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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Last Days to Comment on Carry in National Parks

You have probably seen several emails and notices from the NRA that the comment period for the proposed rules change related to carrying firearms in National Parks. Given the importance of the issue however I thought a mention that the deadline to comment is approaching fast.

This was supposed to have closed in June but rather than closing the proscribed comments period as scheduled and moving toward finalizing this federal regulation, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), succeeded in delaying the implementation of the final rule by having the comment period extended an additional 30 days. In a letter to Secretary Kempthorne, Senator Akaka and Representative Grijalva asked that the public comment period be extended, citing the recent decision in the D.C. v Heller.

Gun owners have until August 8 to submit comments. We must not let this opportunity for a major improvement pass us by. Encourage the adoption of the proposed amendment. Don’t wait! Get your comments in now!

Please submit your comments on-line here (Select the icon next to "Add Comments"), Or in writing to:
Public Comments Processing
Attn: 1024-AD70Division of Policy and Directives Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203

For the comment section, encourage the adoption of the proposed amendment, but also let them know that you would like to see restrictions further eased. Below is the comment I sent in. You are welcome to use it as a guideline for your own comment.

Regarding Rulemaking Proposal, Reference Number 1024-AD70, here are my comments:

I strongly support the proposed changes to regulations regarding firearms on lands administered by the NPS and FWS. While not perfect, the proposed amendment is a step in the right direction. It could be easily improved by simply striking the word “concealed” from its text. Many gun owners do not have concealed carry permits – whether due to government limitations or a financial issue – and many do not own a firearm suitable for concealed carry. It is wrong to deny these people their right of self defense. At the very least however, I ask that you at least adopt the proposed amendment as written.

Please don’t delay. Submit your comments NOW. We need to overwhelm The Park Service with support for the right to keep and bear arms on federal lands.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Is He or Isn't He?

Much has been written over the last several months about how Virginia's anti-gun governor Tim Kaine is on the list of potential Vice Presidential choices for Barrack Obama. We have one more example in yesterday's Politico that says Kaine is now at the top of the "short list." I remain skeptical for a number of reasons. Sure, Kaine might be enough to put Virginia into the Democrats list of states won but as Jim Geraghty points out over at National Review's Campaign Spot, Kaine is as inexperienced as Obama. Kaine has only been Governor for 2 1/2 years and while his approval ratings are high (they usually are despite who is Governor at this point in their terms) he would invite the same questions that Obama already does among undecided voters.

For gun owners watching the race with interest, an Obama/Kaine ticket would definitely qualify as the most anti-gun ticket in history. Both Obama and Kaine supported the DC gun ban (Obama did not sign the congressional amicus brief and Kaine opposed Attorney General Bob McDonnell's signing the amicus brief circulated among state attorneys general). Obama opposes concealed carry and Kaine vetoed two important concealed carry reforms this year.

In the end, I don't think Kaine will be the choice - but - I don't play the lottery either so I'm not ready to bet on my gut feeling yet.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Hanover Shooting Ordinance Public Hearing Set for October 8

URGENT ACTION NEEDED BY HANOVER GUN OWNERS
Hanover County's Board of Supervisors voted on July 23rd to move ahead with an Oct. 8 public hearing on proposed changes to the county's recreational shooting regulations. County Attorney Sterling E. Rives III presented changes that were drawn up by a weapons-safety committee formed earlier this year.

The proposed changes would:

  • Prohibit shooting within 200 yards of any home, not including the shooter's home, or any other occupied building or public meeting place. This is a change from the current code of 100 yards.
  • The proposal would not change the part of the code that prohibits shooting within 100 yards of a road. It would also prohibit shooting in the county's urban service area with some exceptions, including Mechanicsville and other developed parts of eastern Hanover.
  • Expand the urban service area to include additional developed parts on the eastern end of the county.
  • Amend the county's noise ordinance to prohibit shooting that unreasonably bothers other people.

Board members also discussed other issues with the proposed regulations.

Some questioned whether a Class I misdemeanor -- a fine up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail -- is too harsh a penalty for the recreational gun offenders. They instead suggested a penalty of a fine up to $1,000 but no jail time.

Board members generally agreed upon an exception to the proposed 200-yard distance requirement if the owner of the building provides permission for the shooter to be closer than that.

Board members also asked that the noise ordinance include language that exempts people who are legally hunting during hunting seasons.

The public hearing will be held during the supervisors' regular meeting.

It is important that Hanover gun owners contact their supervisor and tell them that the proposed change to the county's noise ordinance prohibiting "shooting that unreasonably bothers other people" is too vague and should not be included in the changes.

This is just one more example of the anti-gun crowd doing an end-run to restrict our rights. If this can happen in Hanover, it can happen anywhere. Hanover is still an overwhelmingly rural county. The fact that the anti-gun crowd has gotten this far with such restrictions is a warning shot over the bow and we must do everything we can to keep them from succeeding.

Contact information for the supervisors follow:

Beaverdam District
Aubrey M. StanleyChairman (804) 449-6606 (h) (804) 449-6606 (h-fax)
amstanley@co.hanover.va.us

South Anna District
John E. Gordon, Jr.Vice Chairman (804) 798-3879 (h) (804) 752-2040 (h-fax)
jgordon@co.hanover.va.us

Ashland District
G. Ed Via, III(804) 550-2600 (h/w/f)
gevia@co.hanover.va.us

Chickahominy District
Robert R. Setliff804) 746-5553 (h)(804) 746-8476 (w)(804) 746-9209 (fax)
rsetliff@co.hanover.va.us

Cold Harbor District
Elton J. Wade, Sr. (804) 781-0044 (h) (804) 781-0413 (h-fax)
ejwade@co.hanover.va.us

Henry District
Charles D. McGhee(804) 779-2875 (h) (804) 779-7765 (h-fax)
cmcghee@co.hanover.va.us

Mechanicsville District
Deborah B. Coats(804) 746-1220 (h)
dbcoats@co.hanover.va.us

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Hanover Shooting Restrictions

The Hanover County Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled July meeting is today (July 23rd) and as part of the agenda, they will hold a "Workshop to Consider Proposed Ordinances Recommended by the Weapons Safety Committee." You may recall that the proposed ordinances would restrict where people can shoot in some parts of the County. The workshop is on the agenda for 3:30 PM but could start earlier so it is suggested gun owners who want to be present for that part of the meeting (and VSSA encourages gun owners who can, attend the workshop) arrive by 3:00 PM. As mentioned in our first notice about this issue, it is possible that the Board will hold a public hearing in September to discuss a proposed ordinance.

VSSA will keep you posted.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Light Posting

As you have noticed, posting has been light as I was out of town last week on business. Much of the gun related news I have been keeping up with has been the continuing story of the Heller decision. As probably everyone expected, D.C. is trying everything it can not to fully comply with the decision such as not registering semi-auto pistols because they meet the D.C. definition of a "machine gun." Heller did get his pistol registered last week.

ABC News reports today that Smith & Wesson will manufacture a Commemorative Revolver and that proceeds from the sale will benefit the Second Amendment Foundation.

The Wall Street Journal on Saturday also had this article about Heller's attorney Alan Gura and how he "Save the Second Amendment."

Hat tip to Dave Hardy for the Gura article.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Obama to Hold Townhall in Northern Virginia

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama will hold a town hall meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County. Obama is expected to talk about improving economic opportunities for women and helping parents balance the demands of work and family but attendees will also be able to ask Obama questions. This would be a good opportunity for gun owners to get Obama on the record regarding what restrictions to our rights he favors and which ones (if any) he opposes. You can get background for what Obama has supported in the past here. The information will be helpful in crafting your questions. You can bet the press will report any gun related question.

The townhall at 1:15 p.m. at the school located at 5035 Sideburn Rd. in Fairfax. The event is free but tickets are required. Tickets are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 11184 Lee Highway in Fairfax and 4308 Ridgewood Center Drive in Woodbridge.

Senator Ken Cuccinelli Sponsors "Heller Party" on July 19th

State Senator Ken Cuccinelli is sponsoring a "Heller Party" in Richmond on July 19th to celebrate the pro-gun decision in the DC Gun Ban Case. The best part of it is the party is free!!!

Senator Cuccinelli has been one of the strongest supporters of the 2nd Amendment in the State Senate. He is running for Attorney General in 2009 (VSSA has made no endorsement at this time). For anyone who wishes to attend, details follow.

What: Senator Ken Cuccinelli's Heller Party
When: Next Saturday, July 19th 4PM - 6PM (or however long folks stick around)
Where: Fuddruckers - meeting room inside 8205 W Broad Street (Intersection of Broad & Parham) Richmond, VA 23294
RSVP to: Mick Bransfield at (703) 766-0635 or Mick@Cuccinelli.com.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Future of Hunting in Northern Virginia to be Discussed on Wednesday, July 9!

Officials from the National Parks Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will host a meeting on Wednesday, July 9, to discuss the future of hunting in Northern Virginia's Dyke Marsh area.

Anti-sportsmen groups and local anti-gun politicians have been very vocal in their efforts seeking to ban lawful hunting in Dyke Marsh. Please make every effort to join your fellow hunters and sportsmen at this important meeting and show your support for Virginia's rich hunting heritage!

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 9 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Belle View Elementary School located at 6701 Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria.

Please make plans to attend this important meeting and be sure to share this information with your family, friends and fellow sportsmen.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) will hold its first National Conference on August 1, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Students can receive one free night at a hotel in or around the D.C. area, and students traveling outside a 750-mile radius of D.C. will receive a $250 travel stipend. Please note the stipend is limited to the first 30 students that respond. SCCC will make an announcement once the limit has been reached. SCCC's national organizers are strongly encouraging all members to attend this historic event. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from throughout the United States, make important contacts, and hear well known scholars speak about concealed carry on college campuses. For more information contact Reservations@ConcealedCampus.org. Students can CLICK HERE to RSVP via Facebook.

Hat tip to Dave Hardy.

Does Heller Decision Take Guns Off Election Radar

A great post over at National Review's Campaign Spot responds to a thesis put forward by The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan - that the Heller decision killed the presidential hopes of John McCain. Sulivan's theory goes like this - the "RKBA" crowd will not be able to be ginned up because no matter how anti-gun Obama is, the Supreme Court ruling that there is an individual right to keep and bear arms will squash any attempt by Obama and what most predict will be a fortified Democratic majority in Congress to further restrict those rights. Campaign Spot's Jim Geraghty, by way of a Robert Levy quote, accurately points out that Heller was simply the first in what will be a series of cases to win back rights that have been taken by an over arching government.

Hopefully, gun owners will be motivated and impassioned because four Supreme Court justices ruled that a complete ban on gun ownership is constitutional, and Obama's favorites are three of them. If we don't want to lose next year what we gained last month, gun owners need to get energized to defeat Barack Obama.

Hat Tip to Jim Geraghty.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

July 1 Means New Laws

On July 1st the legislation that passed the 2008 session of the General Assembly became law. The list of gun related laws follow below.

1) Concealed Handgun Permits (CHPs) can be renewed 90 and 180 days before expiration. The new permit will become effective from the date the old permit expires, giving the permit holder a full five years. If a CHP holder renews after the minimum 90 days, then renewals are like they have been - a holder might lose some days off of the expiring permit.

2) CHP holders who move from one location to another in Virginia can now get a new permit with a change of address for $10 by applying to the Circuit Court where the permit was issued. NOTE: there is no requirement to get a change of address on your permit, but if you want to do so, you now can.

3) The law was clarified regarding the required training to get a CHP. The new law explicitly states that said training never expires.

4) An individual who has a temporary detention order (TDO) no longer immediately loses their gun rights. After the TDO evaluation period, if the individual in question voluntarily commits themselves, they will be warned that by doing so they will lose their gun rights. Otherwise if a judge makes a determination that the person requires treatment on either an inpatient or outpatient basis after the TDO evaluation period, said individual loses their gun rights. Finally, there is now a provision that will allow a person to petition the Court to get their gun rights back once they are cured or were incorrectly diagnosed. If they are turned down by the court, they can appeal to a higher court. VSSA and other gun rights organizations worked hard to insure the last provision was part of the final legislation.

5)There will be additional questions on forms completed at the time of a gun purchase dealing with the new mental health laws.

Gun owners will recall that two major victories for gun owners were defeated by the veto pen of Governor, and possible Obama Vice Presidential pick, Tim Kaine - repeal of the restaurant ban (SB476) and legislation allowing concealed carry in locked containers in vehicles and boats regardless of whether they have a CHP (SB436). VSSA will return to fight these battles next year.