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in the case of Heller v. District of Columbia. This case initially overturned the 31-year-old DC handgun ban at the District Court level, and is being appealed to the Supreme Court by the city of Washington, DC, who are intent on maintaining the most draconian gun control law in the city. The results of this case could be either a great victory or a devastating defeat for gun owners in the United States, and we need to employ every weapon at our disposal in fighting this decisive battle.

On January 23rd, the VSSA Board of Directors voted to add VSSA to a list of 18 other state associations that have signed on to this effort. Initially led by the Texas State Rifle Association, the New York Rifle & Pistol Association, the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs and the Delaware State Sportsman’s Association, fifteen other state associations later joined forces in this important endeavor before VSSA's inclusion yesterday. The other associations involved in addition to the lead associations and VSSA are the Alabama State Rifle & Pistol Association, the Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association, the Georgia Sport Shooting Association, the Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, the Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association, the (Maine) Pine Tree State Rifle & Pistol Association, the Mississippi State Firearms Owners Association, the Missouri Sport Shooting Association, the Montana Rifle & Pistol Association, the Nebraska Shooting Sports Association, the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, the North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association, the Oklahoma Rifle Association, the Oregon State Shooting Association and, the Utah State Rifle & Pistol Association. The addition of VSSA yesterday brings the current total to 19. The amicus brief will be filed on February 4, or possibly before, depending the date of the filing by the appealing party (in this case the DC city government).

The preparation of the amicus brief is an expensive and time-consuming process, and is not without significant cost. This has been made easier for the state associations by this collaborative effort, but contributions from individuals would also help to offset the cost. Any help for this project would be gratefully accepted.

Donations can be made to defray VSSA's cost in participating. You can make an unrestricted donation directly to the VSSA for use in our share of the legal expenses. Be sure to note on your check "War Chest."

You can send your check payable to VSSA: Virginia Shooting Sports Association, P. O. Box 1258, Orange, VA 22960-0741.

Be a part of history and help VSSA in its effort to support the Second Amendment in this ground breaking case.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Senate Courts of Justice Committee Defeats Gun Show Bill

In a vote that is a major loss for anti-gun Governor Tim Kaine (D), the Senate Courts of Justice Committee rejected SB 109 - a bill that would have required more background checks on private sales at Virginia gun shows. While the General Assembly LIS is only reporting the vote on refering the bill to the Crime Commission, the vote prior to the one referring it to the Crime Commissin fell mostly along party lines. Two pro-gun rural Democratic Senators (Edwards and Reynods) partnered with Republicans to reject the bill. Democratic Senator Creigh Deeds, who usually votes pro-gun sided with the gun ban crowd. It has now been sent to the State Crime Commission for more study, which kills the issue for this year.

Please be sure to contact the following members who voted against SB109 and thank them for protecting our Second Amendment rights.

Senator Kenneth W. Stolle (R-8)(804) 698-7508 district08@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle (R-13)(804) 698-7513 district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-3)(804) 698-7503 district03@sov.state.va.us
Senator John S. Edwards (D-21)(804) 698-7521 district21@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds (D-20)(804) 698-7520 district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli (R-37)(804) 698-7537 district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R-26)(804) 698-7526 district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R-4)(804) 698-7504 district04@sov.state.va.us
Senator Robert Hurt (R-19)(804) 698-7519 district19@sov.state.va.us

Click Here to hear the WRVA radio report on the vote.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Senate Local Government Stands Up For Law-Abiding Gun Owners

The Senate Local Government Committee met today and heard three bills targeting Virginia's firearms preemption statute. Senate Bill 32 sponsored by Senator Mamie Locke (D-2), would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms in public libraries. Senate Bill 33, also sponsored by Senator Locke, would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms at outdoor events, such as fairs and carnivals. Senate Bill 300, introduced by Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31), which would authorize any locality to ban the possession of firearms in government buildings. All three bills went down in flames on a vote of 5-10. The following Senators vote to support Virginia's law-abiding gun owners:

Senator Frederick M. Quayle (R-13) (804) 698-7513 district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Stephen H. Martin (R-11) (804) 698-7511 district11@sov.state.va.us
Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R-24) (804) 698-7524 district24@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds (D-20) (804) 698-7520 district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frank M. Ruff (R-15) (804) 698-7515 district15@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli (R-37) (804) 698-7537 district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R-26) (804) 698-7526 district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark R. Herring (D-33) (804) 698-7533 district33@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ralph K. Smith (R-22) (804) 698-7522 district22@sov.state.va.us
Senator Richard H. Stuart (R-28) (804) 698-7528 district28@sov.state.va.us

Please be sure to call or email these Senators and thank them for standing up for your rights.

Monday, January 21, 2008

State Senate Committee to Hear Bills Repealing Pre-emption on Tuesday - Vote on So-called "Gun Show Loophole" Wednesday

Many of you may have received the NRA's alert earlier today that the Senate Local Government Committee is expected to consider three anti-gun bills on Tuesday, January 22, beginning at 2:00 p.m. All three bills target Virginia's commonsense firearms preemption statute. Senate Bill 32 sponsored by Senator Mamie Locke (D-2), would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms in public libraries. Senate Bill 33, also sponsored by Senator Locke, would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms at outdoor events, such as fairs and carnivals. Senate Bill 300, introduced by Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31), which would authorize any locality to ban the possession of firearms in government buildings.

If enacted, any of these proposals would tear apart Virginia's preemption statute paving the way for the Old Dominion to become an incomprehensible patchwork of gun regulations varying from one locality to the next. Such a development could lead to otherwise law-abiding citizens being charged for violating an ordinance of which they were unaware!

If you have not already done so, please contact the Senate Local Government Committee members listed below and strongly encourage them to protect Virginia's commonsense preemption statutes and your Second Amendment rights by voting against SB32, SB 33,and SB300.

Senator L. Louise Lucas (Chairwoman) - (804) 698-7518 - district18@sov.state.va.us
Senator Henry L. Marsh III - (804) 698-7516 - district16@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - (804) 698-7513 - district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Stephen H. Martin - (804) 698-7511 - district11@sov.state.va.us
Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. - (804) 698-7524 - district24@sov.state.va.us
Senator Patricia S. Ticer - (804) 698-7530 - district30@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds - (804) 698-7520 - district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Linda T. Puller - (804) 698-7536 - district36@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frank M. Ruff - (804) 698-7515 - district15@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli - (804) 698-7537 - district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain - (804) 698-7526 - district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark R. Herring - (804) 698-7533 - district33@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mamie Locke - (804) 698-7502 - district02@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ralph K. Smith - (804) 698-7522 - district22@sov.state.va.us
Senator Richard H. Stuart - (804) 698-7528 - district28@sov.state.va.us

Senate Courts Of Justice to Vote on SB109 Wednesday, January, 23rd
Also, Senate Courts played to a packed room this morning to hear both sides on the so-called "gun show loophole" bill. You can hear WRVA 1140 AM radio's report here. The committee set a vote on the bill for Wednesday during its regularly scheduled 2:00 PM meeting. It is important that you contact the following committee members and urge them to oppose SB 109:

Senator Kenneth W. Stolle - (804) 698-7508 - district08@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - (804) 698-7513 - district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr. - (804) 698-7503 - district03@sov.state.va.us
Senator John S. Edwards - (804) 698-7521 - district21@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds - (804) 698-7520 - district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli, II - (804) 698-7537 - district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain - (804) 698-7526 - district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ryan T. McDougle - (804) 698-7504 - district04@sov.state.va.us
Senator R. Creigh Deeds - (804) 698-7525 - district25@sov.state.va.us
Senator Robert Hurt - (804) 698-7519 - district19@sov.state.va.us

Legislation will begin moving very quickly now that all bills have been introduced. Be sure to check this blog as well as the VSSA Legislative Tracking Form , which has been updated with a complete list of bills and most recent actions, to keep current on the latest news related to your gun rights.

If you have not already done so, be sure to sign up for the VSSA email alert list. You will only be contacted by this list when your immediate action is needed as VSSA strives not to fill your email inbox with unnecessary emails. You can sign up on the "Ask VSSA" page on the VSSA web site. Simply fill in the form and ask to be added to the email alert list in the body of the form.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Gun Show Loophole Dies in House of Delegates - Senate Version to be Heard on January 21

The General Assembly is in full swing and the last day to introduce bills has now passed. VSSA is still compiling a complete list for the tracking form but there is a bill that needs the immediate attention of all Virginia gun owners. While the House of Delegates Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee defeated the House versions of the so-called "gun show loophole" bills on Friday, January 18th, as expected, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee will hear the Senate version (SB 109) of the bill on Monday, January 21st at 8:30 AM. Gun owners should contact the following members of the committee and ask them to vote no on reporting the bill out of committee.

Senator Kenneth W. Stolle - (804) 698-7508 - district08@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - (804) 698-7513 - district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr. - (804) 698-7503 - district03@sov.state.va.us
Senator John S. Edwards - (804) 698-7521 - district21@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds - (804) 698-7520 - district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli, II - (804) 698-7537 - district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain - (804) 698-7526 - district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ryan T. McDougle - (804) 698-7504 - district04@sov.state.va.us
Senator R. Creigh Deeds - (804) 698-7525 - district25@sov.state.va.us
Senator Robert Hurt - (804) 698-7519 - district19@sov.state.va.us

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee is chaired by anti-gun Senator Henry Marsh (D-Richmond). Marsh is also the sponsor of SB 109 . While phone contact is always the best, email will work as well. Anti-gun groups are trying to use last April's Virginia Tech shootings as the reason for closing the non-existent "gun show loophole. Politely remind the Senators that gun shows played no role in the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech and that three separate studies by the Department of Justice have found that gun shows are not a source of firearms for criminal. Anti-gun Governor Tim Kaine was quoted in the Saturday edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch as saying the Marsh bill is his chosen vehicle for getting this legislation enacted. That is why it is important for you to act today and let the Senators know you oppose the bill.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Gun Banners Plan Lobbying Day on January 21st

The gun ban lobby in Virginia will be lobbying the General Assembly on January 21st in an effort to get them to, in their words:

  1. "Close the Gun Show Loophole so that criminals and other dangerous individuals cannot buy guns at these events without undergoing a background check."
  2. "Keep guns out of our schools and off college campuses in the Commonwealth."
  3. "Strengthen the federal background check database so that those who should be disqualified from buying guns are disqualified."
The gun ban lobby day is being organized by the Virginia Center for Public Safety, The Virginia Misled Mommies Chapters (also known as the Million Mom March), and some outfit known as ProtestEasyGuns.com.

If you have the day off, and would like to play a part in protecting our gun rights, I urge you to come to the state capitol and visit your legislator and members of the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee as well as the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and urge them to protect our Second Amendment Rights. Gun owners need to make sure that legislators know that the gun ban lobby does not speak for us. If you can't make it to Richmond on the 21st, pick up the phone and call your legislator and tell them to protect your gun rights and to oppose any bill that infringes on those rights.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

A Busy Week at the General Assembly

The General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 9th, and it was a busy week as a flurry of anti-gun and some pro-gun bills were introduced.

Leading the attacks on gun owners is newly-appointed Senate Courts of Justice Committee Chairman Senator Henry Marsh (D-16 - Richmond), who has once again offered a bill (Senate Bill 109) that mandating background checks on all firearms transactions that take place at gun shows. Despite the mounds of evidence showing that lawful gun shows are not a source of guns for criminals, Sen. Marsh is intent on closing a “loophole” that simply does not exist. Not unexpectedly, anti-gun Governor Tim Kaine (D) has also chosen to place politics above sound public policy and individual rights by championing the attack on gun shows. In fact, during his State of the Commonwealth speech on Wednesday, January 9, Gov. Kaine called upon the General Assembly to send him legislation aimed at restricting lawful private transactions of firearms.

Other anti-gun bills introduced so far are:Senate Bill 32 and Senate Bill 33, both offered by Senator Mamie Locke (D-2), would attempt to gut Virginia’s preemption statute and create a patchwork of firearm regulations across the Commonwealth;

Senate Bill 300, introduced by Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31), would weaken the preemption statute by allowing local governments to prohibit firearms in public facilities;

House Bill 1277, offered by Delegate Lionell Spruill (D-77), and would make it illegal for citizens to possess firearms anywhere on Capitol Square;

House Bill 899, by Delegate Jim Scott (D-53), would replicate California’s ammunition microstamping scheme.

On the other hand, numerous pro-Second Amendment measures have been offered as well, including:

House Bill 1175, by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), would create an “Apprentice Hunting” license for both resident and non-resident hunters;

House Bill 710, offered by Delegate Bill Janis, is a "Castle Doctrine" proposal that provides protections against civil action for those defending their homes;

House Bill 1292, by Delegate Cliff Athey (R-18) and Senate Bill 436 by Senator Jill Vogel (R-27), would allow a person to have a concealed handgun in a vehicle, provided that handgun is stored in a locked container or compartment;

Senate Bill 476, introduced by Senator Emmett Hanger (R-24), would repeal the prohibition on lawful concealed carry in a restaurant, provided the carry permit holder does not consume alcohol;

House Bill 1371, offered by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15), would allow concealed carry permit holders to can carry on public and state property, excluding mental health and correctional facilities; and

Senate Bill 332, by Senator Ken Cuccinelli (R-37), would prohibit the release of a concealed carry permit holder’s personal information if requested by the applicant. Additional legislation may be filed until the January 18 deadline, and we will continue to keep you informed of any new firearms-related measures.

In the meantime, please contact your Delegate and Senator and strongly encourage them to defend our Second Amendment rights by supporting all the pro-gun bills referenced above, and to stand up for Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners by firmly opposing the numerous anti-gun attacks being proposed in the General Assembly. You can find out who your Delegate and Senator is by going to http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform and complete the search form.

You can also keep up with the progress of the gun related bills on the VSSA Legislative Tracking Form on the VSSA web site.

Hat tip to NRA-ILA for compiling the list in a user friendly format for dissemination.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

It's Official - Kaine Introduces Gun Show Loophole Bill

Today, Governor Tim Kaine made it official, flanked by family of Virginia Tech victims and introduced his legislation to close the non-existant "gun show loophole." In his announcement he said, “It is long past time to apply existing Virginia law to every firearm sale at a gun show. It is wrong for felons, or domestic abusers constrained by protective orders, or people with serious mental illnesses who are likely to harm themselves or others to be able to buy a gun, and we must close this loophole.”

The problem is, study after study has proven that felons are not getting guns at gun shows. Facts apparently don't mean a lot to those whose desire it is to find a scape goat. That is what gun shows are when it comes to what happened at Virginia Tech.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Will Gun Show Rules Be Altered?

Despite what is likely to be a full court press by Governor Tim Kaine, and the gun ban lobby, according to the Virginian-Pilot, some legislators will ask those pushing background checks on private gun sales at gun shows to show the correlation between those sales and what happened at Virginia Tech. Kaine and the gun ban lobby are using the shootings at Virginia Tech to push their cause but many legislators are not buying their song and dance.

Kaine is scheduled to have a press conference with some family members of the Tech victims on Tuesday, January 9th where he will likely unveil his legislation to close the so-called "gun show loophole."

The Washington Post carried an article focusing on a meeting family members had with legislators in Northern Virginia. One family member claimed that had Cho not been able to buy his guns at a gun shop, as he did, he could easily have gone to a gun show and bought from a private seller. Kaine has made the same argument.

Sadly these folks have bought in to the picture of gun shows painted by the gun ban crowd. That of a gathering of tables among tables of privates sellers with multiple guns for sale. I can't speak for shows held in other parts of the Virginia but at the Richmond shows I have attended regularly, you don't see a guy with a table of one or two guns or even ten or twenty to sell from his private collection. The private sellers I see walk through the door with a shotgun or rifle over his shoulder with a for sale sign. About a half-hour later, I see the same guy walk out of the show with the gun. Private sales make up very little of the business at gun shows.

Gun owners will have to redouble their efforts to insure this bill meets the same fate as its predecessors.

VSSA Legislative Tracking Tool Online

VSSA has posted it's legislative tracking tool online with the most up-to-date list if gun related bills currently introduced in the General Assembly. Gun owners are encouraged to check it regularly as the General Assembly progresses. The Assembly convenes at noon on January 9th. The tracking tool can be accessed at http://www.myvssa.org/legtracking.htm.

VSSA only sends email alerts when grassroots action is needed. Daily updates are not sent in the interest of not filling gun owner email inboxes. Check this site and the tracking tool for daily updates. The following is a schedule of meetings for those committees that most often hear gun related bills:

House Militia, Police and Public Safety - Friday, 9:00 a.m, House Room C

Senate Courts of Justice - Monday, 9:00 a.m.and Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. Senate Room A

Senate Local Government - Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. in Senate Room B

As bills are assigned to other committees, the information will be posted. To join the VSSA Alert Email List click here and fill out the email form. Be sure to put the name of the county or city in which you live so we can send targeted emails when issues related to gun rights arise where your live.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

VDGIF Hunting with Hounds Study Getting More Attention

I posted on this earlier and since that time, discussion on the Internet among hunters as well as a couple of comments on the earlier post merits another mention. Those who hunt with dogs are very concerned about the process DGIF has created for this debate. The Virginia Deer Hunters Association has a vested interest in this and they sent a letter to their membership in mid 2007 pointing out that a small hand full of unethical individuals are partly to blame for this situation. The vast majority of hunters using hounds are ethical and respect the private property of others. Unfortunately, they are caught up in this and will suffer from any ill effects. But hunters using hounds are also experiencing something that gun owners have been feeling the effects of for the last several years - people new to rural life, complaining about noise - in this case noisy hounds. This article ran on Christmas Eve in the Richmond Times Dispatch and is pretty balanced. This editorial ran on News Years Eve in the Roanoke Times and as usual, has the Times anti-slant with a swipe at hunters, calling them a "paranoid bunch."

Anti-gun State Senator Sees Dim Hope for More Gun Control

In a Washington Post article discussing the upcoming session of the General Assembly, State Senator Patricia Ticer (D-Alexandria) was quoted saying the following when discussing bills related to the issues raised by the Virginia Tech Review Panel Final Report:

"There may be some wording about the mentally ill, but it's not going to be a deep and real remedy," she said. "Those of us who've been in Richmond long enough are realistic about the opportunity for getting any of those gun bills through. Which is zero."

While it is good news that anti-gun forces doubt they will be successful, gun owners should contact their legislators often about any gun related legislation introduced and make sure her prophesy becomes reality.

VSSA will keep you informed as action becomes necessary.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Dulles Expo Hosting "Nation's Outdoor Show" January 4-6

Not sure why this show was scheduled on the last weekend of the Virginia Deer Season but for those who are interested, it promises to be a big show. You can get more information on the show's web site.

Anti-gun Bills in the Hopper

The first two anti-gun bills have been introduced in the General Assembly by anti-gun senator Mamie Locke. She apparently does not believe there is much of a chance of them becoming law however. This morning's Newport News Daily Press quoted Senator Locke as saying: "In the grand scheme of things — we'll probably get very little. I don't know what it's going to take, but at the very least, I expect there to be more attention on the issue."

Expect to hear a lot about Virginia Tech as a reason that we need more gun control in Virginia. Locke also told the Daily Press that she expects some movement on private sales at gun shows because Governor Kaine has promised to put his political muscle behind the bill.

Senator Locke's bills are:

SB 32 Control of firearms; libraries.
SB 33 Control of firearms; outdoor theaters, cabarets, carnivals, and fairs.

VSSA will keep gun owners posted as new bills are introduced and will fight vigorously to make sure the anti-gun bills do not become law.