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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Senator Mark Warner and "Assault Weapons"

When Mark Warner ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1996, as well as when he ran for Governor in 2001, he expressed support for the Clinton Gun Ban. It is believed when he responded to the NRA questionnaire for the 2008 U.S. Senate race, he signaled a change of heart. Yesterday, The Hill newspaper reports that Warner opposes a renewal of the ban. While The Hill does not quote him saying he would vote against the ban, the paper reports he does oppose the ban and quoted him saying “I have generally thought we ought to enforce our existing laws and we should not be adding new ones.”

VSSA's own Stephen Halbrook on Lou Dobbs

VSSA Life Member and author of the new book The Founders and the Second Amendment was on Lou Dobbs' CNN program Lou Dobbs Tonight (February 23rd), just two days before Attorney General Eric Holder stuck his foot in his mouth over renewal of the ban on semi-automatic ("assault") rifles. Steve talked about gun control and the Obama administration.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Pelosi Tells Holder Not so Fast

Yesterday, The Hill newspaper reported, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi "tossed cold water" on Attorney General Eric Holder's statement that Obama wants to reinstate the "assault weapons ban."

The White House also declined to comment on Holder's remarks, referring reporters to the Department of Justice. DOJ did not return phone calls to The Hill reporter. How quickly our friends scurry when we get off message. President Obama wants to concentrate on nationalizing the American economy and Holder is out there talking about banning guns.

National Shooting Sports Foundation senior vice president, Larry Keane said in a statement "It appears gun owners' fears were well-founded given Attorney General Holder's comment that the Obama Administration will seek new restrictions on gun owners."

Gun owners would be unwise to take Pelosi at her word. Jim Shepherd reported in this morning's Shooting Wire that word is circulating on Capitol Hill the administration is looking for ways to bring the United States in line with the United Nations (UN) view of firearms ownership. VSSA's Executive Director, Lu Charette, shared similar thoughts with me yesterday - that gun owners should be concerned about the UN finally getting their way on this issue based on Holder's comments about renewing the ban being positive for Mexico. Lu is right. Regardless of what one believes about the Bush years, for eight years he kept the UN dogs at bay. Four of those years, gun owners had a friend in Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who describe herself as a "Second Amendment Absolutist."

Wayne LaPierre outlined this morning in his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) a number of the ways that the Obama administration could attack our rights. NRANews.com will have Mr. LaPierre's speech up in their video archives by the end of the day and I highly recommend watching it.

Below is NRANews coverage of the Holder comments and Wayne LaPierre's response from the program Wednesday night.



Thursday, February 26, 2009

Holder - Assault Weapons Ban Would Help Mexico

With the flurry of action in the General Assembly this week I did not want to let this news pass without some comment.

At a press conference held yesterday, acting Drug Enforcement Administration chief Michele Leonhart and Attorney General Eric Holder announced the completion of the final phase of DEA's "Operation Xcellerator," a nationwide operation targeting the Sinaloa drug trafficking cartel in Mexico that led to more than 750 arrests.



At the press conference Holder was asked a series of questions by a reporter (the audio of the questions played by Cam Edwards last night on Cam and Company leads me to believe he is a foriegn reporter) about Mexico being interested in the U.S. renewing its enforcement of "assault weapons regulations." Holder said "President Obama indicated during the campaign there are just a few gun related changes we would like to make and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons". Holder suggested that re-instituting a ban on the sale of "assault weapons" would help reduce the bloodshed in Mexico by saying "I think that will have a positive impact in Mexico, at a minimum."



When asked by a different reporter for a time table for a renewal of the ban, Holder responded "It's something as I said that the President talked about during the campaign. There are obviously a number of things that are..that have been taking up a substantial amount of his time and so I'm not sure exactly what the seqencing will be it is something however that we actually still think would be an appropriate thing to do."

According to Holder, U.S. officials have a responsibility to make sure Mexican police "are not fighting substantial numbers of weapons, or fighting against AK-47s or other similar kinds of weapons that have been flowing to Mexico."

Like Dave Kopel told Cam Edwards later on Cam and Company last night "Don't say we didn't warn you." But I do sense a pattern here. In the past, most of the talk has been about getting these guns out of the hands of criminal on our streets. But yesterday, Holder talked about how changing US law would help Mexico. The New York Times picked up this theme too.

Is this a new approach are just an addition to the same old tired arguments?

Also, Holder used some talking points in his response when he replied "There are just a few gun related changes we would like to make and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons." He used the same language in his response to Senator Tom Coburn in his confirmation hearings (clip below).




Hat tip to Sebastian for the link to the NBC News story and to Cam Edwards of NRANews.com for running this story last night at the top of the program.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Good News on Repeal of Restaurant Ban

The Senate this afternoon approved the House amendments to SB1035, Senator Hanger's repeal of the Restaurant Ban on a vote of 22Y - 16N. This means the bill now starts the path to the Governor's desk for his consideration.

WRVA AM1140 reported today that debate on the bill continued today, even though the bill cleared the House yesterday. Delegate "Fightin" Joe Morrissey (D-Henrico) prompted the debate, upset he did not get a say during the vote yesterday. According to WRVA, Morrissey said even pro-gun states like Montana do not allow guns in bars. Morrissey cited examples where these permits had been revoked. However, Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), suggested Morrissey just wants to ban guns. Gilbert said the bill would allow, for example, women who have the permit to continue to feel protected, even inside a restaurant.

VSSA will send an alert when gun owners need to start contacting the Governor and urge he sign this commonsense legislation. If you are not already signed up for VSSA email alerts, click here to sign up.

Today's General Assembly Calendar

Bills on the floor in the Senate today.

Third Reading and final passage:

HB 2528 -Delegate Mark Cole's bill targeting "compensated confiscation" schemes is on the Senate Calendar again today for a final vote. This bill passed yesterday 21 - 18 in the form that it passed the House. Later in the day's session, Senator Stolle moved to reconsider the vote. This is always approved as a courtesy. Then Senator Stolle offered an amendment that gutted the bill. It should be noted that Stolle voted for the original bill. This amendment was approved and then it was passed by for the day. VSSA opposes the amendment and if the bill passes the Senate in this form, we will urge Delegate Cole to reject the amendment and force the bill into a conference committee to fix it. (Regular Calendar)

UPDATE - The amended HB2528 passed the Senate 28Y-12N and now heads back to the House for acceptance or rejection of the amended bill. If they reject the amendment the Senate can insist on the amendment and ask that it go to conference.

HB 1851 - Delegate Lingamfelter's bill exempting active duty military from handgun rationing (one handgun a month). (Regular Calendar) UPDATE - Passed 31Y - 8N.

HB 2144 - Delegate Nutter's bill codifying the AG’s opinion that closed the concealed handgun permit (CHP) list from dissemination by the Virginia State Police. The information will still be available at individual circuit courts. (Uncontested Calendar) UPDATE - Passed Senate 40 - 0

HB 2178 - Delegate Ed Scott's bill related to convicted felons possessing ammunition. The bill was amended in committee making possession a felony instead of a misdemeanor as it passed the House. (Uncontested Calendar) UPDATE - Passed Senate 40 - 0. The bill now heads back to the House to accept or reject the Senate amendment to the bill.

Bills likely to go to a conference committee due to action that amended the bills from the way it passed the house of introduction:

SB1035 - Senator Hanger's repeal of the restaurant ban passed the House yesterday 66 to 33. The notification provision in the Senate version was removed. The bill now goes back to the Senate. I have been told that Senator Hanger is okay with the amendment so he may move that the Senate accept it. If the Senate indeed accepts the amendment, the bill will start the process of going to the Governor for consideration. I have no illusion that the Governor intends to act any differently than he did last year so we must pound the phones and emails to the Governor's office once the bill has final legislative approval and urge him to sign it this year. (Supplemental Calendar 1 Unfinished Business). UPDATE - Senate approved House amendment 22Y - 16N. Bill goes to Governor.

SB1513 - Senator Smith's bill requiring the awarding of court costs when an entity whens court action against a local ordinance or resolution passed in conflict with the Commonwealth’s preemption statute. Yesterday, the language added by the Senate gutting the bill (making the awarding of court costs permissive rather than mandating the award) was removed and the bill passed 84 to 13. The bill now heads back to the Senate to see if they will agree to drop their change. The bill is not back in the form that Senator Smith introduced so he will likely move to accept the change. If the full Senate does not agree, the bill will head to a conference committee. (Supplemental Calendar 1 Unfinished Business). UPDATE -Senate rejected House amendment (9-Y 28-N)

HB1655 - Delegate Carrico's companion bill to SB 1513. The House yesterday rejected the Senate language gutting the bill 81 to 18. The bill is now goes back to Senate to see if they will insist on their change. If they insist on the change, the bill will head to a conference committee.

UPDATE - Senator Marsh, Chairman of Senate Courts of Justice insisted on amendments to HB1655 and the Senate concurred 35Y - 5N, requesting a conference committee.

Stolle Amendment Guts HB 2528

Senator Stolle truely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yesterday. There is no other way to say this - he stabbed us in the back. With no debate, the Senate passed HB 2528 on a vote of 21 - 18. The bill as originally passed cast some much needed sunshine on compensated gun confiscation schemes and it was on its way to the Governor for his consideration. But before the bill could be communicated to the House as passed, Stolle moved that the vote be reconsidered and then added an amendment to this section of the bill:

Any ordinance enacted pursuant to this section shall require that any firearm received, except a firearm of the type defined in § 18.2-288 or 18.2-299, shall be [ sold offered for sale ] by public auction, or sealed bids, to a person licensed as a dealer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 921 et seq (Stolle amendment - or be disposed of in any other appropriate manner.)

As you can see, the amendment in bold print above completely guts the bill. VSSA opposes the amendment as it makes the bill meaningless. There is nothing that keeps localities from selling firearms to an FFL now if they wanted. The problem is, they are destroying every firearm they take in - even the ones that are in good operating condition. The point of the original bill is to require that the localities a)inform the public that they are going to undergo one of these buy back schemes by passing an ordinance allowing them to do so, and b) offer the working firearms for sale to FFLs - thus possibly recovering the taxpayer funds that were used for these schemes that have no evidence of reducing crime.

The various lobbying groups for the municipalities and localities have been working hard in the Senate to kill the bill. For some unknown reason, Senator Stolle has decided to do their dirty work.

If the bill passes the Senate in this form (it is on the Senate Calendar today), VSSA will urge the House to reject the amendment and force the bill into conference to remove the Senate language and put the bill back to a form true to the original.

Please contact Senator Stolle and let him know you are disappointed that he gutted the bill after it had passed the Senate.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Live Blogging Vote on HB2528

HB2528, Delegate Cole's bill targeting "Compensated Gun Confiscation" is on final vote today. This vote will be close. It was passed out of committee on an 8-7 vote and there is grumbling among some Senators inclined to support the bill that they don't like mandating what localities should or should not do.

12:55 - The bill is up for the vote now. Senator Lucas said even though she does not support the bill and voted against it in committee, she moved it pass as chairman of the committee.

12:56 - Bill passes 21Y-18N.

This was easier than I thought it would be.

UPDATE - Something is afoot in the Senate. Senator Stolle moved the vote be reconsidered, it was approved, then he offered an amendment (it is currently not online), then had the bill passed by for the day. I presume the amendment removes the requirement that localities sell the firearms and makes it permissive - something they can already do. I will update as soon as I see the amendment.

Busy Day for Gun Bills at General Assembly

Bills on the floor in the Senate today.

Third Reading Regular Calendar and final passage:

HB 2528, Delegate Mark Cole's bill targeting "compensated confiscation" schemes is on the Senate Calendar today for a final vote. This bill was passed by for the day yesterday. Call you Senator and urge him or her to vote for this bill - it may say localities money in these tough budgetary times. UPDATE - Passed Senate 21Y - 18N then Senator Stolle moved to have vote reconsidered. Motion agreed to. Senator Stolle offered an amendment. Amendment agreed to passed by for the day.

Second Reading

HB 1851, Delegate Lingamfelter's bill exempting active duty military from handgun rationing (one handgun a month). (Regular Calendar) UPDATE - Constitutional Reading dispensed and advanced to Third Reading

HB 2144, Delegate Nutter's bill codifying the AG’s opinion that closed the CHP list from dissemination by the Virginia State Police. The information will still be available at individual circuit courts. (Uncontested Calendar) UPDATE- Constitutional Reading dispensed and advanced to Third Reading

HB 2178, Delegate Ed Scott's bill related to convicted felons possessing ammunition. The bill was amended in committee making possession a felony instead of a misdemeanor as it passed the House. If it passes the Senate in this form it will have to be reconciled in a conference committee. (Uncontested Calendar) UPDATE- Constitutional Reading dispensed and advanced to Third Reading

In the House, the following bills are on Third Reading in the House.

SB 1035, Senator Hanger's bill repealing the "restaurant ban". This bill was amended in committee and if it passes the House the Senate will have to concur with the removal of the notification requirement or the bill will go to a conference. (Regular Calendar) UPDATE - Committee Amendments rejected, amended on floor, passed 66-Y 33-N

SB 1383, Senator Stolle's bill repealing Virginia's statute related to firearm silencers. Federal would still apply (Uncontested Calendar). UPDATE - Passed 99Y - 0N

SB 1513, Senator Smith's bill awarding court costs, etc., to entity that prevails in action challenging locality that pass ordinances in violation of preemption. (Regular Calendar) UPDATE - Passed 84Y-13N

SB 1528, Senator Cuccinelli's bill making it clear that the required training for a concealed handgun permit may be on-line training. (Uncontested Calendar) UPDATE - Passed 99Y - 0N

Monday, February 23, 2009

Compensated Gun Confiscation Bill on Final Vote in Senate

HB 2528, Delegate Mark Cole's bill targeting "compensated confiscation" schemes is on the Senate Calendar today for a final vote. UPDATE - Passed by for the Day

In the House, the following bills are on Second Reading in the House (to be moved on to final vote Tuesday).

SB 1035, Senator Hanger's bill repealing the "restaurant ban". UPDATE - Read second time

SB 1383, Senator Stolle's bill repealing Virginia's statute related to firearm silencers. Federal would still apply (uncontested calendar). UPDATE - Read second time

SB 1513, Senator Smith's bill awarding court costs, etc., to entity that prevails in action challenging locality that pass ordinances in violation of preemption. UPDATE - Read second time

SB 1528, Senator Cuccinelli's bill making it clear that the required training for a concealed handgun permit may be on-line training. (uncontested calendar) UPDATE - Read second time

Friday, February 20, 2009

Bills Reported from Militia and Police This Morning

The following action was taken in the House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee this morning.

SB 877 - Allows retired law-enforcement officers who are qualified under federal law to carry concealed firearms to carry a concealed handgun into a restaurant that serves alcohol. Reported 20Y-2N

SB 1035 - Repeal of the Restaurant Ban for concealed carry. Reported with amendment (removed the requirement to notify a member of the restaurant staff that you are carrying concealed) 17-Y 5-N

SB 1166 - Firearms purchase tax increase bill - Tabled in subcommittee 2/19 on a voice vote - no action in full committee this morning.

SB 1383 - Repeals the provision that makes it a Class 6 felony to possess a firearm muffler or silencer that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal penalties would still apply. Reported 22Y-0N

SB 1528 - Bill making it clear that the training required for the concealed handgun permit may be done electronically. Reported 22Y-0N

SB 1254 - Senator Marsh's bill making changes to the procedures governing the application for a concealed handgun permit and the carrying of a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. Reported from Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee 22Y-0N and referred to House Committee on Courts of Justice

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Great Evening for Gun Owners in Militia Police and Public Safety Subcommittee 1

The following action was taken this evening in Militia, Police, and Public Safety Subcommittee 1.

SB 877 - Allows retired law-enforcement officers who are qualified under federal law to carry concealed firearms to carry a concealed handgun into a restaurant that serves alcohol. Reported to full committee 5 - 0

SB 1035 - Repeal of the Restaurant Ban for concealed carry. Reported to full committee 4 - 1

SB 1166 - Firearms purchase tax increase bill - Tabled

SB 1383 - Repeals the provision that makes it a Class 6 felony to possess a firearm muffler or silencer that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal penalties would still apply. Reported to full committee 5 - 0

SB 1528 - Bill making it clear that the training required for the concealed handgun permit may be done electronically. Reported to full committee 4 - 1

No action was taken on SB 1254 - Senator Marsh's bill making changes to the procedures governing the application for a concealed handgun permit and the carrying of a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth.

Lou Dobbs and Gun Rights

Found this video over at David Codrea's Gun Rights Examiner web site. CNN is not at the top of my list of reliable news sources but Codrea is right, Lou Dobbs has done some excellent coverage of the ATF abuses in the David Olofson case.

HB 1655 Passes Senate as Amended

House Bill 1655, the bill requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any entity that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance, resolution, motion, or an administrative action that violates Virginia's preemption statute. The bill passed 33 - 6 as it was amended in committee. The committee amendment makes the award of attorney fees permissive instead of mandatory as it passed the House. The bill now goes back to the House to accept or reject the amendment.

Clarifying the State Department Proposal Post

Last Friday, I posted about a report in that day's edition of the Shooting Wire regarding a possible proposal that the State Department was floating related to a ban on the export of several calibers of ammo to Canada from the United States.

On Wednesday, Mr. Shepherd wrote about this again, clarifying some of the terms used in the original report. He wrote:

Last Friday, we reported that Canadian authorities had sent word of a United States State Department proposal that would ban several ammo calibers sale by United States companies to Canada. It's safe to say that the story kicked off quite a storm on both sides of the border.

In Canada, calls to their Parliament protested the idea that whole classes of ammo could, effectively, be stopped at the border. Here in the US, it taught me to be a good bit more exact with the concepts of import and export. The intent of the story was simple - to let our readers know the United States Department of State was considering a ban on the export of US ammo in several calibers to Canada.

Although the .50 BMG, 7.62 x39mm Soviet, 7.61 x51 NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington are considered by some to be purely military rounds, they are, in fact, very effective for hunting anything from varmints to polar bears. The US State Department, however, seemed to be trying to use the military application of those rounds and classify them as for military sales only. Technically, it's not a "gun ban" or even an "ammo ban" but a "reclassification" - but the effect would be the same. Those calibers of ammo would be restricted export items for American companies.

Another whispered action, the requirement that all firearms require DSP-83 End Use Certificates (and the $250 export fee per firearm) was also apparently couched as another reclassification. Again, not a ban, but a very effective "non-ban" on gun sales.


Fortunately, we're starting to hear some denials of these ideas - from both sides of the border. The denials are coming from some normally anti-gun politicians in Canada, leading our sources in Parliament to suspect the protests from Canadian gun owners had an impact. As expected, our officials "can't comment on something that's only been proposed" but it seems the idea may be losing steam. And it should.

Shepherd had a simple intent in writing about this last week (and it was also my intent when posting about it and linking to the story on this blog) - to let readers know the United States Department of State was considering a proposal that affects the industry and gun owners - specifically a ban on the export of ammo in several calibers from the U.S. to Canada.

The title of our original post should have been clearer and for that I apologize. It does not change the fact however that the story and the resulting post on this blog was based on reliable information. It is because of the effectiveness of the "new media" in getting information to the public and the resulting quick reaction that such proposals may end up not seeing the light of day.

Gun owners need to be aware that there are other ways to attack our rights in addition to passing legislation. Government agencies can enact regulations and there is the avenue of Executive Orders. Both can adversely impact our rights.

Thanks to Jim Shepherd for sharing the information last Friday and for update in the Wednesday edition of the Shooting Wire.

Hat tip to Ronaldus Magnus.

Firearms Bills at General Assembly Today

There are firearms related bills on the Senate floor for a vote today.

Set for Final Vote:

HB 1655 - Requires a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any entity that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance, resolution, motion, or an administrative action taken in bad faith, as being in conflict with a locality's authority to control firearms. The bill was amended by Senate Courts to make award of attorney fees permissive. If it passes with the amendment the bill goes back to the House for concurrence or rejection of the amendment.

On Second Reading to advance to final vote on either Friday or Monday:

HB 2528 - The bill targeting "Compensated Confiscation." This bill provides that no locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance authorizing the participation of the locality. The ordinance shall require that such firearms shall be sold by public auction, or sealed bids, to a person licensed as a dealer.

The following bills are on the docket in House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee # 1 at 5:00PM today.

SB 877 - Allows retired law-enforcement officers who are qualified under federal law to carry concealed firearms to carry a concealed handgun into a restaurant that serves alcohol.

SB 1035 - Repeal of the Restaurant Ban for concealed carry.

SB 1166 - Firearms purchase tax increase bill

SB 1254 - Makes changes to the procedures governing the application for a concealed handgun permit and the carrying of a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. The bill provides that a conviction from another state for driving while intoxicated or for drunkenness in public disqualifies an individual from obtaining a concealed handgun permit. The bill also requires that a nonresident carrying a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth with either a reciprocal permit from another state or a Commonwealth-issued nonresident permit display photo identification along with the permit, upon request of a law-enforcement officer.

SB 1383 - Repeals the provision that makes it a Class 6 felony to possess a firearm muffler or silencer that is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal penalties would still apply.

SB 1528 - Bill making it clear that the training required for the concealed handgun permit may be done electronically.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Most Bills Passed By for Day in Senate

After a long recess to discuss the budget, the State Senate reconvened, took up the uncontested bills on Third Reading on the calendar then passed by for the day all of the contested bills. This means that HB1655 will have to wait until at least Thursday for a vote. HB 1655 is the bill putting teeth in Virginia's preemption statute by requiring the court to award attorney fees when a citizen challenges an ordinance or resolution that violates Virginia's firearms preemption statute.

Gun Buyback Bill Advances in Local Government

On Tuesday, the Senate Local Government Committee reported HB 2528 on an 8 - 7 vote. HB 2528 is Delegate Mark Cole's bill establishing that no locality or entity may participate in compensated gun confiscation (gun "buyback") program where individuals are given a thing of value or money in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body passes an ordinance authorizing a gun "buyback." The legislation also requires that any locality holding gun "buybacks" sell the firearms to a federally licensed dealer. In many cases those firearms are destroyed. It should be noted that Senator Fred Quayle (R - Suffolk) who claims to be pro-gun voted against the bill.

Please contact Senator Quayle and let him know how disappointed you are that he opposed the bill in committee and ask that he support the bill in the full Senate. Remind Senator Quayle that there is no evidence that gun buy-backs reduce crime. Also, some of the guns turned in may have value higher than the locality paid to acquire it and in these tight budgetary times it makes since that the guns acquired through buy-back programs be sold to licensed dealers instead of destroyed.

Firearm Bills in Senate Courts Today

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee will meet at 2:00 PM today. The following bills are on the docket.

HB1851 - Delegate Lingamfelter's bill allowing active duty service members of the United States Armed Forces or the Virginia National Guard to purchase more than one handgun within a 30-day period. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2010.

HB2144 - Delegate Nutter's bill codifying Attorney General McDonnell's opinion protecting from public disclosure concealed handgun permittee names and descriptive information held by the Department of State Police for purposes of entry into the Virginia Criminal Information Network. However, the information would still be available to law-enforcement agencies, officers, and agents in the course of law-enforcement duties, and nonidentifying statistical information would be available to the general public.

HB2178 - Delegate Scott's bill prohibiting a convicted felon from possessing ammunition for a firearm. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

House Bills Reported From Senate Courts

The following bills were reported from Senate Courts of Justice on Monday and will likely be on the floor today. Bills move quickly once they have crossed over.

HB 1655 - Requires a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to any entity that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance, resolution, motion, or an administrative action taken in bad faith, as being in conflict with a locality's authority to control firearms.

HB 2042 - Allows a retiring law-enforcement officer of the State Lottery Department to purchase his handgun for $1.

Media Still Obessed with Clinton Replacement's Pro-Rights Stand

New York Newsday reports today that newly appointed U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has moved the firearms she stored under her bed for self-defense in her upstate New York home. She disclosed she had firearms under her bed in an interview with Newsday last Thursday. A Newsday story on the interview ran Monday, prompting reactions by advocates for gun rights and gun control. The Newsday story on the interview ran yesterday, and prompted reactions by both pro-rights and anti-rights advocates.

The media and the anti-rights crowd seem intent on hounding Gillibrand about her pro-rights stand until they can get her to retract her past support for the Constitution. I don't remember a single story about her that does not either mentions her pro-rights stand or the National Rifle Association "A" rating.

Republican Representative Peter King, who has said he might run against Gillibrand, joked, to Newsday "With Kirsten Gillibrand keeping two rifles under the bed and Chuck Schumer being so anti-gun, Schumer and Gillibrand have to be the Senate's oddest couple."

King might have a point. Hopefully Gillibrand will stand on principle and not allow her detractors to cause her to weaken her support for our firearms freedoms.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Liberty University Students Gets Off Campus Gun Range

The Liberty Journal reported on February 5 that Liberty University in Lynchburg, will allow students to use the university’s off-campus firearm ranges. Till now the ranges have primarily been used to train LU’s police officers. The two ranges are located on Gun Range Road across from Liberty Village and permit the use of rifles, shotguns and handguns during designated shooting hours.

The Journal reports that on-campus students will be required to store their firearms with the Liberty University Police Department (LUPD) when not using the range. Commuter students travelling to the range must keep their firearms unloaded and stored in the trunk of their vehicle. Anyone caught in possession of a firearm on university property outside of the shooting ranges will be subject to disciplinary action as defined by LUPD protocol. Off-campus students who fail to properly store their firearm in their vehicle will be disciplined, as well.

Students must pass a safety course issued by LUPD before they will be able to use either range. The first class begins on Feb. 20, 6-10 p.m., with the final on-site training taking place the following day. Upon completing the course, the range will be available to participants two days per week from 1 p.m. until dusk. Only five students will be allowed on the shooting line at one time with additional shooting times to be added if needed.

Hat tip to VA-Alert.

Friday, February 13, 2009

State Department Floating Ammo Import Ban?

It looks like those who said the Obama Administration would strike while the iron is hot may have been correct, and the Administration may be doing it in a way that does not require them to even get a vote in Congress. In this morning's edition of the Shooting Wire, Jim Shepherd writes that Canadian officials have it on "good authority" our State Department may be on the verge of cutting off all imports of certain calibers of ammunition.


Ammos listed for this rumored ban include the .50BMG, 7.62x39mm Soviet, 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington. Additionally, we're hearing that an expansion of this proposed ban might be broadened to include the 6.8mm SPC, 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP- among others.

In other words, State Department officials may be floating a trial balloon to see if there are howls of protest, or whimpers of compliance. Canadian elected officials who have directed this information to me say the move seems to be motivated by "emboldened" anti-gun officials who think they have a kindred spirit in President Obama.
Shepherd continues that there may also be a plan to ban exports on certain firearms to Canada from the US, resulting in the State Department hammering gun manufacturers, distributors and exporters in the United States while simultaneously making firearms -and ammunition - ownership and acquisition more difficult for Canadians.

Many in the pro-rights community have said since the election that Obama could circumvent Congress by using regulations in his various cabinet departments to attack gun owners. It appears that it may have already begun.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

VSSA Membership Drive

Since 1938 VSSA has been fighting to protect the rights of law abiding gun owners. The fact that Virginia is one of the most friendly states in which to own a keep and bear arms is a testament to the success of our efforts on behalf of gun owners. This year, with the help of our members who contacted their state senators, we defeated the so-called gun show loophole bill, the gun show promoter tax bill, and bills that would have undercut the state's preemption statute. We also helped some good pro-rights legislation progress and are continuing to work for the passage of bills related to compensated confiscation schemes, strengthening preemption and repeal of the restaurant ban. In short, VSSA has a long list of accomplishments working for gun owners. In addition, VSSA is actively promoting the shooting sports and Second Amendment to the next generation.

But, as I have said since last fall, there are storm clouds on the horizon. It is no secret that President Obama is no friend of gun owners or our rights. It is also well known that he has a four point agenda to directly attack those rights at some point in his administration. In addition, the news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg's pancreatic cancer shows how quickly a President may have the ability to appoint a new justice to the Court. While we pray that Justice Ginsburg successfully recovers from her cancer surgery, the President may have an opportunity to attack our rights without signing one piece of legislation - appointing a Supreme Court Justice sooner rather than later. He has made it clear that he prefers jurists in the mold of Ginsburg and Breyer - two justices that sided with the minority decision in Heller that the Second Amendment does not protect an individual right to keep and bear arms,

Also, this year Virginia will elect a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. We have lived with a Governor the last four years who has vetoed two important pro-rights bills while signing other pro-rights legislation into law. We need a Governor that will stand with us 100% of the time.

At the same time, we have had an Attorney General that has stood with gun owners and introduced legislation to bar New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's gun dealer entrapment schemes. With a federal administration that is against us and appointing more anti-rights individuals to high levels of government every day, a pro-rights state Attorney General will be more important than ever.

With all this in mind, now is the time for all Virginia gun owners to stand up and join VSSA. If we wait until the federal administration starts its legislative attack, it will be too late. At the state level, we need to mobilize all gun owners to support a pro-rights candidate for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General.

Washington is filled with talk of "Economic Stimulus." I doubt any of what is contained in that massive spending bill will impact you or me. But, VSSA's membership drive not only will help protect your gun rights, you just might win a prize that can be used at your favorite gun shop or at a shooting range. Starting today, any current VSSA member that recruits a new member will have their name entered in a bi-monthly drawing. That's one entry for every new member you recruit! The new member will be entered in the drawing too. That new member can get another entry for every new member they recruit.

Prizes include gift certificates from such retailers as Dance's Sporting Goods, Greentop, Dicks Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, and Bob's Gun Shop in Norfolk. And that is just the beginning. So far we have 40 prizes. So sign up a new member today. If you are not a member, join, then sign up a friend. You can get your member application here. If you are recruiting a new member, don't forget to complete the "Recruited By" line on the application. Your member number is not necessary but will be helpful.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Gun Rights Week at JMU

Its great to see that the next generation is taking up the fight to protect our gun rights. The College Republicans at James Madison University is sponsoring a Gun Rights Week where discussions of gun rights, including carrying concealed firearms on college campuses, will be held tonight, Thursday and Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. each day.

Freelance Star Gets it Right

The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star has a great editorial this morning about Delegate Mark Cole's HB 2528 - the bill aimed at requiring localities that engage in "compensated confiscation" schemes to sell any firearms taken in through the "buy backs" to sell them to an FFL. Says the FFS:

The crucial fact is that there is no evidence that the programs reduce crime. Criminals don't want to undersell the tools of their trade any more than a carpenter wants to part with a favorite saw.

If only cities like Newport News, Washington DC and Chicago understood this. But the FFL knows the real purpose of these schemes and as much as says so - it's to get all guns out of the hands of citizens, and offer them a bribe to do so. The FFL however applied the same logic to HB 2538 that Delegate Cole did to the Washington Times earlier this week:

Why should a piece of property worth two or three hundred dollars be destroyed when a city could sell it to recoup--or perhaps more than recoup--what it paid for the item?

Kudos to the Free Lance-Star for applying common sense. Hopefully, the State Senate will do the same when it takes up the bill later this month.

Reflections on Act I of 2009 General Assembly

Yesterday was "Crossover" day at the Virginia General Assembly so we now know what firearm related legislation is still alive and what did not survive. Yesterday several pro-gun bills passed the House by a large bi-partisan margin as did one in the Senate. But, some good legislation remained in committee without even getting a hearing. Let's take a look at those bills.

HB 1656 - Delegate Marshall's bill that would have allowed full-time faculty members at state institutions of higher learning to carry their concealed firearms on campus as long as they possess a concealed handgun permit (CHP).

HB 1734 - Delegate Pogge's bill making several improvements to Virginia's CHP statute, including streamlining the process for obtaining a permit after a change of address, making it clear that the court cannot ask for any additional information with a permit application other than what is required by §18.2-308

HB 1821 - Delegate Joe Johnson's bill repealing the "Restaurant Ban" on concealed carry for restaurants that serve alcohol. This bill is the House version of Senator Hanger's SB1053. Gun owners need to contact the members of the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee now and urge them to report Senator Hanger's bill.

HB 1822 - Delegate Joe Johnson's bill exempting concealed handgun permit holders from the prohibition against carrying handguns onto the property of a public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high school.

Word is the Speaker believes that the House has been spending too much time on gun related issues in the last few years and wanted to see the number of gun bills reduced. It has also been suggested that with this being an election year, he did not want any "controversial" bills to deal with. While many on the above list could be considered "controversial," the repeal of the "Restaurant Ban" has passed the House in previous years and has even passed the Senate the last two year. Legislators should no that no one has ever lost an election because they were too pro-rights. Legislators tend to lose on the gun issue when they get squishy or have try to have it both ways.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Busy Day in the House of Delegates

Today is the last day to consider bills in the house of introduction. The following bills are up for final action in the House of Delegates today.

HB 1655, Delegate Carrico's bill requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to anyone that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance that violates the Commonwealth's pre-emption statute. Update: Passed House 82 - 16

HB 1851, Delegate Lingamfelter's bill exempting active duty military from handgun rationing (one gun-a-month). Update: Passed House 83 - 13

HB 2144, Delegate Nutter's bill to codify the AG's opinion that prohibits the State Police from disseminating CHP holder information. (The information would still be available from individual circuit courts). Update: Passed House 98-0

HB 2528, Delegate Cole's bill that would require localities that operate compensated confiscation schemes (gun buy backs) to sell the guns they take in to an FFL. Update: Passed House 64 - 33

In Senate Courts yesterday, Senator Stolle withdrew his bill (SB1385) that would have placed a tax on gun show promoters by requiring that they pay for state police to monitor all gun shows. The bad news is that Senator Watkins' SB1166 - the gun purchase tax increase bill - passed the Senate.

On the floor today for final action is:

SB 1513, Senator Smiths' bill requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to anyone that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance that violates the Commonwealth's pre-emption statute. Update: Passed Senate 30 - 10

Check back later today for results of the votes.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Gun Purchase Tax Increase Passes Senate

Senator John Watkins' bill, SB 1166, which whould increase the fee paid by gun owners for background checks from $2 to $5 passed the State Senate today by of vote of 27-13. VSSA will continue fighting this tax increase when the bill comes up in the House of Delegates.

Gun Show Promoter Tax on Senate Courts Docket

Senator Ken Stolle's SB 1385 is on the docket this morning in Senate Courts. This is the bill that requires the gun show promoters to arrange and pay for a law-enforcement officer from the Department of State Police to be present at all times during a firearms show. The bill also allows the Superintendent of State Police to enter into agreements with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that would federalize state police troopers at gun shows by granting federal law-enforcement authority for the purposes of enforcing firearms laws of the United States. If it is reported out this morning it will hit the floor immediately because crossover day is tomorrow.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Compensated Confiscation

Gun Buyback Schemes, what my friend Cam Edwards calls "Compensated Confiscation" are being turned on their head, and rightly so, at Virginia's General Assembly. The House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee on Friday reported out HB 2528, Delegate Mark Cole's bill that requires that no locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance authorizing the buy back program of the locality. In addition, and this is the best part, the bill requires that any firearms taken through a buy back program, must be sold by public auction, or sealed bids, to a licensed dealer.

Localities are screaming foul - saying it undercuts the purpose of the compensated confiscation - getting guns off the streets. But Delegate Cole told the Washington Times that the bill could provide money for cash-strapped localities and police departments while also making sure the guns do not fall into the wrong hands.

Says Cole, "Some of them are valuable, and I think it's kind of a waste of taxpayer funds to just destroy those."

Good for Delegate Cole. Be sure to call you Delegate and ask him or her to support the bill when it comes up for a vote on the floor Monday.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Pro-gun Bills Passing Senate Today

Two pro-gun bills passed the Virginia State Senate today.

SB1528 - makes it clear online training qualifies for the training required for concealed handgun permits.

SB 1383 - repeals the state statute that makes it a Class 6 felony to possess and unregistered firearm silencer. Federal penalties still applie.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Stop the Gun Tax

Today, the Senate Finance Committee reported Senate Bill 1166 our of committee and now heads to the full Senate.

Sponsored by State Senator John Watkins (R-Chesterfiled), this bill would increase the gun tax charged by the Virginia State Police to run the mandatory background check from $2 to $5, a 150% increase for Virginia residents. For non-state residents, the legislation mandates an increase of 60%, from $5 to $8. The state budget should not be balanced on the back of Virgnia's gun owners.

It is imperative that you contact your State Senator TODAY at their Richmond office and ask them to oppose Senate Bill 1166. Contact information for your State Senator can be found by clicking here.

Gun Show Loophole Bills Dies

Only Senator Chuck Colgan changed his vote on the final tally from yesterday's vote to today. Today's vote was 19-21. SB1257 is officially dead for the session. Thanks to all gun owners who contacted their senators and urged them to stand with gun owners. If you live in the district of Senator's Stosch or Watkins, please be sure to contact them and thank them as the anti-rights crowd targeted them last night.


NRA News with Cam Edwards



Daily News with Ginny Simone - NRANews.com

Gun Show Bill Top of Contested Calendar in Senate

SB 1257 is at the top of the calendar today. You can view the session here. Depending on if the bill comes up before 1:00, I will be live blogging again today.

Update: The Senate recessed until 12:45. It is now 12:50 and they have not returned. Should be back momentarily.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Gun Show Bill Resurrected.

As can happen from at the General Assembly, the SB1257 was resurrected and then passed by for the day. It's not over yet. Still waiting for an update on which of the Senators who voted to kill the bill asked that it be reconsidered. Continue to call your senators and urge them to stand with law abiding gun owners. The other side only needs to switch three votes to turn the vote against us. Continue to key on the Senators on the below list.

Senators Blevins, Wagner, Watkins, Stosch, Edwards, Puckett, and Stuart.

Update: The anti gun forces are targeting Senators Watkins and Stosch. Please contact those senators and urge they continue to stand with law abiding gun owners and vote against SB1257.

Repeal of Restaurant Ban Passes

Senator Hanger's SB1035 - a bill repealing the ban on carrying concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol passed 24 -16.

Live Blogging Gun Show Debate

SB 1257 up being debated now.

12:32 - Marsh it describing a supposed sale to a felon that later committed a crime at a gun show through a private sale.

12:34 - Marsh asked to protect the children pass the bill.

12:35 - Senator Janet Howell from Fairfax makes tie to Virginia Tech shooting, not bothering to explain that private sales had nothing to do with Virginia Tech. Calls it a "gaping hole."

12:37 - Bill dies 18 - 22

No one spoke against the bill.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Gun Show Bill Passed by for Day Again

SB 1257 was passed by again today. Could this mean that Marsh still does not have the votes? Gun owners need to continue to contact their senators. You need to especially key on the list mentioned in this post from last night.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Gun Show Bill Vote Monday - Call These Senators

The anti-rights crowd at the Virginia Center for Public Safety is urging there members to contact the following Senators and urge them to support SB 1257:

Senators Blevins, Wagner, Watkins, Stosch, Edwards, Puckett, and Stuart.

Your action is needed now to make sure these Senators (Edwards is always a reliable pro-rights vote and voted against the bill in committee) that say they support the rights of law abiding gun owners to vote that way tomorrow. Contact them by phone and email by clicking on their name and you will be directed to their contact information. We can only win this vote tomorrow if gun owners take action.