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Thursday, July 30, 2009

National Review Profile of Creigh Deeds

Jim Geraghty has a profile of Democratic Candidate for Governor Creigh Deeds today on National Review Online. He details how Deeds' rural background and his campaigning as a moderate is sometimes at odds with reality. In other words, Deeds sometimes appears to swerve away from principle when it serves his political ambitions. For instance:

More fundamentally, Deeds’s perception of what’s best for his district shifted dramatically leftward when he started preparing to run for governor. He knew that to win the Democratic primary, he would have to appeal to voters in the significantly more liberal northern suburbs. During his run for attorney general in 2005, by contrast, he won the nomination without a primary, so he could tailor his message for a bipartisan statewide audience all along. Deeds’s ads that year touted his "conservative values”: teaching abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage as “moral obligations and not matters of personal opinion or personal choice”; putting before the voters a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage; broadly defined Second Amendment rights; and a ban on partial-birth abortion. Now he says supporting the gay-marriage vote was “a mistake,” he opposes all limits on abortion, and he supports closing the “gun show loophole” on firearms sales, citing the Virginia Tech shootings — even though the shooter in that tragedy did not purchase his weapons at a gun show, so even if the proposed restriction had been in effect, it would not have prevented the massacre. It is unlikely that the Creigh Deeds of 2005 would recognize the Creigh Deeds of 2009, much less vote for him.

SurveyUSA released poll results yesterday showing Republican Bob McDonnell with a 15 point lead. I am a little skeptical of the poll results as this is the same poll that showed McCain beating Obama in Virginia last year. And remember, Deeds was far behind the pack in the primary before winning 50% of the vote in a three way race.

There is a long time between now and November 3rd.

Nordyke is Going En Banc

I picked up this Arms and the Law report via Sebastian this morning:

Nordyke is going En Banc, meaning it will be heard by the entire circuit. This usually indicates that the consensus of the circuit is that the decision was wrong, and it likely means Nordyke will be overturned. This would remove the circuit split, but as Eugene Volokh points out, having two third of state Attorneys Generals speaks loudly, and the other circuit decisions are inconsistent with the Court’s modern incorporation doctrine. So we might still be going to the Supreme Court with incorporation, but this isn’t a welcome development by any means.

Not sure how this will impact the NRA v Chicago case that is being appealed to the Supreme Court. Part of our reasoning for asking for due to the split that Nordyke contributed to. Sebastian notes that if the three judge panel is overturned, this may help our case after all as the Ninth Circuit is the most overturned circuit in the nation.

VSSA will keep you informed.

E. J. Dionne's Snarky Guns in the Capitol Column

On Monday, the E. J. Dionne, Jr had a snarky little column in the Washington Post titled Arm the Senate. In this column the opines about the hypocrisy of the Senate because guns are banned at the Capitol but a bipartisan majority of the members voted for the Thune Amendment on National Concealed Carry Reciprocity allowing individuals who have concealed carry permits to be able to carry across state lines. People carrying concealed from one state to another would have to abide by the laws in the state in which they are carrying regarding where they can carry etc. Many of the Senators including Virginia's Jim Webb stated this is would help deter crime.

Dionne writes:

If they believe that, why don't they live by it?

Why would freedom-loving lawmakers want to hide behind guards and metal detectors? Shouldn't NRA members be outraged that Second Amendment rights mean nothing in the very seat of our democracy?
Dionne's article prompted Martina Leinz, President of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Million Mom March, to write the usual rant against the NRA and the so-called "gun show loophole" in a letter to the editor published yesterday:

At gun shows in Virginia, and other states, private sellers aren't required to conduct background checks, so anyone can purchase anything, even high-powered assault weapons, no questions asked. Congress has failed to close the gun-show loophole, and pro-gun Republicans and Democrats alike continually try, at the NRA's urging, to repeal sensible measures such as outlawing guns on college campuses, in bars and in national parks.
I did not post about this article on Monday because it was typical Dionne and Washington Post tripe but I ran across the Leinz LTE and a good rebuttal on National Review Online, so I thought I would take a moment to share the rebuttal as well as the Dionne piece for context.

On the Corner blog at NRO, Ramesh Ponnuru wrote:
It is a clever idea for a column, and it took me a little while to think through why I think Dionne's logic is unsound. But unsound I think it is. I think supporters of conceal carry can readily concede that a regime of metal detectors and armed officers trained to protect people and surrounding the workplace is superior to conceal carry as a way of protecting congressmen and their staff. But 1) nobody is proposing to implement such a regime for every 7-11 clerk working the night shift somewhere in this country, 2) doing so would be impractical, and 3) doing so would come with non-monetary costs that we are prepared to pay in the case of Congress but not for society generally.

The hypocrisy of the ant-rights crowd, especially those in the elected class, is to try and disarm people like you and me all the while they have armed guards and security. At least a bipartisan majority in the Senate understand that the rest of us have a right to protect ourselves and our families while the elected elite are protected by security guards.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

NRA-ILA Election Kickoff Meeting A Success

The Grassroots Division of NRA-ILA hosted a Virginia Election Kick-off Meeting last night at the Bass Pro Shops store in Hanover County, just north of Richmond. Approximately 100 gun owners and Second Amendment supporters packed the meeting room to over capacity and enjoyed pizza and soft drinks while listening to NRA-ILA Grassroots Coordinator Brent Gardiner talk about NRA's plan to turnout gun owners for this year's election. This followed the Virginia Beach meeting held on July 16th which was also a success.

It is good news to see so many gun owners energized to become active in the election process. The anti-rights crowd has turned their attention to enacting restrictions at the state level so it is very important that the next Governor be an individual who will respect all of our rights, and will not pick and choose when he is with us an when he is against us. Likewise for the Lt. Governor who breaks tie votes in the State Senate, and the Attorney General, who issues opinions on state laws when asked by state and local office holders as well as members of the House of Delegates who are also up for re-election.


There are two additional Election Kick-off meetings taking place in the coming week. First is the one this Saturday, August 1, in Fairfax. This event will be hosted by ILA Grassroots Staff and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax (11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030)! To register for this free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

The second meeting next week will be Thursday, August 6th, at 7:00 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 200 McBride Lane, Gretna, VA 24557 . To register for the Gretna free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

In mid-August, a Kick-off Meeting will be held in Roanoke on Tuesday, August 18th, at 6:30 p.m.. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Tanglewood –Roanoke, 4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke, VA 24018. To register for the Roanoke free event, please click here, or call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division at (800) 392-VOTE (8683).

Beverages and light snacks will be served at all of these events will run only about 60-90 minutes.

Let's pack the room at each of the upcoming meetings.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Musings on the National Concealed Carry Vote

The Grand Junction Colorado Sentinel ran an editorial last Friday discussing how things work in Washington when it comes to votes on controversial issues - and specifically what Dana Milbank of the Washington Post wrote the day before regarding how some of the Democratic members of the Senate decided to vote on the Thune Amendment.

How do you outgun the NRA? Very, very carefully.

...Toward the end of the vote, Pryor entered the chamber through the back door, took a few steps inside, flashed a thumbs-down to the clerk, and retreated as fast and furtively as somebody dodging gunfire.

Several minutes later, the Democrats had racked up more than enough votes to block the proposal. "Are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or wishing to change their vote?" the presiding officer inquired.

Pryor burst back in, this time through a side door. "Mr. President!" he called out. "Mr. President!" He stopped in the well to consult with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a gun-control advocate who was keeping the whip sheet. Schumer gave Pryor a nod, and the Arkansan -- reassured that his vote was not needed to defeat the proposal -- changed his vote to an "aye."

Only two Republicans went against the gun lobby, but that was enough to leave supporters just short of the 60 votes they needed. The slim margin was no accident: Other Democrats, such as Pennsylvania's Bob Casey and Colorado's Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, were said to have been willing to vote "no" if necessary. Twenty minutes after the voting began, Bennet and Udall left the cloakroom together and walked into the chamber. Bennet went to the well to consult with Schumer, who indicated that it was safe for Bennet -- a product of D.C.'s St. Albans School -- to vote with the NRA. Bennet looked to Udall, who gave an approving nod, and cast his "aye" vote.
According to the GJ Sentinel, Udall and Bennet dispute Milbank's account. The Sentinel notes that it is a classic "he said, they said" situation but tries to promote Milbank's credibility. Not knowing Milbank and not having read much of his work, I make no judgements. I will say as I did the day the vote was taken that after looking at the vote total and the names of those who voted yea, I had to wonder if the two Republicans who voted no gave at least two Democrats cover to vote the other way knowing there were not enough votes to pass the amendment.

I received a reply from Senator Mark Warner's office the day after I sent him a thank you email for supporting gun owners and the Thune Amendment. Warner was one of the Democrats that I had to wonder if he got a pass. While the Senator racked up a very good record on pro-rights legislation when he served as Virginia's governor, he has in the past supported the Clinton Gun Ban, handgun rationing, and a five day waiting period before the purchase of a handgun. Some of these positions were when he served as the chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia over 16 years ago but support for the Clinton Gun Ban was as recent as 2001. I will however take the Senator at his word when he said in his response to me that he thought Virginia's laws on concealed carry would make it unlikely that someone from out of state would carry in Virginia and commit a crime. This at least tells me that the Senator (or more appropriately, his staffer) understood the amendment and what it would have done - hold out of state permit holders to Virginia law while carrying here.

But the Sentinel article and Milbank's column does give us more food for thought as to the true number of Senators on whom we can count when the going gets touch on gun rights.

Monday, July 27, 2009

WaPo Article on Candidate's Position on Guns Pushes Gun Show Loophole

Today's Washington Post ran an article on the Virginia Gubernatorial Race suggesting that the two candidates were dueling over who is the more pro-gun. What the article turned out to be was one more piece pushing for an end to the so-called "gun show loophole."

Walking the jam-packed aisles of Virginia's biggest gun show, Richard Begay carried a .30-06 Sauer hunting rifle and a hand-lettered cardboard sign on his back asking $1,199.

Unlike the federally licensed firearms dealers at tables nearby, Begay, 72, an occasional seller, can peddle the slick-looking rifle legally without a background check to any interested adult he meets at the show in Chantilly. To him, it's his right. To others, it's a potential disaster.

The article did detail how both Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell have pro-gun records, while Bob McDonnell no longer sees the need for the 1993 handgun rationing bill for which he voted (and Deeds opposed) Deeds wants to end private sales at gun shows after being lobbied by the families of the Virginia Tech shooting victims, while McDonnell rightly says gun shows had nothing to do with the Virginia Tech shootings.

Clearly 3/4 of the article was dedicated to the gun show issue and very little with the "who's more pro-gun" angle touted by the article title. You'd have to pay attention to the secondary article title to get a hint at the real message of the article.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Wayne LaPierre on National Reciprocity

NRA's Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre talks about Wednesday's vote on National Concealed Carry Reciprocity.



I have to say, I wondered if the two Republicans that voted against the amendment gave cover to a couple of Democrats to vote for the bill. Andrea Mitchell indicates that Schumer hinted at this. I guess we won't know unless the amendment comes up again in the future without the requirement of a super majority to pass it.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Obama, Meet Hale DeMar

As President Obama talked last night about the sanctity of one's home in discussing the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. at the hands of the Cambridge, Massachusetts, Police, it caused CQ Politics contributing columnist Bill Pascoe to wonder why Obama did not feel the same way about Hale DeMar.

For those not familiar with the tale of Mr. DeMar, Mr. Pascoe gives a detailed account:

DeMar was a 54-year-old restaurateur whose home in Wilmette, Illinois was burgled on the night of December 29, 2003 by Morio Billings, a 31-year-old recidivist whose rap sheet included some 30 arrests, plea deals, and convictions for home burglary and the like. Billings was AWOL from the Army and in violation of his probation. On the following night, the burglar -- having stolen, among other things, keys to the house and a BMW X5 SUV -- returned, to continue his robbery.

This time however, the perp was met by Mr. DeMar and his .38-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol met Billings with DeMar shooting Billings twice. Billings fled DeMar's home in the stolen SUV, and was arrested shortly thereafter at Evanston's St. Francis hospital, where he had gone to seek medical attention. Unfortunately for Mr. DeMar, he lived in a villages surrounding Chicago that had an ordinance banning handguns, the violation of which carried a fine of $750. While the Cook County State's Attorney decided that he would press no felony charges against DeMar for having let his Firearm Owners Identification Card lapse, the Wilmette village attorney that, home-defending hero or not, DeMar was going to have to be punished for violating the village's ban on hand guns.

Fortunately for DeMar, the state legislature thought differently and with relative ease passed a new law indemnifying a gun owner in such a situation against such a prosecution.

In May 2004, it passed the state House by a vote of 90-25, and Senate by a vote of 41-16. In August, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed the bill only to have it overridden in November 2004 by a vote of 85-30 in the House and 40-18 in the Senate.

You probably know from last year's election that then state Senator Barack Obama voted against the legislation not once, but twice.

So, while he waxes indignant about the way Professor Gates was treated in his own home, even after first admitting he did not have all the facts, he had no problem with the home of another individual being violated not once, but twice, by a criminal.

Gun Shop Owner Bob Moates Dies

Longtime Richmond area gun shop owner Bob Moates died July 21st after battling cancer. Mr. Moates was the founder of Bob Moates Sports Shop, Inc. in Chesterfield County and Charlotte Courthouse, Va., along with Rebel Sporting Goods in Keysville, Va.

To gun owners, Bob is probably best known for standing up to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg targeted Moates' gun shop as part of a dealer entrapment scheme where the idea was to sue gun dealers, forcing them to either comply with Bloomberg's "overlord" requirement, face huge legal fees fighting the suits, or go out of business. Bob basically gave Bloomberg the finger and ended up winning in the end. While Bloomberg crowed that he won the battle because Moates agreed to install a new video surveillance system to record transactions and implement a computerized system, the city of New York paid for both of those improvements. To quote Moates' attorney, Richard Gardiner:

We're pleased with the outcome. We're getting an upgraded surveillance system at the city's expense.

Gardiner is well known for his work supporting the Second Amendment so I trust his description of the result rather than Bloomberg's attempt at face saving. The fact is, New York sued and they ended up paying for an upgrade to Moates security system so you tell me who you think won.

On a personal note, my grandfather was a regular customer of Bob's Sport Shop and I still have fond memories of accompanying my grandfather buying my hunting licenses and other supplies every year in the shop located on Hull Street Road.

May Bob Moates rest in peace.

Hat tip to VA-Alert

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Thune Amendment Fails 58-39

The Thune Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390) failed this afternoon on a vote of 58-39, lacking the required 60 votes to invoke cloture. There were more than enough votes to pass the amendment but those opposing the amendment decided to filibuster the vote - thus requiring 60 votes for passage. Virginia's Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb both voted with gun owners and our right to self defense and voted for the amendment. Please be sure to contact Senators Warner and Webb and thank them for standing with law abiding gun owners.

Voting Has Begun on the Thune National Reciprocity Amendment

The voting has begun. This may take a while.

Update: Senator Mark Warner and Senator Jim Webb (who earlier signaled his support on the floor) just voted aye on the Thune Amendment. Both of Virginia Senators have supported your right to self defense.

Jim Webb Supports Thune Amendment

Webb is now speaking in favor of the Thune Amendment.

God, Guns and Pickup Trucks

That's the title of Tracie Powell's article over at CQ Politics this morning about Missouri car dealer Mark Muller giving away a free AK-47 with the purchase of a truck . I expected the same indignation from Ms. Powell that we saw from CNN reporter Carol Costello in her report last Friday. Powell at least approached the topic with some humor and without Costello's hostility. I have to admit, I chuckled at her parting shot.

Still, it seems this gun mania is going to be around for awhile, something Muller is counting on to help him move a few trucks off his lot.

What’s next, a “Glocks for Jobs” program?

As a regular reader of Ms. Powell's columns, I know she is no conservative and I expected her to take some shots at Mr. Muller (and gun owners in general) in her own way but I have to say, she was not as overtly offended by the sales pitch as the CNN reporter Carol Costello.

This story is spreading like wildfire. The New York Times, as well as foriegn press, has run articles.

Sounds like a good sales idea to me. As Ms. Powell pointed out referring to our current economic situation:

While car sales have plunged, gun sales have surged.

Here is the CNN report.

National CCW Reciprocity Vote Set for Today

All gun owners need to get on the phone right now. Today the Senate will vote on John Thune's Concealed Carry Reciprocity Amendment to S.1390 (the National Defense Authorization Act). As a part of the consideration of that legislation, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) have offered an amendment to provide for interstate recognition of Right-to-Carry permits. Senator Warner's phone number is (202) 224-2023 and Senator Webb's number is (202) 224-4024.

Update: 10:44 am - Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is leading the fight in hopes of rounding up at least 41 votes against the amendment to prevent it from being considered. This means it is extremely important that you call Warner and Webb now to urge them to support the amendment.

Update: 10:57 AM - Watch Debate live here. Feinstein is currently spreading misinformation.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

VSSA Annual Meeting

The VSSA Annual Meeting will be held September 26, 2009 at the Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club. Join us beginning at noon for an afternoon of shooting followed by a barbeque dinner, special remarks by H.Q. Moody, the NRA's National Coach Trainer. The meeting of members will follow Mr. Moody's remarks.

By now VSSA members should have received their information package, including raffle tickets and the Board of Directors Ballot. It has come to our attention that the number of votes members are to cast was left off the ballot in error. Members may cast up to three votes on this year's ballot. The Nominating Committee endorsed three candidates. Members may also write in names but a ballot cannot have more than a total of three votes.

Be sure to mark your calendar and plan to join us for a fun afternoon of shooting. Members may bring their own firearms. The VSSA Shotgun, Pistol, and Highpower Rifle chairmen will also be on the ranges so that you have the opportunity to shoot a discipline with which you may not be familiar.

89 Year-old Man in Stafford Nabs Scam Artists

The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star reports this morning that an 89 year-old man nabbed four out-of-state thugs who had been running a scam. In a "Fool Me Once Shame on You, Fool Me Twice Shame on Me" moment, the four had hoodwinked the Stafford County man once before in one of those driveway sealing scams. Not content with the first hoax, they came back for a second time. The victim had been coaxed into coming outside to discuss another job, while the other three went in the house and began looking for things to pilfer. When the man re-entered the home he found the three going through his things and trying to steal a safe.

During a scuffle, they pushed the man around and eventually knocked him to the floor. He then reached under his mattress and pulled out a handgun according to the county Sheriff. The perps taunted him even while having the gun pointed at them, but they left.

The man gave a description to the Sheriff's office and they found the suspects who were identified as Christopher A. Yoanis, 21, of Philadelphia; Larry L. Frank, 33, of Charlotte, N.C.; Alex Yoanis, 65, of Charlotte; and John J. Frank, 36, of Margate, Fla.

Senator Webb's U.S. Senate Contact Form

I just completed contacting Senators Warner and Webb, urging them to co-sponsor S.941 - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, introduced by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). I urge each of you to do the same. This bill strikes a fair balance between providing ATF with additional regulatory powers while at the same time affording licensees more rights and due process in the regulatory process. The bill would allow ATF new powers to issue fines and suspend licenses of firearms retailers (as opposed to current regulations which only allow for license revocation). The legislation would also define what a "willful" violation is and provide for revocation hearings before an administrative law judge, rather than an ATF official.

As is the case in this electronic age, when you send an email using their web site contact form, there is a drop down box to choose a subject for your email. These tend to be populated with the subjects they most frequently hear from constituents. Senator Warner had a subject for "Second Amendment Rights." My congressman's subject drop down box has "Gun Rights."

What I found interesting, there was no option for either Second Amendment, or Gun Rights on Senator Webb's contact form. This is a guy who has a concealed handgun permit, says he is an NRA member, and made a big deal out of the NRA-PVF endorsing George Allen and giving Webb a ? on the original Political Preference Form (PPF) in 2006, and he has no firearm related subject on his Senate web sited email contact form? Does this mean he does not want to hear from constituents on this topic?

I decided to use "Crime/Law Enforcement" as the subject heading. Maybe if he hears from enough of us, the good senator will add an option for the Second Amendment related contact.

Smith & Wesson CEO on Gun Sales

Smith & Wesson CEO Mike Golden appeared last week on CNBC's "Fast Money" to discuss firearm sales and the company's growth in the law enforcement market. He said while the freenzy may be over, sales are still brisk. He also talked about how the company is doing very well in their competition for law enforcement contracts for handguns as well as tactical rifles.














Hat tip to the National Shooting Sports Foundation Bullet Points.

Monday, July 20, 2009

VPC "Study" a Load of BS

This news release from the Violence Policy Center tries to make the claim that concealed handgun permit holders committed a number of crimes between 2007 and 2008. But, the so-called study is not even a scientific method.

Because most state systems allowing the carrying of concealed handguns in public by private citizens release little data about crimes committed by permit holders, the VPC reviewed shooting incidents as reported by news outlets. It is likely that the actual number of fatal criminal incidents involving concealed handgun permit holders is far higher.
They cherry pick incidents that will grab the most headlines and don't bother to provide context for the incidents or note that (if the incidents do involve individuals with CHPs) that the number is a fraction of number of total permit holders in the country.

Update: The Minneapolis Gun Rights Examiner does a great job debunking this so-called study. Hat tip to VA-Alert.

Washington Post on Interstate Recognition of CHP

The Washington Post opines this morning on the Thune-Vitter Amendment to the defense department authorization bill. Surprise, surprise, they oppose it.

Conservatives usually argue against the federal government telling states what they can and can't do. If approved, the Thune amendment would trample all over the rights of states and cities to enforce reasonable restrictions on gun ownership. There are already enough guns on America's streets. A vote for Mr. Thune's bill would make them that much more dangerous.

I find it particularly amusing that when it suits the Post for the federal government to tell the states what to do, the Post has no problem with it. But when it comes to law abiding citizens carrying firearms - some of the most law abiding citizens in the country I might add - the Post can't believe the government would dare tell the states what to do.

ATF Asserts Its Authority To Montana and Tennessee

So writes David Codrea in his National Gun Rights Examiner piece - complete with a copy of the letters.

Both Montana and Tennessee passed laws this year stating that the federal government had no authority over firearms manufactured in the respective states that are only sold and used in those states.

Some 2nd Amendment scholars hinted the laws likely would not stand if challenged but ATF apparently decided they were not going to wait before a court told them the laws were hollow.

National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Vote Coming Soon

Daniel White, the Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner writes this morning about the Thune-Vitter amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390) which would provide for interstate recognition of Right-to-Carry permits. NRA-ILA reported on Friday that it is highly likely the amendment would come up for a vote today or tomorrow.

The Thune-Vitter amendment recognizes that responsible, law-abiding Americans deserve the right to defend themselves and their families when they cross state lines. Passing interstate Right-to-Carry legislation will help further reduce crime by deterring criminals, and—most important of all—will protect the right of honest Americans to protect themselves when deterrence fails.

We are a highly mobile society. There is absolutely no reason that a Virginian, who has a concealed handgun permit (CHP), and takes a cross country trip, should not be able to carry their firearm to be prepared should he or she need it for self defense. Call Mark Warner and Jim Webb and encourage them to vote for the Thune-Vitter amendment on concealed carry national reciprocity to S.1390.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

NRA Opposing Sotomayor Nomination

NRA has just announced they are opposing the Sotomayor nomination. You can find the release here.

Sotomayor Dodges Questions About Gun Rights

CBS News' Political Hot Sheet has this piece this morning:

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor refused on Wednesday to elaborate on her views about firearms regulations and the Second Amendment, saying she would "make no prejudgments" about future firearms-related cases.
Senator Tom Coburn pressed her as to whether she believes Americans have a fundamental right to self defense. Sotomayor failed to respond instead going back to New York Criminal law which she "had experienced" and talked about what would be legal in New York under certain circumstances.

We should not be surprised that she is not answering questions that may come before the court but I do think her previous writings give us an idea of what she might do if confirmed to the court. And the fact that the Brady Campaign on Tuesday endorsed her speaks loudly about why gun owners should be concerned about Sotomayor's ascension to the High Court.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Firearms Sales Increase in June.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported today:

Data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 968,145 checks in June 2009. This figure is an 18.1 percent increase from the 819,891 reported in June 2008.
The June increase follows a 15.4 percent rise in May. Both of these numbers while lower than the average of a little over 29% for the months of November '08 through April '09, indicates that the demand for firearms while settling down is still high.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Virginian Pilot Report on Guns and Ammo Sales

The Virginian Pilot's Joanne Kimberlin wrote this story on the increase in guns and ammo sales. Even though numbers seem to indicate that gun sales may have hit their peek, you can still find stories like the Pilot's in newspapers around the country that offer a local flavor to what has been a big story nationally since the election. And, with all those new firearms in the hands of the public, this leads to an increased need for ammo to use in them.

Robert Marcus of Bobs Gun Shop in Norfolk told Kimberlin he has seen some record days in the shop's 64 years in business and firearms has been a big part of that, but what he has seen in the desire for ammo this time around seems to be an "insatiable" thirst.

Robert House, owner of Classic Firearms in Virginia Beach said he has never seen anything like the current level of ammunition sales.

Kimberlin reports that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have not contributed to the ammo shortages as many believe, because the military has a dedicated supply chain for ammo.

No, she says politics are to blame - the politics of a President who before election made it very clear he is no friend of gun owners. Since taking office, he has gone to great pains to avoid talking about new gun restrictions. Virginia's political guru, Larry Sabato told Kimberlin that from his perch watching Congress, he sees not desire to take up gun control legislation.

Sabato is probably right. But that does not mean gun owners should not remain vigilant.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Hunter Safety Courses

It's not too soon to be thinking about hunter safety courses for new hunters that will be going in the field this fall. You can find a comprehensive list on the VSSA web site but for those who live in the Richmond Metro area, the Bass Pro Shops store in Hanover County has classes coming up. You can get more information here.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

NRA-ILA Northern Virginia Grassroots Reception

Last week I posted about the July 16th NRA-ILA reception in Virginia Beach. NRA-ILA is also hosting a free volunteer kick-off meeting on Saturday, August 1st, at 10:00 a.m., at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax. At this meeting, they will lay out the plans for NRA-ILA grassroots election strategies in the area and show how Northern Virginia gun owners can help. Attendees will also get to meet and begin working with NRA-ILA Staff, who will personally be coordinating area volunteer activities right through Election Day, Nov. 3!

This meeting is absolutely free and continental breakfast will be provided. It will run only about 60-90 minutes. Please make plans to attend and encourage your fellow NRA and VSSA members as well as all Second Amendment supporters to attend.

Here are the details:
When: Saturday, August 1, 10:00 a.m.
Where: NRA Headquarters
North Tower
11250 Waples Mill Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22030
800-392-VOTE (8683)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Wall Street Journal Covers Issue of Campus Carry

Campus carry suffered set backs in an number of states where it was introduced this year. Texas had looked like it was going to be the best opportunity this year but the bill died at the end of the legislative session. The Wall Street Journal ran an article (this link will only be good for seven days) on the subject this morning. Some points of interest:

Gun-rights advocates have won victories in several states in recent months allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons in public parks, taverns and their work places.

So it came as a surprise to Tennessee state Rep. Stacey Campfield that he couldn't persuade his colleagues to pass a law allowing students at public colleges to carry concealed firearms on campus. The bill died this spring in the Republican-controlled legislature -- one of 34 straight defeats nationwide for people who believe a gun wouldn't be out of place in a college student's knapsack.

Colin Goddard, a 21-year-old junior at the time (of the Virginia Tech shooting), was shot four times in a classroom where his teacher and 11 fellow students were killed. Not long afterward, Mr. Goddard began speaking out against guns on campus, and he is now an intern at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in Washington.

Another former Virginia Tech student, John Woods, whose girlfriend was killed in the shootings, helped lead the fight this spring against the bill in Texas, where he is now a graduate student at the University of Texas.

I agree with the Journal reporter that Texas will likely be the best chance to pass a campus carry bill since Utah's bill which passed in 2004. For the effort to be successful in other states, proponents will have to overcome the emotional arguments that campuses should be places where people can be free from guns. For some reason, that sentiment seems to escape those who have used a gun to commit a crime on a college campus.

NY Times Editorial Gets It Wrong Again

The New York Times has an editorial this morning opposing U.S. Senator Bryon Dorgan's (D-ND) bill that would allow for the public hunting of Elk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park located in western North Dakota.

The herd has grown from the 47 that was released into the southern part of the Park in 1985 to approximately 900 - a level above which the park's ecosystem can handle. According to the editorial, Dorgan has inserted a rider into the Interior Department appropriations bill that would allow for a public hunt to cull the herd.

The Times opposes this because:

The idea violates both common sense and the very idea of a national park.

...it would authorize an activity — public hunting — that is proscribed by the founding legislation for the national parks and their current management policies.

The Times' answer to the problem:

Rocky Mountain National Park provides a better model. There, hired sharpshooters have culled cow elk in parts of the park that are closed to the public. This is a safer, more efficient and less expensive way of reducing numbers than shooting bulls, which is what most hunters do.

That statement just shows how little the Times knows about hunting as a wildlife management tool. There are hunters every year who draw cow elk tags and gladly fill them. A public hunt could be managed in the same manner that other hunts are managed on public land in western states. In fact, the management of the hunt could be turned over to the state DNR, they could hold a lottery for tags, and issue more cow elk tags than bulls. Hunters are resource managers. While many would like a trophy, most enjoy the hunt and would be happy with what animal, cow or bull, that is taken in the hunt.

The Times undercuts their case by pointing out that limited hunting is allowed in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park under an exception in the law establishing the park in 1950 and even points out that Dorgan's rider is based on that model. So it would appear that the times is more concerned that this would start a snowball effect, opening hunting up in more National Parks. Hunting already occurs on other federal lands without incident. This hunt to cull the elk herd in TR National Park can be carried out without infringing on other public uses of the park.

Hunters are our best wildlife managers. They can safely and effectively manage the elk herd in TR National Park. The Times just doesn't know what it is talking about on this one.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Pro-gun Candidates Lead Lt. Gov, AG Races

Public Policy Polling reports their recent poll indicates Lt. Governor Bill Bolling leads in his race for re-election and State Senator Ken Cuccinelli leads in the race for Attorney General. Both leads exceed the margin of error.

Virginia Attorney General Mims Joins in Support of Incorporation Brief

Attorney General Bill Mims has joined 32 other states attorneys general in an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in the case of NRA v. Chicago and hold that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Seventh Circuit recently ruled that precedent bound it from holding in favor of incorporation of the Second Amendment in the NRA law suit against Chicago and Oak Park, IL, challenging their handgun ban. However, a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Nordyke v. King, found that those cases don't prevent the Second Amendment from applying to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

Stay tuned for news on how VSSA will be involved in this very important case.

Kudos to Attorney General Mims for joining in this amicus brief and supporting law abiding gun owners.

Guns Sales Ease Back to Normal Levels?

Michael Bane posted this yesterday;

More and more I'm hearing that not only is the run on ARs over, the pipeline is starting to backup with unsold black rifles. This from our DRTV Forums. To be sure, AR variants are now available over the counter in many gun stores and some on-line outlets.

May background checks were up 15.4%. The May increase followed a 30.3 percent increase in April, a 29.2 percent gain in March and rises of 23 percent in February, 28 percent in January, 24 percent in December and 42 percent in November when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed. We don't have June numbers yet but it is possible they are more in line with May numbers. There was some question as to whether the May number was because sales were cooling or if it was due to the lack of stock in stores resulting in a lower number of sales.

What goes up eventually has to come down and this was bound to happen at some point. The benefit may be that prices will also come back to earth and those who waited to make that next purchase will see a dividend for their patience.

If sales are declining to a more realistic number, it remains to be seen what if any impact this will have on manufacturers and the industry as a whole. The firearms industry was the only one that was weathering the recession (though some sectors of the industry were clearly hurting). Last month we saw one casualty in the family - Knight Rifles - a manufacturer of in-line muzzleloading rifles. The hunting end of the firearms industry was not seeing the massive sales increases that tactical rifles and some handgun models experienced. I can't speak for all hunters but I have two firearms I use for deer season - a muzzleloader and a .30-30.

I haven't purchased a new deer hunting firearm in four years. A lot of other hunters may be like me. Add that to the declining number of hunters and it is not a good recipe for continued growth. Some manufacturers, like Remington and Smith and Wesson, have diversified their lines by purchasing other manufacturers but Knight was known for in-line blackpowder rifles and while some people may upgrade to the next new model, many don't, which is why we need to constantly introduce new people to the shooting sports and especially hunting or we will see a lot more "Knights" in the future.

Hat tip to Michael Bane and Sebastian.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

NRANews.com to Discuss Isle of Wight Gun Law

The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors will take up the possible repeal of a "useless" gun law at tonight's board meeting. In August of 2008, the Board adopted an ordinance that allows only "authorized personnel" to carry concealed firearms in the county's recreational facilities. The only problem is, the law is unenforceable because ordinances controlling the use, sale, possession or transportation of firearms can only be enacted by the General Assembly. Local hunting laws are the only exception

If the board approved the recommendation to repeal the ordinance, a public hearing could be scheduled for as soon as July 16.

I'll be on Cam and Company at 9:20 tonight to talk about this and other Virginia gun related news. You can hear Cam and Company on NRANews.com as well as Sirius Satellite Radio Patriot 144.