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Friday, August 30, 2013

More Facts Dispelling Myth of Declining Gun Ownership

John Lott has some great statistics that continue to put the lie to the meme that the number of  gun owners is declining. The details are here.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Firearms Freedom Act Turned Back in 9th Circuit

No real surprise here. The 9th Circuit has ruled against a Montana law that attempted to declare federal firearms regulations don't apply to firearms made and kept in that state. 

A similar bill was introduced during the 2013 Session of the General Assembly by Delegate Bob Marshall.  House Bill 2340, if passed and signed by the Governor, would have prevented any agency, political subdivision, or employee of Virginia from assisting the federal government of the United States in any investigation, prosecution, detention, arrest, search, or seizure, under the authority of any federal statute enacted, or Executive Order or regulation issued, after December 31, 2012, infringing the individual  right to keep and bear arms by imposing new restrictions on private ownership or private transfer of firearms, firearm magazines, ammunition, or components thereof.  The bill was reported by the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee and made it to the full House, but was rereferred to House Appropriations where it died.  It likely would not have made out out the the State Senate had it passed the House anyway.

While passing such legislation may make us feel good about poking our proverbial finger in the eye of the federal government, these measures are nothing more than feel good bills, symbolic at most.  Gun owners should concentrate on things that do matter, like working to elect candidates that won't pass laws that infringe on our rights.  We have such a chance to do just that in this year's statewide elections.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Free Training for Teachers

The VSSA Training Team offers free NRA certified pistol training to any teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This training meets all the requirements for a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) in Virginia. You can come to us in Fairfax, or we can set something up with a local range. All we need is access to a range and a classroom, everything else will be provided. Contact our training team lead, Tom Ciarula at Tom-C @ Cox.net to make arrangements.

Friday, August 23, 2013

New York Post Calls Bloomberg Hero to Virginians, Poll Says Something Else

Two different news outlets described the same poll two different ways.  The New York Post described the findings of the just released Quinnipiac University like this:
Mayor Bloomberg’s bullish advocacy for stricter gun-control laws has won him considerable support — in Virginia.
But Newsmax.com described it like this:
A majority of Virginians say New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg went too far when he claimed that many of the guns used in city crimes are coming from Virginia. But, almost half of voters in a new poll said their state lawmakers should do more to address gun control issues.
VSSA had the opportunity to talk about the article and the 2013 Election on Cam Edwards of NRANews.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

NRA-ILA Looking for Virginia Election Volunteer Coordinators

NRA-ILA is looking for some dedicated activists to serve as Election Volunteer Coordinators (EVCs) in Roanoke, Lynchburg, Chesapeake (or just anywhere in the 4th Congressional District), Fredericksburg, the Northern Neck region, and Fairfax. EVCs are NRA members who act as the liaison between NRA members & gun owners in your area and various pro-freedom campaigns. The main goal of an EVC is to provide these campaigns with dedicated, educated volunteers to assist with phone banks, literature drops, precinct walks, voter registration, Election Day activities, and other campaign volunteer activities.

In the past, the EVC program has been tied to congressional districts.  But after last year's election, NRA-ILA transitioned to a more local approach, understanding that some congressional districts span multiple counties and sometimes towns and small cities.

If you are interested in serving as an EVC in one of the above areas, please contact Robert Melvin at  rmelvin@nrahq.org .  We are entering the fall push for this year's campaign and we need every gun owner engaged to ensure that pro-freedom candidates come out on top in November.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Manchin's Messaging on Background Checks

With the U.S. Congress in recess, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has been using a likely focus group tested soundbite to explain his support for Chuck Schumer's attempt to require background checks on private firearm transfers.  In both Roll Call and National Journal, there are stories about how he responds with a rhetorical question that the uninformed can simply shake their head in agreement.  In Roll Call:
And he reiterated a line on guns he used repeatedly at the state fair and likely has been well-honed in his time at home since the spring: “Don’t you want to know if a person is a criminal or a crazy person or a terrorist?” Many in the group nod.
And in National Journal:
Manchin said to the crowd. "Do you think it's unreasonable if you went to a gun show or online that there'd be a background check? That's all we're talking about."
Manchin should know that was not all Manchin/Schumer/Toomey would do.  He even repeated the false statement to the crowd in that meeting covered by National Journal that the amendment would have expanded gun rights.  According to Dave Kopel, the amendment was a "bonanza of gun control."  

Unlike Pat Toomey, who has moved on, Manchin continues to push the gun control proposal.  Will he pay a price in his home state?  Comments like this:
"Hey, I'm Joe, you know me."
...leads one to the conclusion that he thinks in the end, he can talk his way out of his votes when it's time for reelection. Time will tell.  He is not up for reelection until 2018.  That's a long time for voters to remember.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Public Concern About Crime Falls with Crime Rate

The Washington Post included this graphic in an article that purports to show a "broad evolution in Cuccinelli’s views on crime and punishment."



Rather than focus on the article, which is more of a thinly veiled swipe at Cuccinelli charging he has become the "kinder - gentler" Republican when it comes to crime, let's focus on the chart.  You'll note the continuing theme of the last couple of weeks - that crime has reduced dramatically in Virginia.  Over the last 18 years, the crime rate has reduced 42%.  At the same time, we know that over the last 6 years, the sale of firearms in the state has increased 75%.

So while Bloomberg wants to claim that his crime problems are due to Virginia guns, it would seem that the large number of firearms in the Commonwealth has not negatively impacted the safety of Virginians.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

With Eye on 2016, Christie Vetoed Gun Control Bills

Last night, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed 3 gun-control bills considered to be the worst of the lot that passed this year. The story is here.

The bills included a ban on .50 rifles and special encoding of drivers licenses for gun owners. Pro-rights activists in New Jersey had been hopeful Christie might veto the bills since he did not act on them when he acted on other gun related bills earlier in August.

The actions, while good news for New Jersey gun owners, does little to bolster the pro-rights credibility of Christie. But he is likely more interested in looking like he can find a "middle ground" to support the storyline that Republicans need to run candidates who can appeal to "independents."

Friday, August 16, 2013

Fort Lee Dusters Excel Again at SCTP Nationals

The Fort Lee Dusters have been a very successful Scholastic Clay Target Team over the years, and 2013 was no exception.  In May, the team competed in the State Skeet and Trap Championships with the team finishing in First Place in the Skeet Intermediate/Entry Class, Senior/Jr. Varsity Class, Senior/Varsity Class, and the Collegiate Class.  In Trap, they took First Place in the Intermediate/Entry Class, Second Place in the Senior/Jr. Varsity Class, and First Place in the Open Class.

A few weeks later in June, they competed in the State Sporting Clays Championship and the team finished first in the Intermediate Entry Level Class, Senior/Jr. Varsity Class, Senior/Varsity Class, and the Collegiate Class.  Then it was on to the Nationals in Sparta Illinois July 15-21. What a great showing for the team!


SKEET – SQUADS

Intermediate Entry
1st Ft. Lee Dusters Intermediate Entry – 535
Wells, Zachary – 189
Belch, Hunter – 174
Whitley, Logan – 172

Junior Varsity
4th Ft. Lee Dusters JV – 562
Martin, Lindsay – 189
Gardiner, Kyle – 189
Trainham, Dw - 184

SKEET – INDIVIDUAL

Mens – Intermediate Entry
2nd Wells, Zachary – 189 – Ft. Lee Dusters
Ladies – Junior Varsity
1st Martin, Lindsay – 189 – Ft. Lee Dusters


SPORTING CLAYS – SQUADS

Intermediate Entry

1st Ft. Lee Dusters Intermediate Entry
Whitley, Logan – 167
Wells, Zachary – 164
Belch, Hunter – 158

SPORTING CLAYS – INDIVIDUAL

Mens – Intermediate Entry

1st Whitley, Logan – 167 – Ft. Lee Dusters Jordan, Spencer – 167 – Target Busters/ Indiana Gun Club
4th Wells, Zachary – 164 – Ft. Lee Dusters

Ladies – Junior Varsity
3rd Martin, Lindsey – 164 – Ft. Lee Dusters

 

INDIVIDUALS – HOA

Ladies – Senior Division
2nd Martin, Lindsay – 533 – Ft. Lee Dusters 

Congratulations to this team of great young people.  We are sure their parents are very proud of them.

Front Row: L-R Hunter Belch, Zachery Wells, Logan Whitley, Colin Lewis 
Back Row: L-R Christian Pinney, DW Trainham, Kevin Turner, Lindsay Martin, Austin Chinault, Michael Johnson, Kyle Gardiner

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Piers Morgan Gets His Stats Wrong on Virginia Crime

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is famous for saying if only Virginia had New York City's gun laws, New York City would be a safer place because, as he tells it, all those firearms used in crimes in New York come from Virginia.  Piers Morgan picked up the storyline during an appearance Tuesday night when Breitbart News' A.W.R. Hawkins was on the show and mentioned Virginia as an example of more guns equal less crime.  Morgan countered that Virginia had the highest murder rate in the country. Morgan's assertion was entirely false, according to the FBI's 2009 report on crime.

Cam Edwards and Tabitha Hale set the record straight on the August 14th edition of NRANews.com's Cam and Company, noting that while Richmond had a high number of murders in 2009 for cities with a population over 100,000, the current number is at 30 year lows.

State Senator Marsh Seeks New Law After July 4 Death of Chesterfield 7 Year-Old

I've not posted previously about this truly tragic death that occurred after some idiot discharged a firearm into the air in an apparent celebratory act on Independence Day because it is not something that is 2nd Amendment related.   It was a senseless act that law-abiding gun owners know should never be done.

For background, this has become an increasing problem in Chesterfield County where I live.  Firing indiscriminately into the air in celebration is something practiced in a number of Third World countries.  The influx of people into the county from locations that fit that description has caused consternation to citizens in some neighborhoods on dates like July 4th and New Years Eve because apparently these new arrivals don't seem to understand that not only is the practice unsafe, it is illegal.

On July 4th of this year, a seven year-old boy, Brendon Mackey, was walking with his family to a fireworks display and was struck in the head by what police say was a .40 bullet fired into the air from somewhere within 5000 ft of the area.  The boy died the next day.  Police have yet to identify the individual responsible.  Police, aided by BATFE agents, have canvassed the surrounding area asking residents if they heard something around the time of the incident and if they could describe from where they heard it.  The only real way they will likely find the culprit is if someone comes forward, something that hasn't happened to date.

Now, State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III is proposing "Brendon's Law" to stiffen penalties for people who randomly discharge firearms into the air and for injuries or deaths that result from the act.  Currently, localities have the ability to ban the discharge of firearms within certain distances of businesses or dwellings.  In the case of Chesterfield, the violation of the county ordinance prohibiting discharge within 600 feet of a (i) dwelling of another; (ii) business establishment; (iii) public building; (iv) public gathering; or (v) public meeting place carries up-to a $1000 fine. There is an exemption for discharging a firearm in self-defense.

As for state law, § 18.2-280 of the code of Virginia states in part:
A. If any person willfully discharges or causes to be discharged any firearm in any street in a city or town, or in any place of public business or place of public gathering, and such conduct results in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony (1-5 years in prison and $2500 fine). If such conduct does not result in bodily injury to another person, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
So, it would seem state law already covers the incident that occurred on July 4th.  I guess one could argue that the felony should be reclassified to a more serious class. But it looks more like a well known anti-Second Amendment legislator taking an opportunity use a tragic death to grandstand against firearms and gun owners.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Firearms at Public Meetings

It is not uncommon in Virginia for some gun owners to show up at public meetings openly carrying a firearm.  While it is legal to carry openly in Virginia, there are reasons not to do so. Having said that, the Virginia Gazette has an article examining carrying openly in public meetings in light of a recent murder on Aug. 5 during a supervisors meeting in a rural Pennsylvania township. 

Apparently, that incident has raised the concern of some employees of local governments in some areas of Virginia.  It hasn't helped that the following comments were also made during a recent meeting in Norge, Virginia.
The issue came up again at the county's two recent rural lands meetings. During one, held at Norge Elementary School, W. Walker Ware IV, a speaker who was asked to summarize his comments about government control, said, "I think we take up muskets and start killing people."
Another attendee, Wayne Moyer, immediately asked Ware the speaker to back off the suggestion, saying it "bothers me very much."
At a second rural lands meeting held the next morning at the county's Recreation Center, another resident, who the paper noted had been present at the Norge meeting, carried his firearm openly.  He told the paper that it had noting to do with the statement made at the previous night's meeting but did admit he openly carried his firearm to the second meeting as a statement.
"First of all, I don't necessarily agree with open carry," he said. "Very seldom do I do it. I did it because the night before, I wasn't allowed."
To say this is not helpful would be an understatement.  If an individual carries openly because that is the only way they can carry  (i.e. because they don't have a concealed carry permit or because concealed carry is not permitted but open carry is at a particular location) that's one thing.  But to do it simply to make a statement does more harm than good for our cause.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Richmond Friends of NRA Banquet Highest Grossing Event in Virginia in 2013

The Richmond Friends of NRA (FNRA) banquet was held last Thursday before the start of the 30th Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show (VOSS). This is the second year the committee has partnered with the annual sportsman show and it has definitely paid off. Preliminary numbers are in and this year's event grossed $101,500. Not only is that the largest grossing FNRA event ever held in Richmond, but it is the highest grossing event in the state so far for 2013.

Richmond has always been had difficult place to hold the typical FNRA banquet. The area has been saturated with National Wild Turkey Federation banquets, Ducks Unlimited banquets, Quality Deer Management Association banquets and the annual Virginia Deer Hunters Association banquet (by far the most successful of all the outdoor banquet events). In the late 90's the original Richmond FNRA committee moved to an outdoor shooting event in partnership with Dance's Sporting Goods, Green Top Sporting Goods, and DeGoff's. That move paid dividends as average attendance increased from 75 to over 200 people. But by around 2003, with a change in the NRA Field Director and the committee members having been involved for almost 10 years, the event was discontinued. An attempted to revive the Richmond FNRA events was attempted but when they tried to transition back to the traditional indoor banquet, the same problem with lack of attendance surfaced.

Enter new NRA Field Director David Wells in 2011. Wells worked with local folks, including Green Top, to partner with the successful Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show. The decision was made to hold the first event in 2012 at the Richmond Raceway Complex the night before the start of the outdoor show and in two years, the result has been phenomenal. While there are still FNRA events scheduled through the end of the year, it's going to be tough to top what the Richmond Committee has done. What can be expected for this fledgling event next year? With the VOSS continuing to grow - they added a third building of exhibits - The Green Top Pavilion - this year, as long as they remain partnered, it would seem the sky is the limit.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Do You Need Another Reason to Support Cuccinelli?

Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt led off with "Why the Cuccinelli vs. McAuliffe Race Matters to You, Even If You Don't Live in Virginia."  You can also find the piece here on NRO's Campaign Spot.  The basic thrust is, if you believe that the GOP need only nominate a true conservative candidate instead of a "squish," to win, the Virginia campaign for Governor is your opportunity to prove it.
If Ken Cuccinelli – Mr. Conservative Record – loses against a flawed competitor like Terry McAuliffe, in a purple state like Virginia . . . and simultaneously, Governor Hug-Obama-After-a-Hurricane-and-Move-Left wins in a landslide up in New Jersey . . . the message to the rest of the Republican party will be pretty clear. What you fervently believe – conservatives win, moderate squishes lose – will be refuted in the eyes of many Republicans.
But it seems that conservatives are not engaged yet if you use Cuccinelli's fundraising as the baseline. Geraghty points to this Bloomberg News article for the numbers:
Cuccinelli, 44, had $2.7 million in cash as of the end of June, compared with $6 million for McAuliffe, 56, the former national Democratic Party chairman and fundraiser. While McAuliffe had been expected to out-raise Cuccinelli, the Republican is lagging behind where McDonnell was at this point in his 2009 race, when he had $4.9 million in cash on hand. 
It's true that Erick Erickson of Red State cranked up his fundraising efforts last week but much more it needed.  While money does not necessarily win campaigns, it's not helpful to be out gunned two to one in fundraising.  So, if you don't want to see this in Virginia after 2013:

Please give a little time to the Cuccinelli effort beginning today. And if you can afford it, give a little money too.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Messaging on the Minds of Gun Ban Lobby

The gun ban lobby seems to be concerned with their messaging of late. Shall Not Be Questioned has posts on the subject here and here.  John Lott posted about how Mayors Against Illegal Guns suggest their supporters address the issue of background checks.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Terry McAuliffe Changes Subject When Asked About Support for Gun Ban

Yesterday, Kerry Picket of Breitbart News spoke with Cam Edwards on NRANews.com about her exchange with Democratic Candidate Terry McAuliffe on the subject of  so-called "assault weapons".  "Fast Terry" wanted no part of talking about the subject and instead tried to instead talk about how he is a gun owner, he takes his sons hunting, and that everyone should have to go through background checks before purchasing a firearm, even though just a little over six months ago he expressed support for gun bans.
We need to hold McAuliffe's feet to the fire.  Tell every pro-Second Amendment supporter you know that Terry McAuliffe cannot be trusted when it comes to our rights.  In December when he thought gun control was popular, he was for banning sporting rifles and gun rationing.  Now, he wants to pretend he supports the Second Amendment.  Don't let him get away with it.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Trying Times In Virginia for Gun Control Advocates

Picking up where the paper left off on Sunday,  today's Richmond Times Dispatch (RTD) editorial page points to the huge increase in firearm sales in Virginia and the reduction in gun related crime and notes it is indeed trying times for gun control advocates:
Time after time, progressives have greeted expansion of gun rights with dire warnings that the expansion would turn society into the Wild West, and the streets would run red with blood. They said so after the Supreme Court’s two major gun-rights rulings in Heller and McDonald. They said so after the expansion of concealed-carry laws across the country. They said so after Virginia eased restrictions on guns in bars and restaurants.
In every case, gun-related crimes fell.
The RTD points out that facts are stubborn, and the facts show that the liberal claim that mores guns leads to more crime is wrong.
However, the RTD should do a little more homework when it comes to determining just who is buying all those firearms.   
Foes of gun rights might point out, correctly, that the percentage of Americans who own firearms is declining — therefore, the increase in gun sales is owing to existing owners who are buying more guns, not more people buying a gun for the first time.
They should go up the road to Hanover just outside of Richmond and ask Green Top Sporting Goods, the retailer that the paper's database shows sold the most firearms in the seven year span, and ask them just how many were first time buyers.  Or go to Colonial Shooting Academy in the west end of Richmond, and ask just who is taking all of those firearm training classes they teach.  The RTD will likely find what those of us who pay attention to such things know, that, based on information from manufacturers who have compiled data from firearm warrenty registration cards, say that about 25% of the sales are to first time buyers.  That has also been a big reason why you can't find ammo - more people owning firearms mean increased demand for ammo.
WRIC Richmond News and Weather -

Monday, August 5, 2013

Virginia Gun Sales Increase 100 Percent in Seven Years, Crime Decreases

Yesterday, Fox News picked up this Richmond Times Dispatch article (RTD) that followed up on its article from last year that detailed research by Thomas R. Baker, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.  The RTD asked Professor Baker to look at six years of gun sales and crime data.  What he found was while Virginia's firearm sales had increased by over 70%, crime had decreased by 23%.  In yesterday's article, Baker was able to get the final sales numbers for 2012, and found that since 2006, Virginia's gun sales had increased a whopping 101% while Virginia's crime rate had decreased 28%.


The newspaper recently obtained updated firearm transaction figures and gun crime data for 2012 to compare them with the years originally reviewed by Baker. The new figures show a continuation of a pattern of increased gun sales not contributing to an increase in gun-related crime.
But Baker cautioned against drawing any conclusions that more guns in the hands of Virginians are causing a corresponding drop in gun crime, as some academics and gun-rights supporters have argued.
“To substantiate (that) argument, you would need to eliminate a number of other factors that could potentially explain away the relationship of more guns, less crime in Virginia,” Baker said. “Only if the relationship remained after controlling for additional factors could a researcher be more comfortable making the claim that more guns lead to less crime. But what the data does show is that the ‘more guns, less crime argument’ is certainly possible.”
But he Baker did have this to say:
“It’s a quite interesting trend given the current rhetoric about strengthening gun laws and the presumed effect it would have on violent crimes,” Baker added. “While you can’t conclude from this that tougher laws wouldn’t reduce crime even more, it really makes you question if making it harder for law-abiding people to buy a gun would have any effect on crime.”
This news hit just two days after  New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and a New York Daily News article started a spitting match with Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell over Bloomberg's claim that most of the firearms recovered in crimes in his city come from out of state, including Virginia.
Bloomberg railed that 90% of all guns used in city crimes in 2011 came from other states — and that more of them came from Virginia than anywhere else, including the weapon that killed NYPD officer Peter Figoski in December of that year.
McDonnell's spokesperson's response was too cute by half  responding that Virginia’s murder and robbery (rates) are significantly lower than New York City’s then adding:
“We wish the mayor well as he attempts to address these issues within his home state and we hope he won’t hesitate to call on us if our law enforcement agencies can be of assistance in ensuring public safety in New York City,”
This just begged for the Daily News to go fact checking then piled on by contacting criminologists to explain why the comparison between a city and a state are not correct for statistical purposes.

Maybe the Governor's office should have contacted Professor Baker for a response.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Harry Reid, Gun Control, and 2014

Bitter over on Shall Not Be Questioned has this post suggesting Harry Reid's promise to bring up another vote on gun control before the 2014 general election may be an attempt to hold his majority in the U.S. Senate. He must be nuts you might be saying.  Basically, Reid is calculating that it will give his members running for re-election in red states one last chance to cast a pro-gun vote and giving gun owners on less reason to vote against them. Bitter points out other benefits Reid might see in such a strategy like causing the NRA to hold up endorsements until the votes are taken. She makes some valid points and I think she is spot on. Read the post and see if you agree.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Firearm Permit Requests Surge in Newtown Ahead of New Gun Laws

The Wall Street Journal reports that the number of people seeking permits to buy firearms in Newtown has surged with more than 200 people in Newtown have received new local pistol permits through July. This number surpasses the 171 new permits issued for all of last year. The permits are prerequisites for Connecticut permits that allow people to purchase and carry pistols as well as rifles or shotguns.

"I think people realize that you can't call the police all the time and expect them to save you," said Newtown resident Bill Stevens, 48 years old, an avid hunter who owns more than a dozen firearms. "It's sinking in to some folks that 'I need to take responsibility for keeping my family safe.' "

Like the rest of the nation, Connecticut has seen a steady increase in firearm transactions over the past decade. The Journal reports that according to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection processed authorizations for the sale of 127,000 firearms—including pistols, rifles and shotguns—in 2012, more than double the number authorized in 2000.  If the current pace continues, the state will surpass last year's total by October.

Once again, the gun ban lobby took the opportunity to claim that all those new gun purchases are being made by existing gun owners.
"What seems like inconsistent data [between gun sales and gun ownership] may make a little more sense if you realize the bulk of guns that are purchased are purchased by people that already own guns," said Daniel Webster, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. Presidential elections—which can spur fears of a change in policy—and mass shootings typically result in surges in gun sales, he added.
Tom Gresham, host of the weekly three-hour radio program Gun Talk, mentioned on his program a couple of weeks ago that one manufacturer told him based on product warranty cards received, clearly 25% of their sales are being made to new first time gun owners. So, folks like Webster can keep deluding themselves that firearms are being purchased by a shrinking market, but we have the facts on our side.