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Friday, February 26, 2010

Militia and Police move Restaurant Ban Repeal to Full House

As I was writing my earlier post this morning, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety full
committee met and reported SB334 (repeal of the restaurant ban) , SB408 (storage of a firearm by a non CHP holder) and SB3, (renewal of CHPs by mail). These bills now head to the full House and if they pass unchanged from their current form (which they should since House versions of the bills have already passed), they will go to the Governor for his signature. Governor McDonnell is expected to sign all three bills.

Depending on when the bills land on his desk, they could be signed before the end of the Session in mid March. The bills will become effective on July 1.

Repeal of Restaurant Ban Nears Final Votes

Late yesterday afternoon, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 recommended reporting SB334 (Senator Hanger's version of the "Restaurant Ban" repeal) and SB408 (Senator Vogel's bill allowing individuals that do not hold Concealed Handgun Permits -CHPs to carry firearms in locked containers in their car or boat) without amendments. This is important because that means, should they pass the full House in their current form, they will then head to the Governor for his signature. They first have to clear the full committee and that should happen next week.

Please call and email members of the Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee and urge them to support SB334 and SB408.

On a related matter, Senate Courts of Justice will meet Monday morning, in addition to House versions of bills they have already passed before crossover, they still need to hear HB49, repeal of "One gun-a-month." The bill could come up on Monday's docket, or Wednesday (check back later today or Saturday for an update). It is important that you contact the following Senators now and politely urge them to support HB 49 when it comes up in committee:

Quayle, Norment, Edwards, Reynolds, Obenshain, McDougle, Deeds, Hurt, Petersen

Simply click on the name above to fine their contact information.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Today's Senate Courts Activity

Today, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted to approve four firearm related bills. These bills will now go to the full Senate.

Please contact your Senator and respectfully urge them to support the following bills.

Approved by a vote of 8-7 House Bill 8, would allow the renewal of concealed carry permits by mail. The Senate version, SB3 was approved by the Senate before crossover on a vote of 29 to 11. 

Approved by a unanimous vote, House Bill 637, would exempt a boarding team member or boarding team officer in the United States Coast Guard from the concealed handgun permit issuance fee, provided they have completed 15 years of service or reached the age of 55.  

Approved by a vote of 10-5 House Bill 871, would clarify that a person who is applying for a concealed handgun permit for the first time has the same right to an oral hearing if the permit is denied as a person who has previously held a concealed handgun permit. The Senate version, SB533, was approved in the Senate by a vote of 32-8. 

Also approved by a unanimous vote, House Bill 1256, would provide that certain law-enforcement officers with at least 20 years of service who resign from their position in good standing to accept a position covered by the Virginia Retirement System, shall be eligible to carry a concealed handgun if he or she has received written proof of consultation with and favorable review of the need to carry a concealed handgun, issued by the chief law-enforcement officer of the agency from which the officer resigned. 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Progun bills on Senate Courts Docket

The Senate Courts of Justice docket for Wednesday's meeting has been posted and the following bills are scheduled to be heard:

HB 8 - Allows a person who previously has been issued a Virginia concealed handgun permit to submit an application to renew the permit via the United States mail.

HB 871 - Provides that upon denial of an application for a concealed handgun permit, the clerk shall provide the person with notice, in writing, of his right to an ore tenus hearing. The bill further provides that upon request of the applicant made within 21 days, the court shall place the matter on the docket for an ore tenus hearing. In addition, the bill provides that (i) the applicant may be represented by counsel, but counsel shall not be appointed; (ii) the rules of evidence shall apply; and (iii) the final order of the court shall include the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law.

In addition, Thursday evening's meeting of the Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 will hear three bills - two pro gun and one anti-gun bill:

SB 334 - Allows a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of a restaurant or club and prohibits such person from consuming alcoholic beverages while on the premises. A person who consumes alcohol in violation of the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

SB 408 - Creates a new exemption to the general prohibition against carrying concealed weapons by allowing a person who may lawfully possess a firearm to carry a handgun in a private motor vehicle or vessel if the handgun is locked in a container or compartment.

SB 580 - Provides that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for a person under the age of 18 to possess on school property a weapon designed to expel a projectile at a speed of more than 250 feet per second by action of compressed air or gas, such as an airsoft gun. The prohibition expires in five years and does not apply to weapons with orange-tips.

Two House Bills Switch Senate Committees

VSSA has been informed that two bills originally referred to the Senate Local Government Committee will be rereferred to Courts of Justice. The bills are HB 108 and HB 109. It is not known whether this is an attempt to kill the bills, as at least one of the bills (HB 108) was reported out of Local Government when it was passed in 2009 before being vetoed by Governor Tim Kaine. When the Courts of Justice docket becomes available today any firearm related bills will be noted on this blog.

The bills being rereferred are listed below. Delegate Mark Cole is the patron of both bills.
HB108 - 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.

HB 109 - Repeals local authority to impose a license tax of not more than $25 on persons engaged in the business of selling pistols and revolvers. Also, a recordkeeping requirement for such persons is deleted and the clerk of the circuit court shall destroy any such existing records.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Good Day for Gun Owners

A number of bills were acted on in this last day before "Crossover." A list of bills follows.

HB 490, a bill requiring the State Police to develop a plan for lifetime concealed handgun permits passes House 78-20.

HB 236, Delegate Janis' bill that protects hunting near subdivisions in rural areas passes the House 79-19.

HB 854, Castle Doctrine, passed the House 75-24.

HB 171, allowing firearms in locked containers passes the House 72-27.

HB 79, a bill limiting access to CHP application information at the Circuit Court Clerk's office passes 87-10.

HB 49, Repeal of one handgun-a-month passed the House by a vote of 61 -37.

SB 334, repeal of the "Restaurant Ban" passed the Senate.

SB 408, allowing firearms in locked containers passes the Senate.

With cautious optimism, it is probably safe to say that gun owners will see repeal of the restaurant ban and firearms in locked containers in cars and boats without the requirement of a CHP, signed into law as they both have passed each house of the legislature. All of the other house bill still have to clear the Senate and many will face opposition. A complete update will be emailed later this evening.

One Handgun-a-month Passes House

Repeal of one handgun-a-month passed the House by a vote of 61 -37

Delegate Ken Plum got up to speak to the bill, made the tried and true statement that Virginia would once again become the "gun running capital of the nation." He also said it would send the wrong message to companies considering moving to Virginia.

Delegate Marshall stood up to reply to Delegate Plum. He gave a history lesson on why we protected the right in the Constitution.

Delegate Lingamfelter, the sponsor of the bill stood up and spoke for the bill. He said if you look at the merits of the underlying law we are trying to repeal, we have exempted a number of people already. We have technological advances that we did not have 17 years ago that will keep firearms out of the hands of the wrong people.

Renewal of CHPs By Mail Passes the House

HB 8 passed the House by a vote of 85 - 14

Castle Doctrine Legislation Passes House

HB 854 passed the House 75 to 24

SB 334 - Repeal of the Restaurant Ban Passes Senate

Repeal of the Restaurant Ban passes the Senate on a vote of 22-18.

Restaurant Ban Repeal Up for Vote

Live blogging debate on the bill.

The Senate is now debating repeal of the restaurant ban. Senator Hanger, the patron, is now speaking for the bill.

Senator Dave Marsden is now opposing the bill, stating that he "was originally going to support it but now that we have adopted SB 408, we no longer need to allow this." (That seems to be some screwy logic to me).

Senator McEachin from Richmond is now asking how will we know if the person carrying and consumes alcohol, what would be the enforcement mechanism.

Hanger is giving a very good response.

Senator Whipple is now asking, has it occurred to these women who said they were afraid to go to a bar without their firearm that they not go?

Senator Hanger reminded Ms. Whipple that we are not talking about bars.

Senate Passes Renewal of CHPs by Mail

SB 3, Senator Ralph Smith's bill to allow for the renewal of concealed handgun permits by mail, passed the Senate on a vote of 29-11.

Senate Passes by SB334 Temporarily

The Senate has passed by temporarily consideration of the repeal of the restaurant ban (SB 334).

SB 533 Passes

SB 533 passed 32 - 8. SB 533 provides for an oral hearing when an application for a concealed handgun permit is denied.

SB 408 Passes

SB 408 passes 24 - 16.

Live Blogging General Assembly

The Senate now considering SB 408 - Senator Vogel's bill to allow individuals to carry firearms in locked containers without possessing a concealed handgun permit (CHP). Senator Dave Marsden tried to say allowing firearms to be left in cars allows kids that steal guns access to the gun.

Interesting the senator thinks it's okay for CHP holders to to leave their firearm in the car when they go into a restaurant that serves alcohol.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Final Vote Set for Tuesday In House on Repeal of One Handgun a Month, Senate on Restaurant Ban

In the final day to act before Crossover, both the House and the Senate will be taking up important legislation on the floor Tuesday ("Crossover" is the day that both houses must act on legislation that originated in the respective body of the legislature and send it to the other house for action).

In the House of Delegates, the chamber will decide the fate of House Bill 49, a bill sponsored by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter to repeal the 17 year-old "one gun-a-month" law. Last Friday, the Virginia House of Delegates Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee voted 15-6 to report the bill to the full House. If the House passes HB49, it will move to the Senate.

The Senate will also be taking final action on an important piece of legislation, Senate Bill 334, Senator Emmett Hanger's bill to repeal the ban on carrying concealed handguns in restaurants like Applebees and Olive Garden that serve alcohol as well as food. Last Wednesday, the Senate reported the bill on a close vote of 8-7 and the same is expected when the bill is voted on in the full Senate. Should the bill pass the Senate, then it will likely become law as the House has already passed similar legislation on a vote of 67-27 and Governor Bob McDonnell has said he would sign a repeal of the ban.

Now is the time to act to make sure HB49 passes the House and SB334 passes the Senate. Contact your Delegate and Senator now by email and tomorrow before 10:00 AM by phone. You can find out your legislator's contact information by clicking here.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

House Committee Votes to Repeal Handgun Rationing

Yesterday, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee voted to report repeal of one gun-a-month to the full House. VSSA had the opportunity to comment on the vote on the local CBS affiliate.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Gun Show Bill Carried Over to Next Year

Senate Bill 595 was carried over to next year. SB595 was the so-called gun show loophole bill. Being carried over puts the bill on life support but it will not move this year. There did not seem to be much appetite to deal with the bill, even among some of its previous supporters. Of note, one of the members voting to carry it over was Senator Creigh Deeds. Deeds had been an opponent of the annual bill until 2008. Switching to a supporter likely cost him the NRA's endorsement in last year's Governor's election and most certainly cost him the support of VSSA.

It also appears that Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) holders will be able to renew by mail with the committee reporting SB 3. House Militia and Police also approved a companion bill allowing for renewal by mail.

No action was taken on SB 79, a bill that would strip the ability of localities to require fingerprints when an individual applies for a CHP.

While all of the bills reported still need to be approved by the full Senate, they have cleared the first hurdle.

It has been a good day for gun owners.

Concealed Handguns In Locked Compartments Reported

Senator Jill Vogel's SB 408 was reported out of Senate Courts. SB 408 creates a new exemption to the general prohibition against carrying concealed weapons by allowing a person who may lawfully possess a firearm to carry a handgun in a private motor vehicle or vessel if the handgun is locked in a container or compartment.

Repeal of Restaurant Ban Reported Out of Senate Courts

Senate Courts of Justice has reported SB 334 on an 8-7 vote. More updates will be coming as the committee takes up the other firearm related bills but this is good news. We have cleared the first hurdle in finally repealing this ridiculous rule banning the carrying of concealed firearms in restaurants like Applebees and Olive Garden that serve alcohol along with food. It has never made sense to me that we could openly carry a firearm in such establishments but could not carry concealed. We still have to pass the bill through the full Senate but gun owners are one step closer to winning this great victory.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Repeal of Restaurant Ban in Senate Courts Wednesday

In addition to the gun show bill (SB 595) scheduled for the 2:00 PM Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday, a number of other firearm related bills will also be on the docket. They include Senator Hanger's repeal of the "Restaurant Ban", that prohibits carrying concealed in restaurants like Applebees and Olive Garden that serve alcohol in addition to food (SB 334), Senator Jill Vogel's SB 408 that would permit gun owners to carry a handgun in the locked compartment of a car or boat, Senator Smith's SB 3, that would allow for the renewal of concealed handgun permits by mail, and Senator Reynolds' SB 79, which would remove the ability of localities to require fingerprints when an individual applies for a concealed handgun permit. Besides the anti-rights gun show bill, Senator Lucas has also sponsored SB 501, which provides that a conviction from another state for driving while intoxicated or for drunkenness in public within the preceding three years disqualifies an individual from obtaining a concealed handgun permit.

On a related note, the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee today reported HB 505 to the full House. HB 505 is the House version of the repeal of the "Restaurant Ban." The bill should be on the floor for a final vote on Thursday or Friday.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Gun Show Bill Will Be Heard On Wednesday

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee will hear Senator Louise Lucas' SB595 that would require background checks on private sales at gun shows. The Committee meets at 2:00 on Wednesday. Call the following members of the Committee now and politely urge them to vote no on SB595.

Quayle, Norment, Edwards, Reynolds, Obenshain, McDougle, Deeds, Hurt, Petersen

Repeal of Restaurant Ban on Militia and Police Agenda Tomorrow

The agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Subcommittee has been posted. There are only four bills on the agenda but one very important bill for gun owners - H.B. 505 - repeal of the Restaurant Ban. Contact members of the committee now and urge them to vote yes to report the bill to the full House.

Committee Members:

Sherwood (Chairman), Griffith, Wright, Carrico, Lingamfelter, Nutter, Athey, Cline, Gilbert, Merricks, Cleaveland, Morefield, Edmunds, Cox, J.A., Scott, J.M., Barlow, Shuler, Lewis, Miller, P.J. , Tyler, James, Keam

Gun Show Bill Not on Senate Courts Docket This Morning

S.B. 595, Senator Louise Lucas' bill attacking gun shows was not on this morning's Senate Courts of Justice Committee Docket. That means there is only Wednesday's regular scheduled meeting at 2:00 where the bill could be heard. It is possible if the committee does not get to all of the bills in committee by the end of Wednesday's meeting that they could hold a meeting this weekend. All Senate bills have to be acted on by the end of Tuesday's session.

Thursday's Meeting of Militia and Police Subcommittee #1

On Thursday, the Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 met for about 2 1/2 hours while a major winter storm was making it's way to Virginia. Many of the members of the subcommittee wanted to get business over so they could return to their homes before the worst of the storm hit as the House had decided to cancel Friday's session. The subcommittee did however take up many of the bills on the docket and the results are below. The full committee has yet to meet to take up legislation and Friday is the last regular scheduled meeting before crossover so there will likely be a very full docket at the full committee meeting. A weekend meeting is a possibility however. Update 10:45 AM - The full Committee will meet Tuesday at 7:00AM. More information will be posted when the agenda is available.

The results of Thursday's meeting are:

H.B. 69 Firearms, ammunition, etc.; those manufactured and retained in State not subject to federal law. Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 1-N)

H.B. 109 Firearms; destruction of certain records by clerk of circuit court. Repeals local authority to impose a license tax of not more than $25 on persons engaged in the business of selling pistols and revolvers. Also, a recordkeeping requirement for such persons is deleted and the clerk of the circuit court shall destroy any such existing records. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 171 Firearms in locked vehicles; immunity from liability. Provides that no person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business owner may prohibit a person who lawfully possesses a firearm from storing that firearm in a locked motor vehicle. The bill provides civil immunity for such persons, property owners, tenants, employers, or business owners. The provisions of the bill would not apply to possession of firearms on school property, nor would the provisions apply to vehicles owned or leased by an employer or business and used by an employee in the course of his employment. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 1-N)

H.B. 236 Firearms; Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge in certain areas. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge a firearm towards a subdivision within the range of the firearm, or to discharge a firearm towards any person or structure, when no barrier exists that would prevent the projectile from striking a person or animal or structure. With these changes, a locality would no longer be able to prohibit hunting generally within a half-mile radius of a subdivision, but would still be able to prohibit hunting within a subdivision. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 490 Concealed handguns; development of plan for issuance of lifetime permit by State Police. Directs the Department of State Police, in cooperation with the Secretary of Public Safety, to develop a plan to allow for the State Police to issue lifetime concealed handgun permits to Virginia residents. The Department and the Secretary shall submit the plan, and any recommended legislative changes to implement the plan, to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by October 15, 2010. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 520 Sale of firearms at firearms shows; person who sells 3 or more to be licensed as a firearms dealer. Requires any person who has a fixed location at a firearms show to display and sell firearms and any person who sells three or more firearms at a firearms show, regardless of whether he has a fixed location, to be licensed as a Virginia firearms dealer. Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely by voice vote

H.B. 871 Concealed handgun permit applications; right to ore tenus hearing. Clarifies that a person who is applying for a concealed handgun permit for the first time has the same right to an ore tenus hearing if the permit is denied as a person who has previously held a concealed handgun permit. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 886 Firearms, ammunition, etc.; those manufactured and retained in State not subject to federal law. Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB69-Carrico) by voice vote

H.B. 995 Firearms; purchaser may present military identification card or concealed handgun permit. Allows a prospective purchaser to present a current or retired military identification card or a concealed handgun permit in order to establish citizenship or lawful admission for permanent residence in order to purchase an assault firearm. Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2011 by voice vote

H.B. 1070 Concealed handguns; person who possesses valid permit may carry into emergency shelter. Provides that a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit may not be barred from carrying a concealed handgun in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor, any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or any other governmental entity as an emergency shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 1191 Concealed handgun permits; allows circuit court judge to authorize clerk of court to issue. Allows a circuit court judge to authorize the clerk of court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (4-Y 1-N)

H.B. 1209 Machine guns; Superintendent of VSP to be notified in writing of change of address of registrant. Requires that the Superintendent of State Police be notified in writing of the change of address of the registrant or the change of the address of the permanent physical location of a machine gun. Subcommittee recommends striking from docket by voice vote

H.B. 1217 Firearm safety education program; school boards to offer in elementary grades. Allows local school boards to offer firearm safety education programs in the elementary grades. To assist local school boards opting to provide such instruction, the Board of Education must establish a standardized program of firearm safety education for students in the elementary school grades to promote the protection and safety of children. The bill requires that the program objectives incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules of the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program. Local school boards offering the program must comply with Board curriculum guidelines and integrate the instruction in appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every elementary school student receives instruction in firearm safety education. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)

H.B. 1379 Child-care facilities; local regulation of possession and storage of firearms, etc., at facilities. Provides that certain Northern Virginia localities may adopt local ordinances that regulate the possession and storage of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof at child-care facilities, so long as such regulation is not more extensive in scope than comparable state regulations applicable to family day-care homes. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (5-Y 0-N)

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Another Long Docket for Militia and Police Subcommittee #1

The Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 will meet on Thursday at 5:00 PM and like last week there is a long docket. Last week's meeting lasted 3 hours and they did not take up all the bills. Tomorrow is likely to be just as long as we get closer to Crossover.

The following bills are on the agenda.

H.B. 69 Firearms, ammunition, etc.; those manufactured and retained in State not subject to federal law. Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

H.B. 109 Firearms; destruction of certain records by clerk of circuit court. Repeals local authority to impose a license tax of not more than $25 on persons engaged in the business of selling pistols and revolvers. Also, a recordkeeping requirement for such persons is deleted and the clerk of the circuit court shall destroy any such existing records.

H.B. 171 Firearms in locked vehicles; immunity from liability. Provides that no person, property owner, tenant, employer, or business owner may prohibit a person who lawfully possesses a firearm from storing that firearm in a locked motor vehicle. The bill provides civil immunity for such persons, property owners, tenants, employers, or business owners. The provisions of the bill would not apply to possession of firearms on school property, nor would the provisions apply to vehicles owned or leased by an employer or business and used by an employee in the course of his employment.

H.B. 236 Firearms; Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge in certain areas. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to discharge a firearm towards a subdivision within the range of the firearm, or to discharge a firearm towards any person or structure, when no barrier exists that would prevent the projectile from striking a person or animal or structure. With these changes, a locality would no longer be able to prohibit hunting generally within a half-mile radius of a subdivision, but would still be able to prohibit hunting within a subdivision.

H.B. 490 Concealed handguns; development of plan for issuance of lifetime permit by State Police. Directs the Department of State Police, in cooperation with the Secretary of Public Safety, to develop a plan to allow for the State Police to issue lifetime concealed handgun permits to Virginia residents. The Department and the Secretary shall submit the plan, and any recommended legislative changes to implement the plan, to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by October 15, 2010.

H.B. 520 Sale of firearms at firearms shows; person who sells 3 or more to be licensed as a firearms dealer. Requires any person who has a fixed location at a firearms show to display and sell firearms and any person who sells three or more firearms at a firearms show, regardless of whether he has a fixed location, to be licensed as a Virginia firearms dealer.

H.B. 871 Concealed handgun permit applications; right to ore tenus hearing. Clarifies that a person who is applying for a concealed handgun permit for the first time has the same right to an ore tenus hearing if the permit is denied as a person who has previously held a concealed handgun permit.

H.B. 886 Firearms, ammunition, etc.; those manufactured and retained in State not subject to federal law. Declares that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

H.B. 995 Firearms; purchaser may present military identification card or concealed handgun permit. Allows a prospective purchaser to present a current or retired military identification card or a concealed handgun permit in order to establish citizenship or lawful admission for permanent residence in order to purchase an assault firearm.

H.B. 1070 Concealed handguns; person who possesses valid permit may carry into emergency shelter. Provides that a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit may not be barred from carrying a concealed handgun in any place or facility designated or used by the Governor, any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or any other governmental entity as an emergency shelter or for the purpose of sheltering persons.

H.B. 1191 Concealed handgun permits; allows circuit court judge to authorize clerk of court to issue. Allows a circuit court judge to authorize the clerk of court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application.

H.B. 1209 Machine guns; Superintendent of VSP to be notified in writing of change of address of registrant. Requires that the Superintendent of State Police be notified in writing of the change of address of the registrant or the change of the address of the permanent physical location of a machine gun.

H.B. 1217 Firearm safety education program; school boards to offer in elementary grades. Allows local school boards to offer firearm safety education programs in the elementary grades. To assist local school boards opting to provide such instruction, the Board of Education must establish a standardized program of firearm safety education for students in the elementary school grades to promote the protection and safety of children. The bill requires that the program objectives incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules of the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program. Local school boards offering the program must comply with Board curriculum guidelines and integrate the instruction in appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every elementary school student receives instruction in firearm safety education.

H.B. 1379 Child-care facilities; local regulation of possession and storage of firearms, etc., at facilities. Provides that certain Northern Virginia localities may adopt local ordinances that regulate the possession and storage of firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof at child-care facilities, so long as such regulation is not more extensive in scope than comparable state regulations applicable to family day-care homes.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Senate Courts Docket Posted - No Gun Show Bill On Agenda

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee meets tomorrow at 2:00 PM. They have posted the docket on the LIS and SB 595, this year's iteration of the annual attack on gun shows, is not among the bills to be taken up. Yesterday, the anti-rights crowd claimed the bill would be discussed in committee this week. The docket seems to indicate that the antis were blowing smoke, for now.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Roanoke Times' Dan Casey Picks Up Chant of Anti-Concealed Carry Crowd

The anti-rights crowd has been on a crusade to tie every mass shooting to a concealed carry permit holder. The script goes something like this; someone commits mayhem with a firearm. Could be a rifle, shotgun, multiple firearms, but not usually a concealed firearm. Then, the anti-rights crowd scours the concealed permit holder lists in the state where the shooter lived to see if he (or she) indeed was a permit holder. Then, the anti-rights crowd sends out a press releasing announcing that this was the (insert the number) mass shooting by a concealed carry permit holder.

Well, our old friend Dan Casey, columnist and blogger for the Roanoke Times has picked up the chant. Dan Casey is the Roanoke Times columnist that thought was constantly taking swipes at Ken Cuccinelli's bill last year that made it clear that the training required to qualify for a concealed handgun permit could be completed electronically.

On the surface, Christopher Bryan Speight, Nidal Malik Hasan and Aaron Poseidon Jackson seem like three very different fellows.

Speight, 39, is a relatively uneducated white guy with no kids who worked as a security guard and lived with his sister's family in Appomattox County.

Hasan, also 39 and raised in Roanoke, is a physician of Palestinian descent and an Army major who was stationed in Texas.

Jackson, who was 24 at the time of his death, lived in a Stafford County trailer home with his two children and their mother. He was black.

One thing the three men have in common is the commonwealth of Virginia issued each of them concealed handgun permits.

His conclusion? After admitting that concealed handgun permit holders commit crimes at lower rates than none permit holders, he uses the actions of the three individuals mentioned above to prove:

Virginia issues concealed carry permits to some total whack jobs.
But it gets better. You see, Casey complains that the bills in the Virginia General Assembly like HB 79 that would completely close the concealed carry permit information to the general public would mean we will no longer know if the next mass murderer had a permit.

Casey and the anti-rights crowd want to promote a political agenda. He as much as admits it with this line:

Trifling facts about mass murderers with handgun permits can be rather inconvenient for gun lobbyists as they attempt to persuade lawmakers to liberalize concealed-carry laws.
Casey and his soul mates in the anti-rights lobby don't like concealed carry so they continue to make non-existent connections between some high profile crimes with the fact that the perps also happened to have permits. It doesn't matter to these folks that there is no connection between concealed firearms and the crimes committed, just that they had permits. But then, facts rarely mean anything to the anti-rights crowd.

Hat tip to VA-Alert.

Virginia Center for Public Safety Pushing "Gun Show Loophole" Bill

The Virginia Center for Public Safety, an anti-rights organization that appears to be affiliated with the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, sent out an email this morning urging their supporters to contact members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and ask them to support SB595, the so-called "gun show loophole" bill.

This week, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee will vote on SB 595 , a bill that would close the Gun Show Loophole and require background checks on all firearm sales at Virginia's gun shows. Currently, only federally licensed dealers are required to conduct such checks - individuals who sell handguns and assault weapons as a "hobby" are exempt.
The docket for the committee's Wednesday meeting has not been posted on the LIS as of yet but the bill was not scheduled for this morning's meeting. So, gun owners need to be proactive and contact members of the committee now and urge them to oppose SB 595. Click on the individual members to view their contact information.

Marsh (Chairman), Saslaw, Quayle, Norment, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Reynolds, Puller, Obenshain, McDougle, Deeds, Hurt, McEachin, Petersen

The VACPS is keying on Senators that have voted to defeat this bill in the past. Those members are Quayle, Norment, Edwards, and Reynolds. In addition, they are targeting Senator Deeds, who in the past had opposed this bill but in the last two years has switch, and Senators McEachin and Petersen, who have voted for the bill in the past. If you live in the districts of these committee members, please be sure to make you voice heard and urge them to oppose SB 595.