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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Jim Geraghty On Tim Kaine's Indecision on Webb's Senate Seat

Knowing this:

Kaine spoke by phone with President Barack Obama last week about a potential Senate bid in Virginia. And the President told television station WWBT in Richmond, Virginia that he thinks Kaine "would be a great senator from Virginia if he chose to do that."
The conventional wisdom is that the White House is pressuring Kaine to run to keep the seat in party hands, but a source with knowledge of the situation tells CNN that the White House is giving Kaine space on this decision and that there's "no arm twisting at any level."
Jim is probably correct:
Obama's made his sales pitch, and Kaine is still undecided. I think we can conclude that if he really wanted to run, he would have announced by now.
I've written before that Kaine genuinely likes Richmond.  The fact that he is not jumping up and down to run tells me that he does not have the "fire-in-the-belly" for this one.

Norfolk County Rifle Range BUG Match

On Saturday January 29th, Norfolk County Rifle Range (NCRR), held a BUG match. For those unfamiliar with the term, a BUG gun is a "Back Up Gun". It’s the gun that a lot of folks carry and very seldom have to shoot except when practicing at the range. This match gives those folks a chance to try out their skills in a competitive format with their carry gun. If you have a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) this is the time to try out that pistol and find out just how skilled you are with your carry gun. The BUG matches are simple. 

Shooters Checking in
All Course of Fire (CoF) for the Back-Up Gun Division must be limited to five (5) rounds maximum per string (no reloads on the clock) to allow autos and revolver shooters to compete equally.
Handguns permitted for use in this division must:
  1. Be single or double action.
  2. Be either pistol or revolver.
  3. Be .32 auto or larger.
  4. Maximum (total) number of rounds that may be loaded into the handgun is five (5).
  5. Have a barrel length:
  • Semi-automatic - 3.8" or less (factory installed cone style barrels with or without a barrel bushing are permitted).
  • Revolver - 2.5" or less.
The match had 8 different courses of fire with the shooter starting at the low ready. The low ready is the pistol in both hands pointed at 45 degree angle from the floor with the finger off the trigger. At the signal, shooters fire 5 rounds at the target in the order prescribed. The score is calculated by the amount of time it took you to shoot as well as the hits or misses on the target. These are added together and the total is the shooter's score.

The Course of Fire
NCRR had a total of 49 nine shooters participate and from the comments, every one had a great time. Ron Reiner was the match Director and George Hartsell was the Match Administrator.  John Card was in charge of running the match. The club had great group of range Safety Officers.  Without their hard work, the match could would not have been possible.
When is was all over the club awarded 10 trophies.

Gold 1st Place  - Jim Jones, 2nd Place - Matt Babb, 3rd Place - Frank Lindasy, 4th Place - John Card and 5th Place- Ryan Johnson.
Silver 1st Place - Raymond Martinez, 2nd Place - Chuck Wilkinson, 3rd Place - Jamie Wilborn.
Bronze 1st Place - David Hall, 2nd Place -Mike Cudnik.

Thanks to George Hartsell for writing this report to share with our readers.

Note: NCRR is a 100% VSSA membership club.  Their support of VSSA is greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Kaine First Choice of Virgina Democrats to Replace Webb

Former anti-gun Democrat Governor Tim Kaine still hasn't made up his mind, but if attendees, or those who spoke from afar, at this past weekend's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner had their way, Tim Kaine would be running.  Or at least those that Roll Call Politics caught up with at the event.
There was nothing subtle about the speeches from the podium Saturday night as Democrat after Democrat made the case for Kaine. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) did not mince words in a recorded video message to the party, "It is my hope that my friend of 30 years ... Tim Kaine decides to run for the seat."

"I hope Tim Kaine will do it. He gets first dibs," state Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple said.

State Sen. Donald McEachin summed it up: "Everyone is waiting on Tim."
Folks who know Kaine believe he really does not want to run, but with the state Democratic bench being filled with only those who have lost an election or primary in the last two years, Kaine is the only one who can say he has not lost recently.   Kaine can also count on a strong Obama effort to once again try and carry the Commonwealth in 2012.  But, Kaine also knows that the party that wins Virginia in the presidential race will likely be the same party that wins the senate race.  Does he really want to give up a year and a half to campaign for himself when he can spend it campaigning around the nation?

Thursday, February 17, 2011

If Kaine says No to Senate Bid, Perriello May Say Yes

One term former Congressman Tom Perriello is considering running for Webb's U.S. Senate seat in 2012 should Kaine ultimately say no after his expected conversation on the subject with President Obama, according to Roll Call Politics via the Washington Post.

Defeated Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) would consider running for the Senate in 2012 if Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine opts not to enter, Perriello told the Washington Post on Wednesday.

“It’s obviously nice” to hear his name mentioned as a contender to succeed Sen. Jim Webb (D), who announced last week that he would not seek re-election in 2012, Perriello said.
Perriello narrowly won the 5th District seat from then Congressman Virgil Goode in 2008 but lost the seat to former State Senator Robert Hurt in 2010.  Perriello was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) in 2010, which was not received well by some NRA members in the district.

There are currently two candidates vying for the Republican nomination - former U.S. Senator George Allen and Tea Party activist Jamie Ratke.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

SB868 Tabled in House Agriculture Today

SB868, Senator Richard Stuart's bill that would have changed the procedures for lawfully killing deer, bear, and elk that cause damage to crops, was tabled in committee this morning.  Thanks to all of the sportsmen who contacted committee members and voiced your opposition to this bill.  Your contact led the committee to determine that the bill needed more work and was not ready for consideration.

Under the bill, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries would have been required to issue kill permits for one year to landowners claiming wildlife crop damage without any investigation of the claim.

Current law requires the Department to investigate claims of agricultural damage before damage permits can be issued.  Only after finding the damage was actually caused by a deer or bear can the Department allow the removal of the problem deer and bear.   Additionally, in current law only deer and bear are subject to damage permits.  This bill would have also allowed the state’s limited elk population to be included in the damage permits.

A coalition of sportsmen’s and conservation organizations including VSSA, the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Wild Turkey Federation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and others all pushed to stop the bill.

There is no question that farmers experience crop damage from growing wildlife populations.  However, there are other ways that are more in line with responsible wildlife management to deal with this issue than the remedies sought in SB868.  Hopefully in the future, sportsmen and farmers (many of whom are also sportsmen) can come together to deal with this issue in a way that protects the livelihood of farmers and continues the responsible management of wildlife.

Kaine To Speak With Obama About Webb's Seat

It appears that Kaine has not completely made up his mind about running for the U.S. Senate, according to this piece in Roll Call Politics:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine expects to speak with President Barack Obama this week about entering the race to succeed Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday.

But Kaine told the newspaper Tuesday that he was “flattered” by the support he has received about running. He said further discussions are in order before he makes up his mind.
Stay tuned.  Gun owners would have clear choice between a Kaine/Allen match-up.  Kaine twice vetoed the repeal of the "Restaurant Ban."  George Allen signed concealed carry reform as governor and was a reliable vote for pro-rights bills as a member of the U.S. Senate.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Virginia Top Story in Political News Sources

Roll Call Politics adds its voice to those chattering about Webb's newly open seat.
Others on the list of possible Democratic candidates are Jody Wagner, who lost the lieutenant governor’s race in 2009, Rep. Gerry Connolly from the state’s populous northern region, state House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, and former Reps. Tom Perriello, Glenn Nye and Rick Boucher.
Yesterday, UVA Political pundit Larry Sabato said whoever wins Virginia's Presidential electorial votes will likely win the senate seat.  All indications are that Obama will compete here as he did in 2008.

Could Tim Kaine Be Convinced to Run for Webb's Seat

The Hill has more on Webb's decision not to run for reelection.
Part of the reason Republicans are favored to win is that Democrats don’t have a strong candidate — at least not yet.

The leading choice is Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tim Kaine, a popular former governor of Virginia.

Kaine has said both privately and publicly that he’s not interested in running for the Senate, but party leaders will launch a heavy lobbying effort to get him into the race.
For all of Kaine's faults (not just as they relate to his anti-rights record) he is a family man and he genuinely likes Richmond.  His children attend city schools, and his wife has ties to the city that go back to when her father, Linwood Holton, was Governor.  In the end, Kaine may be able to be convinced to put party ahead of his personal interests, but if bets were placed, odds would probably favor he has no appetite for Washington and prefers his more quiet existence in Richmond.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

McAuliffe Says Not to Senate Run

WWBT NBC12 in Richmond is reporting that Terry McAuliffe has ruled out a run for Jim Webb's Senate seat.  The list of other possiblities on the NBC12 list include:

Gov. Tim Kaine- The obvious front-runner.  The current DNC Chairman is close friend of President Obama. Kaine has said in the past that he wouldn’t be interested (he told me during his last month in office that governor would be his last elected office), but a lot can change now that the seat is open.

Rep. Tom Perriello- A close friend of the White House, with liberal credentials but has run well in conservative regions. Perriello has proven himself as relentless on the campaign trail. The question is, will he be interested. Conveniently he is traveling out of the country right now.

Rep. Rick Boucher- Boucher was a surprise loss for Democrats in Southwest Virginia. He left a lot of money in the bank, and didn’t seem ready to retire. Even though he is from coal country, his politics play well in Northern Virginia and he is very connected in D.C.

Rep. Glenn Nye- The one term conserva-dem from Virginia Beach was beat in November. However he is young and filled with ambition. Just like Perriello’s liberal side may play better statewide than in VA-5, Nye may think his moderate position makes him an attractive statewide candidate. Although, Nye has real issues with the Democratic party faithful.

Other names worth pointing out: Sen. Creigh Deeds, (whose run twice for statewide office) Del. Ward Armstrong (whose statewide ambitions are not a secret), Sen. Don McEachin (who has run statewide in the past), Mike Signer (former candidate for LG, close friend of Tom Perriello and ambitions)  and frankly.. just about every politician in Virginia who describes him/herself as a Democrat.
Note that other than Kaine and Armstrong, all of the other names have lost either a primary or general election in the last two years and McEachin was trounced by Jerry Kilgore for AG in 2001.  In other words, the Democrats don't have a very large stable from which to choose.

It should also be noted that Webb was 30 points down to Allen in 2006 and pulled off a stunning upset after the latter's "Macca" moment.

This one is wide open at this point.

Webb Says No to Second Term

U.S. Senator Jim Webb announced today that he will not seek a second term.  This likely puts another state up for grabs as a GOP pick-up and will put an end to talk of a vaunted Allen-Webb rematch.  There has been speculation for months that Webb might not seek re-election.  Had he sought a second term, he most likely would have made a strong case for an NRA endorsement, though he did vote for both of President Obama's Supreme Court Nominees - Sotomayor and Kagan.

Webb's departure makes it more likely that former Senator George Allen can claim the mantle of the only candidate with a proven record of supporting the rights of law abiding gun owners.  Even before Webb's announcement, there has been talk on political circles that former DNC Chairman and failed gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe would shift gears from another expected run for governor to the U.S. Senate race should Webb bow out.  Because of his ability to self fund, McAuliffe will be considered the front runner for the Democratic nomination.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Sussex County Planning Commission Rams Through Ordinance Proposal

The Sussex County Planning Commission met last night and rammed through their proposal to make it very difficult to open and operate a shooting range in the county.  Among the proposals that will go before the Board of Supervisors are restrictions on the caliber of rifle that can be fired (nothing larger than .45 - except blackpowder), ranges will not be allowed to be open on Sunday, ranges must have a person at the range anytime it is in use who has been trained in CPR and basic first aid, and a number of burdensome requirements that would basically make anyone planning to open a new range decide not to do so because of the preconditions.  While there is a grandfather clause, if an existing range decided to expand, they would likely lose their grandfathered status.

These rules stand to have an adverse impact on the Airfield Shooting Club located in Sussex as well as Sussex Shooting Sports which is a sporting clay range in the county.

The proposal now goes before the Board of Supervisors.  In 2009, the Board denied a proposal related to shooting ranges brought forward by the planning commission.  VSSA will be working to insure these proposals meet a similar fate.  Look for an alert in the near future when the restrictions are placed on the Board agenda.

D.C. Hangun Registrations Slanted Toward Well-to-Do

Today's Washington Post reports something that should really be no surprise - that the vast majority of handgun registrations in D.C. since Heller are to the well-to-do.

In the 2½ years since the U.S. Supreme Court ended the District's handgun ban, hundreds of residents in Washington's safest, most well-to-do neighborhoods have armed themselves, registering far more guns than people in poorer, crime-plagued areas of the city, according to D.C. police data.
The rules for registration are so cumbersome, and so expensive, those who really need to own a firearm really can't afford the process which in many cases cost as much as a firearm.

In the 20016 Zip code, encompassing some of the District's wealthiest enclaves in upper Northwest, 151 firearms have been registered. That is more than 10 percent of the citywide gun total in an area with about 14,000 households, according to U.S. Census data.

In the District's poorest, most crime-scarred precinct, Ward 8 in far Southeast, residents have registered about 140 guns. In Ward 3 in upper Northwest, where the violent-crime rate is nearly 10 times lower and the average family income is more than five times higher, about twice as many firearms have been registered.
As with most registration schemes, the rules are made to discourage people from dealing with the various hoops one has to jump through, which is what the political leadership of the district wants.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Militia, Police, and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 Disposes of Gun Control Bills

As expected, Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 disposed of all three anti-rights bills tonight during their meeting.  Below are the results:

HB 1669 - Delegate McClellan's "gun show loophole bill - Tabled
HB 2343 - Delegate Morrissey's attack on open carry - Tabled
HB 2524 - Delegate Carr's bill banning sale and transfer of "high capacity" ammo magazines - Tabled

Regarding progun bills on the docket, HB 1732, which would recognize all out-of-state concealed handgun permits, was stricken from the docket on a vote of 5-0.

WAVY TV Gets it Wrong on Concealed Handgun Permits

There are so many things wrong with this WAVY News 10 story that aired this morning, I don't know where to begin.  This morning's story set up another report that will run tonight.



First, Virginia does not issue "Concealed Weapons Permits" we issue "Concealed Handgun Permits."  Second, you did not have to have "hands on" training or touch a firearm prior to being issued a permit even before last year's law clarifying online training met the requirements of the statute.  A number of firearms safety training met the requirement, including hunter safety courses.  So, online training changed nothing in this respect. 

It goes without saying that VSSA promotes the safe handling of firearms and urges anyone considering applying for a CHP to receive the training that appropriately prepares them for the responsibility that goes along with the permit.  Carrying a firearm is not something to be taken lightly and it is not something to be done without some careful thought of the consequences should one have to use it.  Further, it is something that requires regular practice to insure that one is always prepared in the event they may actually have to use the firearm in self defense.  The folks I know that have a permit spend regular time at the range.

Finally, this whole report makes it sound like a large majority of people with a permit have taken advantage of the online training.  I would like to see their data if they have something to support that hypothesis.  Giving them the benefit of the doubt, after almost a year of the law being in affect that makes it clear online training is acceptable to meet the training requirement, I am not aware of anyone who received their permit after such training, having used the firearm to harm another person.

If these reporters would take the time to also speak to someone who actually knows what they are talking about when it comes to Virginia's firearm laws, their stories may be a little more accurate.  I don't expect tonight's promised story on what Virginia's gun laws mean to surrounding states to be any more accurate than this morning's story but I can't wait to watch so I can pick it apart too.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Sussex County Planning Commission to Consider Shooting Range Regulations

The Sussex County Planning Commission plans to hold a hearing at its meeting February 7th, to discuss regulation of shooting ranges in Sussex County.  This could result in the commission proposing zoning regulations and/or conditional use permits.  It is crucial that gun owners attend the meeting and voice your opposition to any restricitions being placed on ranges in the county.  If the Planning Commission votes to create new gun range regulations, their recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors.  It would be best to stop new regulations before they make it to the Board.  Please plan to attend the meeting whether you live in Sussex or not.  New gun regulations, no matter where they occur, set a precedence for us all.  This issue surfaced once before and gun owners successfully defeated the proposal.  Now the planning commission is at it again.

What: Planning Commission Public Hearing on 1) Shooting Ranges, generally, and 2) Pistol & Shotgun Ranges in Sussex County, Virginia. 

Where: Sussex County General District Courtroom, 15098 Courthouse Road, Sussex, VA 23884. 


When: February 7, 2011 at 6:00 PM.

Air Rifle Bill Passes Senate

Senator Roscoe Reynolds' SB757 passed the State Senate today on a vote of 27-12.  SB757 would require that any local ordinance which prohibits the shooting of pneumatic guns in certain areas shall have, among its exceptions, an exception to allow the firearm to be discharged on private property with permission of the owner when discharge is conducted with reasonable care to prevent a projectile from crossing the bounds of the property.  VSSA strongly supports this much needed legislation to keep localities from unnecessarily prohibiting the use of air rifles on private property.  The bill now moves to the House.