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Monday, October 31, 2011

Firearm Freedoms Move to Front Burner in Northern Virginia Senate Race

I told Cam Edwards on NRANews.com Friday night that while economic issues are probably what voters are most concerned about this election, it seems that a group of Democrat candidates are hoping to make their races a referendum guns.

In line with those thoughts, today's Washington Post Virginia Politics blog has this post about the race in the 31st State Senate District between Arlington County Board member Barbara Favola (D) and businesswoman Caren Merrick (R).
Gun rights has become one of the most divisive issues in their contest and other state legislative races in Northern Virginia, where many voters are more liberal on gun issues than voters in other parts of the state. Democrats in the region have accused their Republican opponents of being overly supportive of gun rights and thus out of step with the area’s prevailing views.
Favola has made an issue of Merrick's NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, which earned her an "A-" rating and the NRA-PVF endorsement.  Favola received an "F" rating.

Bloomberg Inserts Self Into Virginia Elections

It became known Saturday that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated a total of $150,000 to six Virginia State Senate Candidates - five in northern Virginia and one in tidewater.
Bloomberg (I) has donated $25,000 of his own money to six Senate Democratic candidates, who are involved in some of the closest races in the state: Sen. Toddy Puller (Fairfax), Sen. Dave Marsden (Fairfax), Sen. George Barker (Prince William), Sen. Mark Herring (Loudoun), Sen. John Miller (Newport News) and Barbara Favola, who is running for an open seat in Arlington.
Bloomberg also plans to appear with some of the candidates in northern Virginia later this week but details had not been released when the piece was posted in the Washington Post Virginia Elections blog.

This isn't Bloomberg's first foray into Virginia to promote his gun ban agenda.  A group backed by Bloomberg ran ads in 2009 against Bob McDonnell during the campaign for governor, pointing out that McDonnell opposed closing down gun shows as we know them.  McDonnell went on that year to defeat Creigh Deeds in that campaign.  Bloomberg may have thought he could give a little payback for legislation that was introduced by McDonnell when he was Attorney General.  That legislation resulted in Bloomberg being ordered to stop sending private investigators with hidden cameras into Virginia gun stores in an attempt to entrap firearm dealers into making sales to what amounted to straw purchasers.  After the law became effective, McDonnell threatened to charge Bloomberg and his agents with a felony if they continued to target Virginia gun dealers.

Maybe Bloomberg should be more concerned with what people he has control over are doing rather than inserting himself in to Virginia elections.

Virginia Democrat Talking Points: We Are Only Thing Keeping Virginia From Becoming Laughingstock, Alabama

That's the message every Democratic Senate Leader has sung to the press in the two weeks.  State Senator Janet Howell said it an AP article on the GOP's efforts to win a state senate majority.  And now, Senate Majority Leader Richard "Dick" Saslaw is singing it to the AP in a Canadian Business puff piece profile on the 46-year member of the General Assembly. The same reporter who the Saslaw profile also wrote the article which included the Howell quote. The Howell qoute was similar to Saslaw's below:
Consider his assessment of Virginia's politics should Republican conservatives succeed in taking the majority away from Saslaw's Senate Democrats, who now occupy 22 of the chamber's 40 seats.

"That's easy: we're Alabama. Alabama or Mississippi," he said, ridiculing two Deep South rural states whose conservative laws on immigration and state sovereignty in particular he considers regressive. The only impediment to similar policies in Virginia, he says, has been the Senate, the last Democratic toehold on power in Virginia.
Howell and Saslaw are reading from the same talking points to the press.  They both rattle off the same legislation from which they have saved the Commonwealth, including repeal of handgun rationing.  Saslaw predicts that the Democrats will retain control of the state senate next Tuesday saying many are going to be surprised at the results.

It should be noted that VSSA is non-partisan, and we are endorsing some Democratic Senators for re-election. But it is in the best interest of gun owners if the anti-rights Democratic leadership sinks into a minority status.  Without new leadership in the state senate, the chances will be slim of repealing one handgun-a-month and enacting Castle Doctrine.

Friday, October 28, 2011

@BenLoyola Clear Choice in Virginia's 6th Senate District

Gun owners living in the 6th Senate District in Tidewater and the Eastern Shore of Virginia have a clear choice in this year's election.  That choice is Republican challenger Ben Loyola. Incumbent Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) opposed repeal of Virginia's ban on self defense in restaurants like Applebees and Olive Garden, and wants to end gun shows as we know them by requiring background checks on private sale of firearms. He also opposes allowing college students who possess concealed handgun permits the right to protect themselves on campus.  Northam earned a "D" NRA-PVF rating for his voting record on issues important to gun owners.  Ben is a Life Member of the NRA and his web site gives even more insight on his view of freedom:
Ben and his wife Gretchen go shooting at the local gun range every Saturday night after church. They call this, “God and Country Night”. 
If you live in the 6th Senate District, please contact Ben's campaign and offer to help in these last couple of weeks of the campaign.

New Virginia Hunters Can Win Free Bird Hunt

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), North American Gamebird Association (NAGA) and International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) are sponsoring a program offering new hunters an opportunity to enjoy a bird hunting experience.   Fifty lucky graduates of Virginia's hunter education program will hunt pheasants at no charge through a new program called Explore Wingshooting.

An NSSF press release states:
All hunts are fully guided by professional hunting guides with trained bird dogs. Each hunt will be for a preserve half-day, which is typically three to three and one-half hours. The hunts will include only the student and his or her adult hunting partner.
Virginia requires all youth ages 12-15 to pass a hunter education course before purchasing their first hunting license, as well as all first-time adult hunters.  This is a great way to introduce a new youth hunter, to bird hunting.  If you have never been on an upland game hunt, there is nothing like seeing bird dogs lock up and hold a point on game birds.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Desparate to Keep Senate Majority Democrats Attack Guns

This article from the Washington Times reports that in the final weeks of the campaign that will determine which party controls the state senate for the next four years, Democrats battling in tough races in Northern Virginia are avoiding any connection to Obama's economy and are now focusing on guns and abortions in their attacks on Republican challengers.
The state Democratic Party in another Northern Virginia state Senate race created a website highlighting what it describes as the “extreme” views on abortion and gun rights held by the Republican candidate, former Delegate Dick Black.

The campaign of his Democratic opponent, Shawn Mitchell, has also been pushing Mr. Black to release his answers to a Virginia Citizens’ Defense League survey. The gun-rights advocacy group, which Mr. Mitchell’s campaign claims is “far to the right of the National Rifle Association,” endorsed Mr. Black earlier this year.
Republican strategist Chris LaCivita says he's seen it all before.
Mr. LaCivita described the strategy as “the same line” used by state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds in his failed 2009 gubernatorial bid. 
It's no secret how Mr. Black responded on the VCDL candidate survey; the organization posts all of the  responses to their candidate surveys. All Mr. Mitchell has to do is go to the VCDL web site.

NRA Courses Offered by VSSA Affiliated Club

The Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League in Centerville, VA, a VSSA affiliated club, will be hosting the following NRA instructor courses in 2012. If you are coming from out of town, the club can make special arrangements for the Pre-course qualification. The club plans to have the registrations up on the NRA, Instructors web site soon,

Range Safety Officer (RSO)
Jan 7
$80

BIT and Pistol Instructor (pre-course 21 Jan)
Jan 25-29
$225

NRA Pistol Coach School
Feb 11-12
$225

Personal Protection Inside the Home (PPIH) Instructor (pre-course 18 Feb, must be Pistol Instructor)
Feb 23-26
$225

NRA Rifle Coach School
March 10-11
$225

BIT and Shotgun Instructor (pre-course 17 March)
March 21-25
$225

Personal Protection Outside The Home (PPOH) Course (Equipment check April 10 & taken PPIH)
April 20-22
$225

PPOTH Instructor (must be PPIH instructor & taken PPOH course)
April 26-29
$225

For more information contact Thomas Ciarula.

Stakes High for McDonnell, Gun Owners, in 2011 Virginia Legislative Races

Over on National Review Online, Jim Geraghty writes about Virginia and New Jersey's off-year legislative elections.  Geraghty notes that in Virginia, the real contest is for control of the Virginia state senate, which is currently controlled by the Democrats 22-18 majority and describes what the election could mean for Governor McDonnell's agenda in his last two years. Virginia governors cannot seek re-election.
“We’re on offense everywhere,” boasts J. Garren Shipley, communications director for Virginia’s Republican party. “All 16 of our incumbent Republican senators are in fine shape — only three have Democratic opposition. Two of our guys were drawn out, but we have two GOP-leaning open seats in exchange: the 22nd district in Central Virginia and the 13th district in Northern Virginia. Both look pretty good at this point.”
The Virginia GOP is putting a big effort into trying to make inroads back into Northern Virginia, a place where there is currently not a single GOP state senator.
A big potential storyline of this year’s races could be the Republican comeback in Northern Virginia. The competitive senate races include senator Chuck Colgan’s bid to hold off Republican Tom Gordy in the 29th district, which includes Manassas, Manassas Park, and part of Prince William County; senator George Barker’s bid to hold off Republican Miller Baker in the 39th district, which includes parts of Fairfax and Prince William County and part of Alexandria; and senator Toddy Puller’s effort against former delegate Jeff Frederick in the 36th district, which includes parts of Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford counties.
While there are high stakes in this election for Governor McDonnell, gun owners have an equal stake.  If the GOP wins a majority, gun owners may have a real shot at repealing Virginia's 20 year-old handgun rationing law.  If the Democrats retain control, we may have to wait another four years before having the opportunity to repeal the law.  Despite the fact there are a handful of pro-rights Democrats in the senate, the leadership is decidely anti-rights, and will continue to kill repeal of one handgun-a-month as they did two years ago.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Occupy Norfolk Can't Figure Out Reason for Occupying

I've stayed away from posting out the "Occupy" nonsense but could not resist after seeing this article on the Drudge Report since it is related to Virginia.
“Oh, I have no idea,” one participant reportedly said while laughing, after being asked how this sect of “Occupy” will reach its goals.

Not all of the "occupiers" feel this lack of direction.

“We’ve been here around the clock, working toward finding a common end goal,” he told CBS Washington, adding that an official mission statement is in the works, and should be finalized soon. “I think it’s sort of misguided to say we lack direction. We don’t have a definitive end list of things that we’re trying to accomplish, but we definitely have a great head on our shoulders about what we’re doing.”

Something tells me Norfolk is not the only location where the occupiers are facing this conumbrum.

Obama: We're Not Going to Wait For Congress

So, the question is, if Obama thinks he can do what he wants when it comes to his agenda by taking "Executive Actions", how long will it be before he takes "Executive Action" to get gun control measures he favors?

Kagan on Her Hunting Excursions

Turns out that Justice Elena Kagan has been hunting with Justice Scalia, not once but several times.  I saw a reference to this last week but did not take time to read the linked article, which appeared Thursday on CNN's web site.  The article was about an address Justice Kagan gave to an audience at Beth Tfiloh Congregation, which was celebrating its 90th anniversary.  She talked about her faith (she is Jewish), the court, and she even admitted to having gone on several hunting trips with Justice Scalia.

We knew from this story last year that sources had spotted her shooting clay targets at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club with Scalia. Justice Scalia is a member of Fairfax Rod and Gun Club, a VSSA affiliated club.

The article detailed how Kagan recalled a courtesy visit she paid to Sen. Benjamin Cardin, (D-Maryland), who is a member of Beth Tfiloh, shortly after her nomination to the court. During the discussion Cardin asked her about gun rights, and told her she would likely find out how important the issue is to some Americans.  She told him she had never owned or fired a firearm but that if she were fortunate enough to be confirmed she would go hunting with Justice Scalia.

And, the article confirmed she accompanied Scalia to a "Washington-area shooting range" as well as "several" hunting trips, which until last Thursday, were never reported. Further, it seems that she has had the same reaction as many women do the first time they go shooting and/or hunting.  When her host at Beth Tfiloh expressed shock at her admission she responded:
...it turns out, it's kind of fun," said Kagan, laughing.
I'm not going to read too much into this as there are a number of elected representatives at both the state and federal level who are avid hunters and even use that to claim they support the Second Amendment, but have a less than stellar voting record on Second Amendment related issues. 

Having said this, let's hope Scalia is also giving her a little constitutional history lesson on the drive to and from the field.

2012 and The Supreme Court

Sebastian over on Shall Not Be Questioned (formerly Snowflakes in Hell), shared this quote from former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens regarding the Heller and McDonald decisions, from an article appearing in Time magazine:
I would change the interpretation of the Second Amendment. The court got that quite wrong. Gun policy should be handled by legislatures and by states, not by federal judges appointed for life.
Sebastian writes that the Second Amendment will never really be safe until we stop hearing this type of thinking from left-leaning judges, and we get judges on the bench who are willing to uphold the Second Amendment.  I would add that, above all else, this should be what motivates every gun owner, even those who do not generally get involved in campaigns, to become active in next year's presidential campaign and work for the defeat of President Obama, making sure he does not have the opportunity to appoint one or more additional justices similar to Sonia Sotomayor or Elena Kagan.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Rick Perry Not the Usual Candidate Supporting Second Amendment

Gun owners and gun rights activists are used to hearing candidates for office express support for our rights.  In some cases, these candidates don't even own a firearm (which is fine - one does not have to own a gun to support the Constitution) much less having ever fired one.  Or, in other cases, we see candidates go out and shoot some clay targets or go on hunting trips for the camera.  We even have candidates who have less than stellar records as and elected official claim they are "lifelong hunters" when running for an office where being for freedom can make a difference in whether or not they are elected.

But Texas Governor Rick Perry is in a totally different category.  Sure, he's a hunter.  He even told reporters during an Iowa Pheasant hunt this past weekend:
“As long as I’ve got memory I’ve had something to go hunting with,’’ Perry said, “so it was a long love affair with a boy and his gun that turned into a man and his gun and then it turned into a man and his son and his daughter and their guns.’’
Not only does Governor Perry own firearms for hunting, he also carries a firearm for self defense.  He regularly goes to the range to practice, and has said he doesn't play golf on his day off, he goes to the range.


Who knows what former Governor Mitt Romney believes.  Herman Cain has made some confusing statements on the subject leading at least one gun blogger to ask for clarification.  Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum all have voting records supporting the right to keep and bear arms.  But without question, Governor Perry practices what he preaches when it comes to firearm freedom.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Did ATF Try to Frame Whistleblower?

There is buzz today on several gun blogs regarding revelations that ATF may have attempted retaliation against one of the Fast and Furious whistleblowers, Jay Dobyns.  Sebastian has this post, which includes a link to an article by Katie Pavlich on Townhall.com.  Dave Hardy also wrote about it over at Armsandthelaw.com. Dave writes that ATF has a habit of retaliating against employees who act in a manner that does not please the agency.

The longer the Fast and Furious story hangs around, the worse it seems to get.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

@JimGeraghty: Democrats in Virginia’s State Legislature Tell Obama to Avoid Their Districts

National Review's Jim Geraghty has an amusing piece over on National Review Online that describes how Democrats in the state legislature, pols running for re-election this year, did everything they could the last two days to avoid being seen with President Obama during his campaign  official visit to push his "jobs" bill. The orginal list of places that would be visited was Danville, Newport News, Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville. 
But things have changed since 2008.  Danville is one of the more hardest hit areas of the Commonwealth in the current employment environment and is home to a hotly contested state senate race.  Fredericksburg is represented by Senator Edd Houck, and his district includes Lousia, which the Obama administration just turned individual assistance to those affected by August's earthquake.  Lousia was the epicenter of the quake and Houck is also envolved in a tight race.  Charlottesville would have probably been the safest place for the presidential visit as it is home to the University of Virginia and is the typical liberal college town.  In short, three of the four areas on the original visit iteniary are hotly contested state legislative races.
To the White House, the cities represented friendly territory. In 2008, Obama carried Danville with 59 percent, Newport News with 64 percent, Fredericksburg with 64 percent, and Charlottesville with 78 percent. But Virginia has state legislative elections this year, and the initial Obama list coincided almost perfectly with a selection of incumbent Democrats who are desperate to distance themselves from the national party.
Geraghty points out that the GOP is only two seats shy to tie control of the chamber with lieutenant governor Bill Bolling set up to break tie votes.  Winning three puts the GOP in out right control and the Obama visit was an opportunity to point out how close the incumbents' policies are to the guy at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.  Turns out not even former DNC chair turned U.S. Senate Candidate, Tim "The Eyebrow" Kaine could make time to be with his old friend was in the Commonwealth.  Kaine said he already had scheduled stops in Northern Virginia (the opposite part of the state that Obama would be visiting) stumping for state legislative candidates.

That original list of stops turned out not to work for the state Democrats so Obama visited a high school in Emporia on Tuesday — a community that Geraghty points out that is is 56 percent African-American and on the North Carolina Border , followed by Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, and a fire station in Chesterfield County outside Richmond on Wednesday. It should be noted that Hampton is in one of four state senate districts that Republicans do not have a candidate and there is no Democrat candidate in the Chesterfield senate district that the fire station is located.

For their part the state Democratic Party says the state they had nothing to do with the changes to the itinerary.

"Really, do you think anybody here has the kind of clout that the president would change his schedule?" Coy said.
Not that we should really expect the state party to say otherwise.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Youth Hunts Pass On Outdoor Traditions

On September 24th, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) sponsored a 3rd Youth Deer Hunting Day in coordination with National Hunting and Fishing Day.  As David Coffman, editor of the DGIF Outdoor Report stated in last week's edition,
...if you took a young hunter out on this special youth hunting day, you created a unique memory and hopefully started a new tradition."
This year's hunt set a record.  According to DGIF, a total of 1,195 deer were checked electronically. DGIF reports that this is up 82% from the 657 check electronically last year. Mat Knox, the DGIF Deer Project Coordinator noted:
"...that after two consecutive years of terrible deer hunting weather on the annual youth deer hunting day, we finally got a break. Saturday was not perfect, but it was much better than the rain of 2009 and the heat of 2010."
DGIF believes that based on last year's final total which includes deer logged at check-in stations, that this year's final total could be 2,000 or above.  Last year the final combined total was 1,124.


2010 Dad and Daughter Hunt

We are in the middle of Early Archery Season and Early Muzzleloader Season is just a couple weeks away (November 5th).  With a little over 15 weeks left in big game season, be sure and take a young person out for a hunting adventure before the seasons end – the future of our sport and hunting heritage traditions depend on passing on our traditions to the next generation.

Senate Prohibits Funds for Future Fast and Furious Type Operations

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday, unanimously approved an amendment to the "minibus" appropriations legislation that would fund, among other agencies, the Department of Justice, that prohibits funds from being used by the Department to conduct "gun-walking" schems similar to the fatal "Fast and Furious" scheme that is now facing congressional scrutiny.  The amendment was supported by the NRA and offered by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.).

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Virginia Shooters Set 13 Records at 2011 Cardinal Cup

On September 18, 2011, the Bedford Rifle and Revolver Club, a VSSA affiliated club, hosted the 2011 Cardinal Cup. The match was the 2nd largest Action Pistol match in the country.  The only larger participation was at the Bianchi Cup National Action Pistol Championship back in May.  There were 51 shooters firing 64 guns, including 2 Junior shooters who both set National Records, 14 Senior shooters who set 10 National records, and shooters coming from as far away as Canada & California.  Between the State & Regional matches there were 27 records set that weekend, 13 of those by VA shooters.


Vera Koo, 7-time National Action Pistol Women's Champion and 2 Juniors on the firing line
 Full results can be seen at the club's web site.

Thanks to BRRC's Alan Strawn for providing the update and photo.

Bedford Planning Commission Denies Range Rezoning Request

The Lynchburg News and Advance reports today that the Bedford County Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the rezoning request of Timothy Hooper, resulting in a set-back for his efforts to reopen the facility for the tactical training of law enforcement, military personnel and private citizens.  Hooper has one more shot at his attempt to reopen his training facility - before the Bedford County Board of Supervisors at a future meeting.  He will however have to overcome the recommendation of the commission that the Board deny the request.

As reported yesterday, the shooting range, located at 6010 Thomas Jefferson Road, was founded in 1983 as a specialized training site. The 21-acre range is centrally located on Hooper’s 80-acre family farm.

Hooper's attorney Richard Livingston told the News and Advance that there had been virtually no complaints from the surrounding community.  Livingston said:
This is not a recreational facility. It’s an instructional facility,” Livingston said. “This is professionals instructing professionals and nobody benefits from that more than the general public.”
There were some like neighbor Mickey Russell who supported Hooper's request, and others like Greg Eaton, whose daughter attends a nearby school who opposed it.  How Eaton could suggest the sound of gun fire could somehow could lead to school violence is beyond reason.  The school is about a mile from Hooper's property. Others said the noise of a range would cause property values to decrease.  These are similar arguments that gun owners have had to deal with in range discussion and are becoming more prevelent.  Unfortunately, Hooper's range is not protected by Virginia's range law because it appears from what is known that he was operating a range without the proper permits required by Bedford County based on his property's current zoning.

There was a second related issue that was also to be considered, the issuance of a special use permit for the range to operate.  The commissioners voted 5-1 to postpone a decision on a recommendation on that issue pending a review by the county sheriff’s office. Hooper would need the county board of supervisors to allow the rezoning to pass before the permit could be valid according to the commissioners.

GOP Pick-up of Three Seats Could Significantly Impact Gun Laws in Virginia

Sunday's Washington Post ran this article detailing how a net gain of three seats for the GOP in the State Senate will have a major impact on legislation.
The Virginia Senate has been a cemetery for the General Assembly’s most conservative legislation for more than a decade.
During that decade, the GOP also controlled the State Senate, but the difference this time is that a new GOP majority would be a much more conservative lot than the RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) that were part of the majority leadership from 1999 to 2007.
“The stakes have never been higher,” said Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax County, who would lose her chairmanship of the Privileges and Elections Committee should the Republicans win their first majority since 2007.
Senator Howell is correct, the stakes couldn't be higher.  Who can forget that two years ago, the Senate Courts of Justice set up, some say in violation of Senate rules, a special subcommittee during the second half of the session for the expressed purpose of killing pro-rights legislation that passed overwhelmingly in the House of Delegates, included repeal of handgun rationing (one handgun-a-month).  A new GOP majority would add a new look to Senate Courts of Justice as at least one RINO, Senator Fred Quayle, would no longer be a part of the committee as he is retiring this year.  In addition, Bill Carrico, who is running to replace retiring William Wampler, and Tom Garrett, who is running in a newly drawn 22nd District, would add a decidely pro-rights flavor to the State Senate and both could end up on Senate Courts.

While VSSA is a non-partisan organization, it is clear that if the Democrats retain control of the state Senate, their anti-rights leadership will determine who sits on committees, and that Senate Courts will continue to be chaired by the anti-rights Henry Marsh (D-Richmond).  While we are supporting some Democrats for re-election, VSSA wants to see a change in leadership so we can finally repeal handgun rationing.

Now is the time to go to work for pro-rights candidates and help get them over the finish line. You can check here for the endorsed candidate in your area.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Another Successful Women on Target Clinic for RPRC

Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club (RPRC), a VSSA affiliated club, held their fall Women On Target (WOT) Instructional Shooting Clinic on Oct 1st. The club had 49 women and about 40 club volunteers.  Once again the clinic was a great success. 

Betty Taylor Instructs Denise Williams

Linda and Denise Williams - one of four sets of mother daughter pairs show off their rifle targets

Using feedback provided by attendees of the spring clinic and the club's observations from the spring WOT clinic, the club incorporated informational sessions this time which provided the ladies additional learning opportunities while waiting their turn on the actual firing line. The club also had a Virginia State Trooper provide two sessions on personal protection in the morning and then in the afternoon one of the club's veteran NRA certified instructors spoke on what the ladies needed to consider when selecting a pistol.

Bob Berry's Handgun Selection Informational session
Liz Lockerman assists on the pistol range
Thanks to the RPRC volunteers, transitioning the ladies between the informational session and the firing ranges occurred without a problem.

Clays were breaking on the shotgun range

Instructors assist on the rifle range
VSSA supported the club event with ammunition and eye protection.

A great result on the falling plates
A great time was had by all!  Congratulations to RPRC for another great WOT Clinic.
Dave Petersen instructor on the pistol range with Anitra Mackey, Ann Parks, and Kim Haynie
Thanks to RPRC member Susan Hudson for providing the photos and report.

Bedford County Planning Commission to Consider Rezoning of Range

Today's News and Advance reports that the county planning commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. tonight on a request to rezone 21 acres of an 80-acre plot located on Thomas Jefferson Road. The land owner is seeking to change the property, which is a quarter of a mile from U.S. 460 from a residential zoned area to Agricultural Rural Preserve.  This would allow him to reopen the range that he said has been in use since 1983. After the hearing, the commission, will hold a second related hearing on a request for a special use permit to operate the range. He needs rezoning to pass before a permit could be granted. The commissioners recommendations will then be sent to the board of supervisors for consideration at a later date and a vote on a final decision.

The owner of the property is Timothy F. Hooper.  Last year, an anonymous complaint was lodged with the county, and after an investigation, the county sent Hooper a notice that he was operating a range in violation of current zoning. The re-zoning would allow Hooper to operate the range as a firearm training facility for federal and state agencies and police.  In addition, the range would not generally operate from November to March and would give occasional training for organizations.

According to the News and Advance, a neighborhood meeting was held in August and Hooper said the range is not a threat to the area and assured that practices there are safe and supervised.  There were others at the meeting however that raised concerns about its close proximity to an elementary school.

The meeting details are below.

Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Bedford County Planning Commission
County Administration Board Room
122 E. Main Street
Bedford, VA


Information related to the request can be found begining on page 10 of the agenda packet by clicking here.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Holder Announces Foiled Terror Plot, Issa Subpoenas Holder for Fast and Furious

A day after Attorney General Eric Holder announced Justice and the FBI had foiled a bomb plot they said was hatched in Iran and targeted Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) has subpoenaed Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice for documents related to the fatal ATF scheme known as "Fast and Furious."

The Hill reports that Issa said in issueing the subpoenas:
"Top Justice Department officials, including Attorney General Holder, know more about Operation Fast and Furious than they have publicly acknowledged," Issa said in a statement announcing the subpoenas. "The documents this subpoena demands will provide answers to questions that Justice officials have tried to avoid since this investigation began eight months ago. It's time we know the whole truth."

Holder, whose explanations of what he did not know about the tragic scheme has been a faster moving target than an elimination challenge on Top Shot has been under increased scrutiny in the last week since emails became public indicating that he had been briefed on the program much earlier than he claimed before the House Oversight Committee.  While he continues to claim ignorance of the details, and Obama has giving him a complete vote of confidence, report after report has brought a new revelation.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

National Right-to-Carry Bill Due for Mark-up

On Thursday, October 13, 2011, the House Judiciary Committee will mark up the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822). H.R. 822 would allow any law-abiding concealed carry permit holder to legally carry a concealed firearm in any state that does not prohibit concealed carry. Currently, 49 states have some form of concealed carry (Illinois does not have concealed carry). Click here for the NRA Fact Sheet on H.R. 822.

Virginia's 4th congressional district representative, Congressman Randy Forbes is a co-sponsor of this important legislation. Please thank him for cosponsoring H.R. 822 and also urge him to vote for Congressman Trent Franks' Manager's Amendment, and to oppose all other amendments. Currently, 245 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are cosponsors of H.R. 822. (Find a list of the current cosponsors here).


You can contact Congressman Forbes at:

The Honorable Randy Forbes
(202) 225-6365 (Washington, DC)
(757) 382-0080 (Chesapeake)
(804) 318-1363 (Chesterfield)
(434) 634-5575 (Emporia)
Email Congressman Randy Forbes

Monday, October 3, 2011

Dissolving ATF Bad Idea

Sebastian makes some very good points over on Snowflakes in Hell regarding a rumor that DOJ may be looking to shut down ATF.

He correctly points out that if ATF goes away, the nation's gun laws aren't, so another agency will be tasked with enforcing them, and it will likely be an agency that has more respect on Capitol Hill than a former tax collector turned law enforcement agency.

Careful What You Wish For