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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Newsflash to NYTimes Op/Ed Writer Gail Collins: Criminals Don't Obey the Law

Gail Collins wades in to the Trayvon Martin matter with this Op/Ed in today's New York Times, writing how it's nuts to be talking about reducing the number of young people wearing hoodies instead of the number of people carrying handguns.  She takes the customary swipe at politicians cowering before the NRA, writes about how easy it is to get a concealed handgun permit in Florida, then proceeds to aim her verbal barbs at the two versions of the national reciprocity bills currently in under consideration in congress.  It is here where she shows why gun ban proponents have lost favor with the American public.
Senators John Thune of South Dakota and David Vitter of Louisiana have a competing bill that would relieve residents of states like Vermont and Arizona — which don’t require concealed weapons permits at all — from the cumbersome process of actually putting in some paperwork before they tote their handguns to, say, California or New Jersey. Under this one, Jared Loughner, who shot Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a judge, a small child and four other innocent Arizonans, could have brought his loaded handgun to Times Square.
Here's a newsflash Ms. Collins; nothing is going to keep a criminal like the Arizona shooter from bringing a gun into Times Square with or without national reciprocity - criminals don't obey the law - which is why law abiding folks want to be able to exercise our constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms.  Most all polling on the issue shows the vast majority of the public agrees we don't need new gun control laws.

Collins apparently thinks she lives in a crime free area because most people can't own a firearm in New York.
Really, just leave us alone. If you don’t like our rules, don’t come here. Is that too much to ask?
Here's a question for Ms. Collins, "Do you really think living in New York City is safer than living in Virginia?"

Don't worry, I have no intention of going to New York. 

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Women Well Represented on NRA All American Pistol Team

Gun Banners to Protest at ALEC HQ in DC on Thursday

On Thursday, March 29, the gun ban lobby is holding a protest at the DC headquarters of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The gun ban lobby has focus attention on the non-partisan organization as being the clearinghouse for state legislative proposals like "stand your ground" self defense legislation and voter ID legislation, among others.  According to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and other gun ban groups, ALEC is working hand in hand with the NRA.

Particularly disgusting about the email linked above that announced the protest, CSGV, through one of its many local front groups, claimed the Florida law is being used to justify the shooting of Trayvon Martin. What they don't say is that it is the gun ban lobby, anti-rights elected officials, and the media that is making the connection between the law and the shooting. 

Just last Sunday, Mark Walters, host of the weekly syndicated pro-gun radio program, Armed American Radio, noted in the few comments he made about the incident that the law does not apply in this case.   Walters, like many in the pro-rights community are reserving comments until all of the facts are known in the case.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Duke Lacrosse Déjà vu

Last month, an incident occurred in Sanford, Florida, that has grown into a full blown circus. It doesn't matter to the racebaters or the hordes of people clammoring on college campuses and other venues demanding justice that all of the facts are yet to be known. In fact, we were first told that this black teen, Trayvon Martin, was killed by a racist white male, George Zimmerman. But when the photograph of Mr. Zimmerman was published, we learn he is of hispanic decent. Not to be outdone, the media coined a new term - "white hispanic."

We also don't see current photos of the 17 year-old teen. We see photos of the teen taken when he was as young as 12 or 13. There is a narrative being told by those who want to politically exploit this incident that will only work if we are shown images of an innocent young boy. We also don't see recent photos of Zimmerman. The one here is a photo taken from one of his previous meetings with law enforcement.

Yet more and more facts are coming out that don't match this national narrative. Yesterday, a friend of Mr. Zimmerman, a black man, Joe Oliver, has spoke out in support of his friend. We have learned that a fight took place. Most of the news that sheds more light on the incident is presented by the local media, not the national media. And there will be more information that may be helpful or hurtful to one or both parties.

There is an effort underway that is intended to influence what we think and the outcome of this event. If the facts show that Zimmerman committed a crime, he should be punished. But if the facts show he was defending himself, he should not be punished and allowed to live his life in peace.

But here is what we do know. Racebaters Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are in Florida making outragious statements and inflaming the issue. The New Black Panthers are making threats and have placed a $1,000,000 bounty on Mr. Zimmerman. All the while investigative agencies from the feds, to the state and local level are investigating the matter to determine what happened.

Mr. Oliver has said he does not believe this is a racial profiling case. He also has said he would be very surprised if the grand jury when the evidence is reported does not come to the same conclusion as the Sanford Police Department.

I first learned of this story from a gun control group email, citing that another concealed handgun permit holder had committed a crime. They have also gone after the "stand your gound" laws like the one in Florida. CBS News' Norah O'Donnell lobbed softballs at anti-rights U.S. Senator Chuck Shumer on whether "Stand Your Ground" laws need to be changed as a result of the Martin shooting.



As with the Duke Lacrosse incident, we are seeing a system breaking down. We are seeing so-called civil rights leaders condemning the society and the New Black Panther Party calling for blood. The mother of the deceased is seeking trademarks on certain phrases associated with calls for justice related to her son. It is possible this was not her idea but that of a lawyer looking for a payday. A hearing is being held today on Capitol Hill and there is talk that legislation is going to be introduced related to the incident. All before we know all the facts. In the end, if it is determined no crime was committed, like with the Duke Lacrosse incident, George Zimmerman's life will be forever changed.

Virginia Tech Approves New Regulation Banning Concealed Carry in Buildings and Major Events

Yesterday, Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors new regulation that bans firearms in buildings and at major events such as football games. The regulation replaces an existing policy, and applies to firearms carried both by concealed permit holders and non-permit-holders. In July, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said July that universities didn't have the authority to ban people from bringing firearms into school facilities by "policy" but could pass a regulation, which carries the force of law. Tech is the latest of Virginia's public colleges and universities to pass such a regulation after Cuccinelli's opinion.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Media Narrative: Virginia Locked and Loaded

At least for the title of the news story "American Democracy Locked and Loaded" and the lead in being "Virginia is for Lovers - of Guns." The reporters did not talk to anyone from gun ban groups, but given the slant of the story, they didn't need to. The report was complete with decade old footage from the Columbine school shooting. The narrative was written in January - Virginia will once again be gun runners paradise - and you can expect to hear it repeated for the next four months until repeal of gun rationing takes effect.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Quinnipiac University Poll Ties Lower Ratings for McDonnell, Legislature, To Repeal of Gun Rationing

The Richmond Times Dispatch reported this morning that Quinnipiac University has released a poll showing approval ratings for Governor Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly have dropped significantly, and ties the lower rating to the passage and signing of two "controversial" bills including repeal of Virginia's gun rationing law:
“The governor’s numbers are down, from a net positive 34 percentage points last month to a net 21 points today, but he’s still above the 50-percent mark,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “The controversy over the ultrasound and handgun bills would be a logical explanation for the decline in his approval rating, which had been above 60 percent for much of last year.”

Brown noted that McDonnell is still above 50 percent.  President Obama would probably love to have that 53% rating right now.  And Congress would probably love to have the 38% approval rating that the General Assembly is receiving in the poll.  Brown stated that until this poll, Virginia had been the only state surveyed by Quinnipiac in which the state legislature had received a net positive job approval.

It is refreshing that elected officials are willing to do what is right rather than worry about how it may affect their polls.  Speaking only of the repeal of gun rationing, there was no proof that the law was effective at anything but inconveniencing law-abiding citizens.  A bi-partisan majority in both houses of the legislature (albeit only two Democrats in the Senate) voted to repeal gun rationing.

If you have not already done so, please be sure to contact Governor McDonnell and thank him for signing the bills repealing Virginia's gun rationing law.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Holder in 1995: We need to "Brainwash" People Into Disliking Guns

“We have to be repetitive about this.  We need to do this every day of the week, and just really brainwash people into thinking about guns in a vastly different way.”



I expect the administration spin on this to be "there is nothing new here." And they are right, Holder has always been against firearms freedom and nothing has changed.

Hat tip to NRANews.

Colonial Shooting Academy

RTD Faith and Values Op/ED on Virginia Tech and Handgun Rationing

The Richmond Times Dispatch ran this Op/Ed in Saturday's Faith and Values section, asserting that the repeal of Virginia's handgun rationing law is "at odds with Tech tragedy."  I guess the author made the connection between the two because the Virginia Tech wrongful death trial was taking place in Christiansburg last week.  Never mind the fact that the Tech shooter abided by the "one gun-a-month" law in purchasing his two firearms.  Craig Anderson, the author, is a psychologist and the director of counseling services at Randolph-Macon College. 
In the season of Lent, as we approach Easter, I find myself reflecting upon Matthew 26:51-52 and the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into his place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

This is a lesser story in the arc of the Easter week drama. Nonetheless, it is not without relevance to the commonwealth of Virginia.
Anderson goes on to applaud the fact that the General Assembly decided to table bills that would expand the death penalty but lamented the fact that the Assembly passed a number of pro-rights bills, including a repeal of handgun rationing, which has already been signed by Governor McDonnell. 
If any state should be sensitive to the role that guns often play in the service of horrendous crimes, it should be Virginia. If there was ever an occasion that spoke — that cried — for the need of gun reform, it was the Virginia Tech massacre.

Yet five years later, after the Governor's Review Panel, the legal wrangling and all the political posturing — to say nothing of the direct pleas of Tech survivor Colin Goddard and the parents of several victims to McDonnell — access to guns (the means) in 2012 has become easier in Virginia.
Anderson closes by revisiting the reference to the the New Testament, where Jesus tells the disciples to carry swords, then muses that it may have been to teach a lesson in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Dave Kopel, Research Director, Independence Institute, has written on the subject of using the New Testament for the purpose of pushing pacifism, and specifically references the same passage that Anderson used to make his point at the end of the Op/Ed.
Putting the passage from Matthew in the context of the rest of the Bible would, therefore, look to the passage as a warning against violence as a way of life, rather than as a flat-out ban on defensive violence in all situations.
Kopel writes that using the New Testament to illustrate a pacifist view is a very weak argument.  The same can be said of the Tech tragedy as proof we need to keep rationing handguns.

This is the second Op/Ed in the last month that used a religious reason for opposing repealing handgun rationing.  Below is NRANews coverage of the first:

Friday, March 16, 2012

Virginia Congressional Primaries Set for June 12th

Virginia's congressional primaries will take place as scheduled on June 12th as scheduled.  Roll Call reports that the U.S. Justice Department had no objections to the redistricting maps approved by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year. The new district lines were basically incumbent protection plans, though Senate Democrats wanted a second racially gerrymandered district to insure election of a second minority congressman in addition to the already racially gerrymandered 3rd District.

Colonial Shooting Academy

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Another Sign We Are Winning

We can find little things to prove that the pro-rights forces are not only winning legislatively, but gaining ground in the debate as well.  This from The College of William and Mary's college newspaper in a story about Governor McDonnell signing the repeal of Virginia's one gun-a-month law:
McDonnell’s decision to sign the bill came as no surprise — before the legislation process began, he said that he was against gun rationing. He also explained that more extensive background checks and new laws pertaining to handgun purchases would help maintain public safety.
Note that the author used the term "gun rationing" to describe the purpose of the almost twenty year-old law.  Yes, the subject of the story is that the families of victims of the Virginia Tech shooting lost in their attempt to have the bill vetoed, but the fact that a term usually used by pro-rights forces found its way into the story is another sign that we are changing the terms of the debate too.

Women Overwhelmingly Represented on NRA All-American Rifle Teams

Look at the photos included with this post over on the NRABlog and what do you notice?  The new face of the shooting sports.  Of the 46 college students pictured on the various All-American Teams announced at the end of the NCAA Rifle Championships, over half, 29, were women.  In many cases, these women shooters are competing on co-ed teams, and out performing male shooters.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Does This Mean That Photo ID Requirements to Buy Firearms Will Also Be Tossed by Justice Dept.?

Apparently half of Texas' Hispanic registered voters (meaning they are supposedly here legally and U.S. citizens) don't have Photo IDs and therefore would not be able to vote under Texas' new voter ID law.  Eric Holder says this means Texas' new law disproportionately affects Hispanic voters and is therefore unconstitutional. So, does this mean Justice is now going to stand up for the rights of those Hispanic citizens to buy firearms and throw out ID requirements for such purchases?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Anti-gun Group Joins Chorus of Those Applauding Death of Castle Legislation

Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws sent this email today applauding yesterday's effective defeat of the last remaining Castle Doctrine bills.  Refering to the bills as "shoot first" legislation, the group called the bills dangerous and unnecessary.

Ironically, the group used language similar to language used by a gun rights group in opposing the bills, explaining that Virginia law on the issue of self defense has been carefully crafted by the courts. A Virginia gun rights group was actively opposing the Castle bills during the General Assembly.

But Andrew Goddard, president of the gun ban group and father of a survivor of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, went further saying if the bills had passed they would have caused an increase in unnecessary death and violence.

VSSA and the NRA supported the legislation and worked with patrons to address concerns raised by some that the bills would override protections already in common law.

In the end, the legislature, mired in a fight over the budget, decided they could not spend additional time addressing those concerns after taking steps to change the section of the code the bills addressed from the criminal to the civil code, and in the case of HB48, including specific language clarifying the bill:

"...shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law prior to the effective date of this law."

VSSA will continue to work with our friends in the legislature to insure maximum protections for Virginians that are forced to use a firearm in self defense.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Castle Doctrine Bills Effectively Dead for 2012

The two remaining Castle Doctrine Bills, HB 48 and SB 4 are effectively dead for the year.  HB 48 had been in a conference committee of the House and Senate until yesterday.  Today, the House of Delegates passed by the Conference Report indefinitely and the Senate recommitted the bill to Senate Courts of Justice, pursuant to Senate Rule 20 (g).  Rule 20 (g) states:
The Senate, upon consideration of any bill or resolution on the Calendar, may recommit, in accordance with these Rules, the bill or resolution to the Committee reporting the same, and direct the Committee to continue the bill or resolution until the following odd-numbered year regular session, and hold such hearings or render such further consideration of the bill or resolution as the committee may deem proper.
In short, HB 48 is on life support.  Any action that may be taken will be completed in the fall when committees determine what they will do with legislation carried over from the previous session.  Historically, carried over bills do not have a great history of advancing.

SB 4, which emerged from House Courts of Justice on Friday in a form similar to HB 48, was on final reading today and was rereferred back to Courts of Justice, effectively defeating the bill for the year as all committee action had to be completed by March 5th.

Both HB 48 and SB 4 fell victim to several things, not least of which was an active campaign by some claiming that the bills would harm the status quo related to self defense (Virginia is what is commonly referred to as a "stand your ground" state).  Both bills however only addressed Virginia's Civil Code, and HB 48 included a provision that stated:

This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law prior to the effective date of this law.
While Virginia common law is good when it comes to self defense, it has always been VSSA's position that we should not wait until some enterprising lawyer decides to sue on behalf of a criminal or his/her family, an individual who defended themselves from an attack.  Just because such a case has not occurred to date does not mean one will never occur.  VSSA will continue to work with legislators to pass a Castle Doctrine law that both preserves the protections already in law and provides additional protection for an individual who may be forced to use lethal force to defend themselves and their family.

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Picks Up Senator Janet Howell's Discredited Claim

Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence sent this email yesterday where he touts his recent blog post on the Huffington Post.  The post is entitled When Buying a Gun Becomes Easier than Voting.

You may recall that VSSA posted here about a similar claim made by State Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) a couple of weeks ago.  The Richmond Times Dispatch's PolitiFact checker found Senator Howell's claim to be only half true.

The fact is there are more restrictions on purchasing a firearm than there are on voting, and last time I checked, you have to present a Photo ID to purchase a firearm.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Washington Post Gives Advice to Virginia Senate Democrats, Slaps GOP

The Washington Post, repeating the talking points of Democrats in the State Senate, believe that Republicans have over reached by passing legislation like the bills repealing handgun rationing and requiring voters to provide ID at the polls in order to cast a vote.
Virginia Republicans have embarrassed themselves in the unforgiving glare of the national spotlight this winter by muscling through the General Assembly a batch of partisan, incendiary and pointlessly provocative legislation. They’ve enacted bills to thrill the gun lobby (and gun traffickers), delight antiabortion activists and impede voters who lack IDs — mainly Democratic-leaning minority, poor and elderly citizens — based on phony concerns about the nonexistent problem of voting fraud.
Note they also picked up the gun ban lobby's talking points on "gun traffickers" too.  But, while the Post makes it clear they don't like the new Senate leadership, they also make it clear that the Democrats currently holding a new state budget hostage, are on very shaky ground.
The few, flimsy objections Democrats have raised about the budget are a smokescreen. Their real issue is power-sharing: Democrats want it; Republicans won’t give it.

In this instance, the Republicans are right: They have the tie-breaking vote in the person of Mr. Bolling. It’s no surprise that Democrats would like to negate that advantage, but the means to do so are through elections, not the nuclear option of government shutdown. And given Republican overreach, Democrats would be shrewder to stand down and let the GOP continue to lay the groundwork for its own defeat.
Democrats are quick to point out the powersharing agreement they agreed to in 1996.  The difference is they had one member, then Democrat State Senator Virgil Goode, who was ready to caucus with the GOP if the Senate did not agree to share power in an evenly split chamber (Goode later went on to serve in Congress as a Democrat, switched parties after 2000, and was defeated in the Democrat wave of 2008). Before that occurred, the Democrats were ready to let Lt. Governor Don Beyer, a Democrat, cast the tie breaking vote to organize a Senate majority.

I have to give credit to the Post for pointing out the obvious - for now, the Republicans have just enough votes with the Lt. Governor to conduct most of their business.  That could change after 2013, which is why VSSA and NRA pushed hard to repeal handgun rationing.  The iron was only going to be hot for so long.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Virginia State Postal Team Claims 2011 NRA National State Pistol Team Postal Match

Congratulations to the Virginia State Postal Team, which won the 2011 NRA National State Pistol Team Postal Match with an outstanding score of 2904-106x! The members of the 2011 Virginia State Postal Team who so successfully upheld the honor of the Commonwealth are Joe Chang, Brent Obenour, Lee Fleming, Matt Buckman, Dave Mccormick, Gino Celia, Shawn Pickard, Michael Vincent, Rick Hinzman, and Mathias Whaley.  Well done, gentlemen!

Results have been posted on the NRA website, and will be published in the May edition of Shooting Sports USA.

Each state is represented in this national postal match by the 10 resident shooters who fired the highest scores in the .22 NMC during their state's conventional pistol championship match.  We hope that their new celebrity status will not go to their heads, and that we will see all of these outstanding Virginia shooters at the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club matches this year!

Thanks to VSSA Pistol Committee Chairman Joe Fisher for passing this news along.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg Weighs in On Repeal of Handgun Rationing

Our friends at the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) forwarded this article from the New York Daily News.  New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is not very happy with Governor McDonnell's decision to sign House Bill 940, Delegate Scott Lingamfelter's bill repealing Virginia's one gun-a-month law.
Mayor Bloomberg blasted Virginia’s repeal of a 20-year-old law restricting handgun buyers to one pistol a month, saying Wednesday that it’s “only going to make matters worse” in New York.
Bloomberg told the assembled that Virginia is the "#1 source of out-of-state crime guns in New York, making sure to insert the gun ban lobby's favorite talking point, that there will be more "blood in the streets."

Someone needs to ask Bloomberg that if Virginia is the #1 source for crime guns with the 20 year-old law on the books, doesn't that mean the law never worked?