Buy at Cabela's - Support VSSA

Friday, October 30, 2009

VSSA Endorsed Manoli Loupassi Needs Poll Workers

VSSA Endorsed Delegate Manoli Loupassi needs poll workers for Tuesday. Please contact the campaign if you live in or near his west end Richmond district and can give two hours to work on Tuesday and help a pro-gun candidate.

Call Linda Gross at 804-440-6223.

Manoli needs your help. Thanks!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Matt Lohr the Choice for Gun Owners in House District 26

There is only one candidate in the race for the 26th House of Delegates district that has a proven record of supporting our firearms freedom and sporting heritage. That candidate is Delegate Matt Lohr. Delegate Lohr has earned the support of all gun owners and sportsmen with his unblemished record of supporting our right to keep and bear arms. Not only did Delegate Lohr earn an "A" rating and endorsement from the NRA, his voting record has earned him the endorsement of VSSA. While Delegate Lohr's opponent earned an "AQ" NRA rating based on his NRA questionnaire, he has no voting record on the issue. Only Delegate Lohr has proven record of supporting our rights and he has earned the support of all gun owners in the 26th House of Delegates District. VSSA urges all gun owners and sportsmen to contact Delegate Lohr's campaign in these closing days to find out how you can help then vote to re-elect Delegate Matt Lohr on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Desparate Shannon Uses VCPS Talking Points Against Cuccinelli

The Washington Times editorializes today that Democratic Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon is using terms similar to those used last week by the Virginia Center for Public Safety to charge that State Senator Ken Cuccinelli wants to arm violent felons.

In the race to become the commonwealth's next attorney general, state Delegate Stephen Shannon is trying to tar his opponent, state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, for purportedly giving guns to convicted felons. Mr. Shannon is sending around literature with a scary picture of a violent criminal claiming: "FACT: Ken Cuccinelli, candidate for attorney general, voted to allow violent felons to purchase guns in Virginia."
This of course is a reference to Senator Cuccinelli's vote against the anti-rights gang's numerous attempts to shut down gun shows in the Commonwealth using the phony "gun show loophole" as their clarion call. Clearly Shannon's attacks on Senator Cuccinelli are false.

The Times editorial makes an excellent point when it says Mr. Shannon's policies would disarm law-abiding Virginians and increase crime. And as the Times concludes, that's the real issue for Virginians who care about their personal safety.

Sources have shared with this writer that internal polling is showing Shannon's negative attacks may not be having the desired impact and may actually have caused his own negatives to go up. In these final days, lets all do our part to insure that Senator Ken Cuccinelli wins and wins big next Tuesday.

Virginia Gun Collectors Association Annual Gun Show

The Virginia Gun Collectors Association will be at the Prince William County Fairgrounds November 7 and 8 for their annual Gun Show. The event features exhibits of antique firearms from Revolutionary and Civil War, WW I, and WWII. There will be firearms experts on hand to give verbal appraisals free of charge.

VGCA has been a financial supporter of VSSA and is one of our partner associations. This is a show not to be missed.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Ammo for sale will include .223, .308, and more.

For more information including maps and directions, click here.

Skeet Ranges At Virginia International Raceway

The Virginia International Raceway (VIR) - America's Motorsports Resort, announced in August the opening of the resort's latest addition; two regulation skeet shooting ranges.

Located in Southern Virginia between Danville and South Boston, VIR hosts pro and club car and motorcycle races, a wide range of racing and riding schools, track days for cars and bikes, club events, off road driving, drifting and private test rentals. With on site lodging, go karts, corporate events, fine and fun dining, the VIR Club,Camp Motorsport, the Oak Tree Spa and southern hospitality...

VIR bills itself as "America's Motorsport Resort!"

Opened on August 1 2009, and located adjacent to the Plantation Valley Kart Track, the skeet range features two regulation shooting ranges. Josh Lief, VIR's General Manager (as well as a friend and former colleague) says on the VIR web site:

We are always looking to add resort amenities to this amazing facility. Now we have taken one step further towards becoming a full service resort destination.
Although the ranges are currently only open to VIR Club Members, business or organization group outings at VIR can arrange for a professionally directed shoot at the VIR Skeet Ranges.

VIR did hold their first public fun shoot in August, and plans on having additional public fun shoots in the future, as well as a VIR Skeet League (similar to the popular Kart Leagues) and private lessons.

To stay informed on developments related to the VIR Sheet Ranges, sign up for VIR's newsletter.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

VA Tech Tailgate for Victory

Virginia's elections are ground zero for the enemies of freedom to try and turn the tide against our gun rights in the Commonwealth. Our opponents will be pulling out all the stops as a run-up to the 2010 elections, and all eyes will be on Virginia next Tuesday! To ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges and ensure victory on Election Day, the NRA-Political Victory Fund is hosting a tailgate on Thursday, October 29th, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Lot 2 at Virginia Tech! Stop by for free food, election gear, and a chance to meet VSSA and NRA-PVF endorsed candidates Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli.

What: Victory Tailgate Party
Where: Virginia Tech vs. UNC Football Game, Parking Lot 2
When: Thursday, October 29 beginning at 12:30 PM

For more information contact: Seth Waugh, Virginia Grassroots Coordinator at Swaugh@nrahq.org.

QDMA Announces 4th Annual Event

The Central Virginia Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) invites you to attend their 4th Annual REACH Banquet. Join QDMA for a time of food, fun, and fellowship. In addition to a great meal, you will have an opportunity to participate in raffles and an auction for wildlife prints and merchandise.

What: 4th Annual QDMA REACH Banquet
Where: ACCA Shriners Temple, 1712 Bellvue AvenueRichmond, VA 23227
When: Saturday,February 27, 2010, 5:30 p.m.

For tickets and information, contact: Ed Phaup at: edphaup@phaup.us or Vince Evans at diversifiedconstructors@verizon.net.

QDMA does some great work providing hunters with information on managing Whitetail Deer for a better hunting experience.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Now is Not the Time for Complancency

Poll after poll is showing all three of the VSSA endorsed candidates for statewide office running well ahead of their opponents. Last night the Washington Post released results of their latest poll showing Bob McDonnell ahead of Creigh Deeds by 11 points. Survey USA has McDonnell by 17 with Independents breaking 2-1 for the leader.

The SurveyUSA poll dated Oct. 27 shows McDonnell with a 17-point lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds, 58-41.

Republican Bill Bolling is beating Democrat Jody Wagner by 14 points, 56-42, in the race for lieutenant governor. In the attorney general race, Republican Ken Cuccinelli leads Democrat Steve Shannon by 16 points, 57-41.

But this does not mean we can relax in the final week of the campaign. It is more important than ever that gun owners and sportsmen make sure they get their friends, family and fellow gun club/hunt club members to the polls on election day.

With Saturday being the first day of Muzzleloader Season for deer, if you plan to be in the woods next week, you can cast your vote absentee before election day. Because today is the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail, you should plan to vote in person absentee.

And between now and Tuesday there are opportunities to attend a rally, help out at phone banks and go door to door in targeted neighborhoods. You can find the nearest campaign office here.

Don't let the good polling numbers give a false sense of security. The only poll that counts is the one taken on election day and the only way we will win is if we all show up at the polls and vote our freedom and our sport.

Hat tip to Jim Geraghty.

Monday, October 26, 2009

New Meaning to the Phrase "Shoot Like a Girl"



Hat tip to NRA Blog.

"Terrorists and Felons Getting Guns" New Mantra of Anti-gun Crowd

Last week the Virginia Center for Public Safety (VCPS) joined forces with the Brady Campaign to issue a press release targeting former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, charging that he supported "Terrorists and Felons" being able to purchase firearms because he opposes attempts by the anti-rights crowd to impose background checks on the private transfer of firearms.

I opened up my email earlier today and VCPS has issued another alert - this time urging their supporters not to let the handful of Virginia mayors who have signed on with Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), to be "harassed and intimidated" by gun rights advocates who disagree with the agenda of the Bloomberg group. The NRA recently urged gun owners to let your voice be heard by calling, e-mailing and writing your mayor if you live in one of these cities and asking him or her to support law-abiding gun owners by publicly disassociating with Michael Bloomberg and "Mayors Against Illegal Guns." The VCPS alert said:

The Virginia Center for Public Safety hopes all Virginians, liberal, moderate, and conservative, will help us stand up to these extremists, who while cloaking themselves in the veil of law and order, are perfectly satisfied with felons, terrorists, and the mentally disturbed having easy, unscrutinized access to guns, including military-grade weapons, as long as they do too.

For the second time in two weeks they have equated those of us who oppose restricting the private sale of firearms with supporting access to firearms by felons and terrorists, and this time adding the mentally disturbed to their list. Oh, and we want these disqualified individuals to also have access to "military-grade weapons." I guess that's the new term for "assault weapons."

I have no doubt that from this time forward, every press release and email this group sends will include the mantra "Terrorists, Felons, and Mentally Disturbed."

The Virginia Mayors who have joined MAIGs are:

Mayor William Euille
Alexandria, VA

Mayor Brenda Pelham
Hopewell, VA

Mayor Paul D. Fraim
Norfolk, VA

Mayor Annie M. Mickens
Petersburg, VA

Mayor James W. Holley III
Portsmouth, VA

Mayor Dwight C. Jones
Richmond, VA

Help your mayor make the right choice between protecting your Second Amendment rights or continuing to be associated with those who actively oppose and undermine your firearms freedom by calling or writing them today.

Another Good NRA Ad for Bob McDonnell

For those of you who have not seen this second NRA-PVF ad for Bob McDonnell, it's a good ad that incorporates all of the things that have voters anxious this year - massive government spending, mounting debt, increased government intervention - to bring it back to the issue of the Second Amendment. It is a good ad.

Gun Owner and Sportsmen Tailgate Party for Bob McDonnell

All gun owners are invited to come out to a tailgate party on Saturday morning (October 31st) at the Bass Pro Shop in Ashland. After enjoying a light breakfast attendees will go door to door for Bob McDonnell.

What: Gun Owner and Sportsmen Tailgate Party
When: 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 31, 2009
Where: Bass Pro Shop 11550 N Lakeridge Pkwy, Ashland, VA 23005-8047

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Contact: NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative Kristin Murray at KMurray12@gmail.com

Ashland Victory Rally October 30th

You are going to be seeing a lot of these posts in the next week. It cannot be stressed how important it is for gun owners to turn out at the polls on election day. We also need to attend the Victory Rallies that will take place around the Commonwealth to show our support for the VSSA and NRA endorsed candidates. For those in the Richmond Area, you can attend the Ashland Victory Rally on Friday, October 30th.

The Rally will be held at:

Homemade by Suzanne
102 North Railroad Avenue
Ashland VA.

The Rally begins at 4:00 PM. Call 804-612-9111 to get tickets to the rally. And, be sure to wear your VSSA and or NRA gear to the rally.

Vote for Delegate Lee Ware on November 3rd

Incumbant Delegate Lee Ware has been a strong supporter of our right to keep and bear arms. In the past he has sponsored legislation to repeal the ban on carrying firearms in restaurants like Applebees, Famous Daves, and others that serve alcohol in addition to food. Delegate Ware is being challenged this year by a candidate, Gary Reinhardt, who bills himself as "Independent," but according to gun owner who emailed me recently, he is no friend of gun owners. A big part of his campaign appears to be an attack on Delegate Ware for standing up for law abiding gun owners that want the opportunity to protect themselves and their families even when they go out to eat. Under the heading of "Community Safety" on his web site, Reinhardt states:

Our Founding Fathers regarded the citizenry's ability to arm itself paramount in gaining our liberty from the British and preserving it from other would-be tyrants. Our Constitution protects our rights to bear arms.

However, while gun ownership has a long, rich tradition in the Commonwealth, study after study confirms a correlation between violence and alcohol. Like driving and alcohol, guns and alcohol simply do not mix. I will oppose any legislation to allow concealed weapons into places that serve alcohol at any local establishment we visit with our families.
Reinhardt even has a side bar the side of his web site to "Alcohol and Violence" and includes a link to a story about a retired police lieutenant who shot himself and injured two other diners when a gun he had tucked in his waistband went off in a Danville restaurant. The brief article does not mention whether the restaurant serves alcohol but we are supposed to presume this is the case. Retired law enforcement officers gained the ability to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol when Governor Kaines veto of SB877. The bill became law on July 1.

If you live in the 65th House District (which includes part of Chesterfield County and all of Powhatan County), please contact the Ware campaign and find out how you can help in these closing days of the campaign.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Steve Shannon Attacking Cuccinelli on Gun Rights

With two weeks left in the campaign, Steve Shannon, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General, has begun airing television anti-gun ads in northern Virginia attacking VSSA Endorsed and NRA "A+" rated Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli. The ads are straight out of the Brady Campaign’s playbook.

Shannon’s blatant attack on our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms clearly demonstrates that Ken Cuccinelli is the only choice for gun owners and sportsmen in the race for Attorney General.

Please contact Senator Cuccinelli's campaign today at 703-766-0635 and find out how you can help in the closing week of the campaign.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Volunteers Need in Richmond Area in Campaign's Final Days

Volunteers are needed in the Richmond area to campaign for Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli. Please contact the NRA-ILA Campaign Field Rep., Kristin Murry, to get involved! You can contact Kristin at KMurray12@gmail.com!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Anti-Rights Crowd Dump on McDonnell

With just 14 days left in this year's gubernatorial campaign, the anti-rights crowd has finally unleashed their dogs against Bob McDonnell. First it was the release of a poll by Christopher Newport University that claims a majority of Virginians want stricter gun laws. This was followed up by a press release from Virginians for Public Safety that carried this sensational headline:


Bob McDonnell Content to Let Felons, Terrorists, Buy Firearms at Gun Shows


The only thing that the group can offer to support such a preposterous claim is the one sided ABC 20/20 report from earlier this year where the brother of a victim of the Virginia Tech shootings claims to have purchased 10 firearms without a background check within an hour of arriving at a Richmond Gun Show. Just to refresh your memory should you have forgotten - Omar Samaha was able to pull off this stunt because ABC equipped him with $5000. I would still like to know if among those ten firearms he is said to have purchased were more than one handgun because if that is the case, he broke the law with the assistance of ABC. You see, Virginia's handgun rationing law applies to private sales as well as sales carried out through an FFL.



I find it interesting that these are the same folks that did not want Creigh Deeds to be the Democratic nominee and a group identifying themselves as family members of the Virginia Tech Victims even sent an email to anti-rights supporters the day before the Democratic Primary asking them not to vote for Creigh Deeds.


"The only individuals benefiting from loose gun laws in the Commonwealth are
criminals, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals," said Virginians for
Public Safety President Jim Sollo. "Bob McDonnell needs to decide what is more important to him: half a million dollars in NRA PAC money or the safety of Virginia residents."
Gun owners cannot let these tactics decide who becomes Virginia's next Governor. With just two weeks left, we need every gun owner to do something to help elect Bob McDonnell. Please volunteer some time between now and November 3rd to walk some neighborhoods, work phone banks, and most importantly, vote.


You can find the campaign office near you by clicking here.

Dan Casey and Tonight's Gubernatorial Debate

Tonight, Roanoke College's Olin Hall will host the final scheduled debate for this year's gubernatorial election. Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey has suggested some questions for the event. Remember, Mr. Casey is the columnist who has made a big deal out of the new law that clarifies that the safety training required to apply for a concealed carry permit can be conducted online or through some other electronic means. I'm beginning to think that Mr. Casey is obsessed with the law. Casey poses this query in his hypothetical debate questions:

Mr. Deeds, in the 2009 session you voted for an idiotic bill that defined anyone who had passed a one-hour streaming video "course" as competent enough with a gun to qualify for a Virginia concealed handgun permit --even if they had never touched a handgun.

I know this is true because I took that course and had never touched a handgun before the state issued me my permit.

The question is, do you regret supporting this dumb bill?

Follow-up: Would you support its repeal?
But Casey does not limit his gun related questions to the concealed carry permit safety training. His next question finally confirms what I have believed since reading his first column - that is less than pro-rights:

Messrs. Deeds and McDonnell, each of you has said that if elected, you would sign legislation allowing concealed-carry permit holders to take their hidden weapons into establishments that serve alcohol, provided those gun-packers don't imbibe.

A recent poll conducted by Christopher Newport University found nearly two-thirds of the commonwealth's likely voters are opposed to legalizing concealed weapons in bars.

Please explain why you're in favor of legislation opposed by nearly two-thirds of this state's voters.

Follow-up: Please explain to us how more guns in bars makes everyone safer.

Second follow-up: Are both of you insane?

I think Mr. Casey has finally shown his true colors.

Shotgun Self Defense

This morning's Guns and Ammo E-Newsletter had this article about the Mossberg's 590A1 pump shotgun. The article talks about how the 590A1 may just be a perfect choice for enforcing the "Castle Doctrine."

Shotguns have long been the gold standard for self-defense (or offense) in close quarters, and with good reason. Handguns are handy, but nothing says hello like a 12 gauge. The Mossberg 590A1 sits high on--if not atop--the list of pump-action home-defense possibilities. The gun is available in dozens of configurations and has inspired a long list of accessories that make it particularly suited for repelling boarders.
It is easily customized to your personal preferences and an MSRP of less than $550, this shotgun makes home self defense affordable.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Most Virginians want tighter gun laws?

According to a report published yesterday by the Virginian Pilot, a poll conducted by the Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University found that:

...eight of every 10 likely voters interviewed wanted to change a state law that allows someone to buy a firearm from an unlicensed seller at a gun show without first undergoing a criminal background check.

Forgive me for being a bit jaded but I find it awful convenient that a poll on gun issues comes out just 15 days before election day and just happens to show that a position held by a particular candidate is shared by a vast majority of those surveyed. The article indicates that the "gun show loophole" has been a divisive issue in this year's campaign.

The poll was a joint effort by The Virginian-Pilot, WVEC-TV and CNU. There is no link in the article to the poll so that one can review the cross tabs to see the demographics of those surveyed but I have a sneaky suspicion that a majority of those sampled were people living in areas of the Commonwealth that are less friendly to firearms. Not to to mention that the wording of the question could have played a role in the response given. If they used the term "unlicensed dealers" instead of "private individuals" it is highly likely the response twould be in line with what the poll found. Most people don't understand that there is no such classification as an "unlicensed dealer." One either is or is not a gun dealer. If one is engaged in the business of selling firearms without a license, it is a federal crime punishable by five years in prison.

The poll also asked whether Virginia's restaurant ban should be repealed.

A strong majority of those polled - 68.4 percent - also do not want Virginia to allow people with concealed-weapons permits to bring their firearms into eateries that sell alcohol. More than a quarter of those surveyed - 26.3 percent - disagreed, saying the ban should be lifted.
This poll is so out of whack with what has been found in national polls lately so I can only presume that the polling group used questions that pushed the respondent to give the more anti-gun response.

Friday, October 16, 2009

"Dead-eye" Dan Casey Continues Assault on Online CHP Training

Since last July, Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey has taken Virginia, and by extension, Senator Ken Cuccinelli, to task for allowing Virginians seeking a concealed carry permit (CHP) to complete the required safety training by taking an online or electronically delivered course. Casey has written several columns detailing how he completed a course and received his permit without ever touching a handgun. He's at it again.

There's still no doubt in my mind that the state law that deemed me "competent" enough to get a Virginia concealed handgun permit via that online course is
asinine and irresponsible.
What he does not tell readers is that was always allowed even before Senator Cuccinelli's legislation became law on July 1, 2009. Oh sure, he alluded to the fact in his original column but he never clearly states that since 1995, anyone without a criminal or mental disability could qualify for a CHP by taking a simple firearm safety course, completing the required application, and paying a fee. The statute does not require an applicant to have ever handled a firearm during the safety course or at any other time. A qualifying firearm safety course can include among other things a hunter safety course. Hunter safety courses do not require the participant to handle a firearm during the training and many of the classroom courses approved for a CHP permit also do not require the student to handle a firearm.

VSSA advocates that everyone considering purchasing, owning, and using a firearm, do so safely and responsibly. A member who is also an NRA Certified Instructor even contacted me after the Cuccinelli bill passed expressing his disappointment that VSSA supported the bill because in his view, requirements for obtaining a concealed carry permit should be more, not less strict.

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding whether to carry a firearm, whether it be openly or concealed - not least of which is if the individual is prepared to handle the consequences of defending oneself should the situation arise. But that is for the individual to determine. The Commonwealth decided its responsibility was to insure that the individual had a minimum level of training to qualify for a permit and that it was not going to take a "nanny state" approach.

This writer might agree that someone should take the step of spending considerable time at a range before applying for a CHP. But unlike Casey, I don't think I should be making that decision for other people.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

VSSA Candidate Endorsements Are Posted

The 2009 VSSA Candidate Endorsements are now posted on the VSSA web site. Click here to see the list.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Deeds' Left Turn

Bitter has a good post over at Snowflakes in Hell describing how Deeds' slight left turn on the issues has negatively impacted his race for governor.

Full disclosure, I voted for Creigh Deeds in 2005. So did most other voters since he only lost by about 325 votes in a statewide election with nearly 2 million voters. At that time, he not only had the NRA endorsement, but I knew he was willing to step up as a Democratic leader for sportsmen. He was running on his own record, one that a non-affiliated, Republican-leaning, little-l libertarian, could generally get behind. I realized that we may not agree on everything, but for the issues I cared about, he was slightly better than McDonnell at the time.

By the time the 2009 primary rolled around and he had run a little left. He didn’t run far left, mind you, but a little left. Deeds threw gun controllers a bone while McDonnell had strengthened his record – a feat hard to do in the position of Attorney General where you generally shy away from policy. Deeds can’t keep it straight when it comes to tax policy.

This is a much different race than 2005 and Bitter is right; it is a lot different running for the top of the ticket than for the bottom of the ticket. It appears that the Democrats should have at least asked Deeds what his plan was to get Virginia moving again before allowing him to coast to victory after the Moran/McAuliffe bloodletting took place. It also goes to show a candidate does not help himself by trying to be all things to all people. Throwing a bone to the anti-rights folks on the so-called gun show loophole only succeeded in making Deeds look like he was a calculating politician rather than a principled individual that felt strongly on an issue.

There are a little over three weeks left in the campaign but if Deeds doesn't find a message that resonates with the voters soon, the Democrats eight year hold on the Executive Mansion will come to an end.

Brady's Helmke Not Worried About Chicago Case

Poor Paul Helmke. He took over the helm of the Brady Campaign at a time when one gun control initiative after another disappeared. First the Brady three day waiting period evaporated into the "instant check." Then the so-called assault weapons ban expired. Handgun rationing was repealed in South Carolina. No gun control bill has passed congress since 1994. The D.C. gun ban is overturned. Obama signs a bill that includes a repeal of the ban on carrying firearms in national parks. A rider is attached to legislation giving D.C. a voting representative in congress that would force D.C. to comply with the Heller Decision by removing many of the roadblocks they have placed in front of people wishing to own a firearm, causing the legislation to be pulled from consideration. Now, the Supreme Court may overturn a gun ban imposed by a major U.S. city and Helmke tells the Dallas Morning News:

It's not that worrisome.

That's right. Paul Helmke and the Brady Campaign doesn't worry that overturning a gun ban in a major U.S. city will have any impact on other gun bans around the country. Keep telling yourself that Paul.

Monday's Deeds-McDonnell Debate

Last night the candidates for Governor debated at the Richmond studio of public broadcasting studio WCVE. The topic of firearms came up and as has been the case all year, McDonnell stood with law abiding gun owners on the issue of private sales at gun shows and Deeds sided with the tragedy peddlers by tying gun shows to the Virginia Tech shooting. CQ Politics reported this exchange:

One issue on which the candidates showed common ground was firearms. Both said they believed in the right to bear arms. They parted, though, on the real-world application of that right — especially on how, if elected governor, each would frame state law to avoid a repeat of the shooting at Virginia Tech.

Deeds said that he worked to close the so-called “gun show loophole” after the 2007 slayings and would accomplish the task as governor. McDonnell said that he worked to improve the state’s mental health statutes after the shooting and is opposed to “regulating the private sale of firearms.”

McDonnell has not backed down and has shown he clearly understands that gun shows played no role in the tragic shootings in 2007. It has been said before on this site; if Deeds can be sucked in by the anti-rights crowd on with a completely emotional argument when it comes to private sales at gun shows, can we trust the same will not happen on say, the repeal of the restaurant ban or handgun rationing?

Monday, October 12, 2009

NRA Ad for Bob McDonnell

If you live in an area like Richmond this ad may not be running in your area. Thanks to YouTube, we get to see it. Cam Edwards mentioned it to me last week when I was on his program and he was right. It's a hoot.


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Bloomberg At It Again

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his dealer entrapment scheme was unceremoniously booted from Virginia in 2007 by then Attorney General Bob McDonnell. Undaunted by this set back, Bloomberg turned his attention to gun shows in other states. So reports this story from today's NY Daily News.

Bloomberg sent his team of "private investigators" to Ohio, Nevada and Tennessee. He used the same tactics at the gun shows that he did to entrap Virginia gun dealers.

The undercover investigators - whose work has been forwarded to federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials - used hidden cameras to catch gun show sellers making shady deals.

Hidden-camera video of buys made in the city's $1.5 million investigation is to be screened at a City Hall news conference Wednesday.

In the case of unlicensed or "private" dealers, the agents got to the point of buying the gun - and then asked if the seller performed background checks.

If not, the agents informed the seller that they were relieved, because they probably couldn't pass one.

When it came to licensed dealers, who are required to perform background checks, the agents used a different tactic: One agent would get up to the point of purchase and then bring in another agent, or "straw purchaser," to fill out the paperwork and buy the gun.

Only one dealer refused to sell the weapon once the second agent came into the picture, mayoral aides said.
Bloomberg has no other desire than to try and put gun dealers (or anyone selling a gun) in the worst light possible and he has a lot of money to see that he is successful. If someone breaks the law they should have to pay the price. There are already laws against selling to people that aren't allowed to buy a firearm. We don't need to pass a law putting gun shows out of business to address this. Bloomberg is a media whore that is using his billions to focus on what he perceives to be the problem and completely blow it out of proportion using a few isolated incidents.

Gun dealers need to be aware that they are in Bloomberg's crosshairs and make sure they don't fall into his trap.

Candidates Address Sunday Hunting

Last Thursday, both Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds addressed the issue of Sunday hunting. Virginia is one of only a few states that do not allow hunting in any form on Sunday.

Roanoke Times outdoor writer Mark Taylor reported in his Sunday column that while announcing formation of his sportsman group, Creigh Deeds said he is in favor of referendums that would allow localities to set their own Sunday hunting rules.

Bob McDonnell was then contacted for a response and according to Taylor, said he would support lifting the ban, but only on private land.

Sunday hunting has been a fiercely debated topic in Virginia for years. It's not just folks who believe Sunday should be a day where those who choose to should be able to go to church without having to hear gun shots outside the church window. Historically, hunters have been equally split in support and opposition to lifting the Sunday hunting ban. One of the leaders of a large sporting group in the state told me he believes the ban relieves some of the pressure on wildlife thus making the other days in the field a better experience. One proposal introduced in the General Assembly in the past would have allowed hunting after noon so as not to have any impact on church services in rural areas. It has rarely been an issue in a statewide election and bills introduced in the General Assembly never make it out of committee.

But as lifestyles have changed and people have more commitments on Saturday, whether it be work or attending the extracurricular activities of children, the option of being able to go into the field on Sunday gains more traction.

Taylor writes that the local option sought by Deeds and the private land only option supported by McDonnell may well meet the strongest opposition from delegates and senators who are in favor of allowing Sunday hunting.

For example, few serious Sunday hunting advocates would be too excited about a local option bill. Yes, if a few localities take the step and others see that the change is not a big deal, others may follow suit.

But is taking that baby step with county-by-county laws worth the certain logistical and law enforcement nightmares it would create?

The private land option, which could appease non-hunters who are concerned about sharing public recreational space with hunters, is less problematic but still far more complicated than a blanket law.

Will taking a stand supporting some form of Sunday hunting help or hurt the candidates? Given the traditional split in the sporting community it is hard to say. But with both candidates for governor supporting some form of Sunday hunting, then the emphasis of the hunting community should focus on members of the General Assembly, because if a majority of the delegates and senators do not support allowing hunters the opportunity to go afield everyday of the season, then it doesn't make much difference what the guy in the Governor's Mansion says.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

McDonnell's Campaign Gets It

There are times when Second Amendment supporters cringe when a campaign staffer tries to talk about gun issues but Republican Bob McDonnell has some press folks who seem to get it when it comes to knowing the issue. Over the last couple of weeks local papers have picked up the story of the NRA endorsement of McDonnell's bid to become Virginia's next Governor. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) student newspaper is the latest.

Reporting what is widely believed to be the main reason Deeds lost the endorsement this year after gaining it against McDonnell during the 2005 campaign for Attorney General, the Commonwealth Times reports that Deeds efforts to close the so-called "gun show loophole" cost him the NRA endorsement.

When contacted by the paper for comment, the McDonnell staffer accurately describes what the issue is really about:

"The term 'gun-show loophole' is a misnomer," said Crystal Cameron, press secretary for the McDonnell campaign. "All registered gun dealers must run background checks for any buyers. Bob McDonnell supports background checks for all purchases with licensed Virginia gun dealers at Virginia gun shows."

"What this issue is really about is mandating government regulation of private sales of firearms," Cameron said. "Currently, the commonwealth does not regulate private sales of firearms between citizens, and Bob McDonnell does not support such an expansion into the private affairs of law abiding citizens."
If this staff member is an indication of what type of people will staff a McDonnell administration, it will be a breath of fresh air.

L.A. Times Endorses Applying 2nd Amendment to States

Miracles never cease. The L.A. Times editorial page has come out in favor of applying the Second Amendment to the states through 14 Amendment incorporation.

If you support measures to reduce gun violence, as this page does, it's tempting to hope that the court will rule that states aren't bound by the 2nd Amendment. The problem is that allowing states (and cities) to ignore this part of the Bill of Rights could undermine the requirement that they abide by others.

Landmark civil liberties decisions spanning eight decades were possible only because the justices concluded that key protections of the Bill of Rights applied to the states, because those rights were "incorporated" by the 14th Amendment. Added to the Constitution after the Civil War, that amendment includes these words: "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Give it to the Times, they recognize if one of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights is ignored, it is a license to ignore all of them. Not to completely throw out their anti-rights creds, they did get in the caveat that the Court should reaffirm that government may still impose "reasonable restrictions" on the right to bear arms.

Hat tip to Dave Hardy at Of Arms and the Law.

Guns and Democracy

Steven Levingston, the Book World Nonfiction Editor at The Washington Post shot me (and other gun bloggers I presume) an email about a blog post on The Washington Post Book World blog by none other than Joshua Horwitz. The lead to the blog post says:

The intent of the second amendment right to bear arms has come under debate since health reform protesters showed up with guns at town hall meetings last month. We asked Joshua Horwitz, a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, for his interpretation.
Most Second Amendment activists would disagree that debate on the intent of the amendment started only this past summer. But that gave Horiwitz the opening he needed to hawk is book - "Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea," which was published in April by the University of Michigan Press.
Many Americans were disturbed by the sight of protesters carrying guns to town hall meetings across the country. How have we reached the point where individuals feel the need to engage in such shows of force? The truth is that the seeds of armed political activism in the United States were planted years ago by the gun lobby.

Yeah, that's right, it's the NRA's fault. According to Horwitz, because the NRA's natural constituency - hunters and recreational shooters - was dwindling, it and other pro-rights organizations had to reach out to the paranoid fringe - those who don't trust the government. Horwitz repeats his charge that this formula is what created the Oklahoma City Bomber, Timothy McVeigh.

Horwitz says the public rejected the NRA's "caustic" rhetoric after the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma so they turned to talking about freedom and "patriotism" - code words for a "radical audience."

Tricky thing is, you go to any gathering of NRA members, whether it's a Friends of NRA Banquet, or the NRA Annual Meeting, and you don't see these "radicals" that Horwitz believes make up the over 4 million NRA members. What you see are business men and women, veterinarians and doctors, housewives, children - families that enjoy the shooting sports just as much as they enjoy watching their kids play soccer, baseball or football. And, they love their freedom that so many have fought for and died to protect.

What we witnessed this summer was a frustration that our elected officials no longer listen to the people they are supposed to represent. Not a single one of the individuals who carried a firearm during a tea party or other public event broke the law - including the Black gentleman carrying the sporting rifle (AR-15) in Phoenix. It should be noted that Horwitz left out the fact that the AR-15 toting gun owner was Black because it likely did not fit the stereotype he was trying to create.

Horwitz says he doesn't wish to marginalize individuals who carry firearms but instead he wants to educate us about the dangers of a "cavalier attitude towards insurrectionism and political violence." But make no mistake, marginalize is exactly what he and his cohorts in the anti-rights crowd want to do with Second Amendment activists. The more they can paint us as a bunch of radicals, the better their chances of restricting our rights.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Traditional Flintlock Rifle Workshop

Are you a fan of historic blackpowder firearms? Ever want to learn how to build your own? Here's you chance to do just that. The Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center is offering a work shop March 7-12, 2010: Traditional Flintlock Rifle Workshop.

No prior experience is necessary. Instruction and kits will be provided by rifle builder Troy Roope of Stonewall Creek Outfitters. Kits are also available from Jim Chambers Flintlocks. According to the Virginia Outdoor Report, you will pay less for this workshop than you would pay a craftsman to build this custom rifle. The custom rifle you build and some tools from the workshop are yours to keep.

The class size is small with lots of instructor time - 6 to 1 student/teacher ratio. Meals and lodging provided as part of this package. You can visit Troy's website at www.stonewallcreekoutfitters.com. The cost is $1,500. This covers all programming fees, instruction, the rifle kit, meals, and lodging. Click here for information or to register.

You must pre-register by October 30, 2009.

Deeds: "I reserve the right...to grow as a person"

The Washington Examiner ran an editorial yesterday about Democratic candidate for Governor Creigh Deeds, where they tick off a list of tactics Deeds has used to smear Republican Bob McDonnell instead of clearly staking out positions on issues of substance. Embedded in the editorial is this quote from Deeds that should give gun owners pause:

In March, when questioned about his apparent change of heart on hot-button issues like abortion, taxes and guns, Deeds told fellow Democrats that he “reserves the right to change his opinions and grow as a person”...

This brings to mind Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen who after being pro-rights as a congressman and promising the NRA he would sign a repeal of the ban on carrying concealed handguns in restaurants, vetoed the repeal earlier this year. The legislature overrode the veto.

Deeds has much the same record as a state legislator as Bredesen did before becoming Tennessee's governor. If Deeds becomes governor, would he follow the Tennessee governor in "growing as a person?" Gun owners should not take the chance.

Contact Bob McDonald's campaign today and see how you can help elect him as Virginia's next governor.