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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Bedford County Sheriff Okay with Teachers Carrying Firearms

ABC 13 in Lynchburg reports that Sheriff Mike Brown is okay with teachers carrying firearms, with a caveat:
Sheriff Mike Brown says he'd actually be ok with teachers carrying concealed weapons, if they can hit their target with the same precision expected of his deputies.

WSET.com - ABC13

VSSA offers free training for teachers to qualify for a concealed handgun permit.

Hat tip to The Gun Wire.

Larry Sabato's "Crystal Ball" Predicts GOP Holds House of Delegates

Due in large part to gerrymandered districts, the bulk of the GOP's House of Delegate's majority is safe next Tuesday.  There are 45 uncontested races and an additional 12 with incumbents only facing independent candidates or "third party" candidates some of which are candidates who have put no effort into the race.  Some of the contested races are in Northern Virginia and due to the fact the region has turned so reliably blue (or at least purple fading to blue), that is where the GOP could end up losing if they lose any seats.  The GOP also stands to pick up a Democrat held seat in Southwest that is being vacated by the retiring Delegate Joe Johnson.  This from Geoffrey Skelley over at Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball.
To refresh, there is still no chance that Democrats will win a majority of the chamber’s 100 seats. Republicans presently hold a 68-32 edge (counting one independent caucusing with the GOP), giving them an impregnable advantage in the House. Even more helpful to Republicans is the fact that the only sure-fire pick-up in the House is going to be a Republican one in HD-4, an ancestrally Democratic district in southwest Virginia currently held by retiring Del. Joe Johnson (D). The GOP is the only party fielding a candidate there.
There are about a dozen seats in districts President Obama carried in 2012 that are currently held by Republican Delegates.
Courtesy Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball
The race drawing the most attention is the Northern Virginia district currently held by Barbara Comstock.  In 2012, Obama narrowly carried this district.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg has dropped $100,000 into the Democrat's campaign, after being "badgered" by Kathleen Murphy to help her out.  And with all the talk about Bloomberg's money in the Governor's and AG's race, his real target is turning out the Democrat vote to help sway the close legislative races to his side. Democrats are also working hard to get turn out up to where it was in 2012, believing (probably accurately) that if they can get Blacks and young voters to show up in the off year (which typically is not the case) then they can win.  Bloomberg knows he can't change the overall make-up of the House of Delegates, but he understands incrementalism.  If he can win a handful of races, and also claim to be on the winning side in the Governor's race, he adds to the narrative that gun control is a winning issue if candidates will only run on it.

Tips for Taking Your Children Hunting

With the start of Muzzleloader Deer Season this Saturday, a number of hunters will be taking their children in the field for the first time.  When I took my girls hunting for the first time, above everything else, I wanted them to have fun so they would want to go again.  Haley Heath,  host of the Sportsman Channel's Family Traditions, recently spoke to NRA Women about how to make a hunting trip fun for children.

 We need to increase the number of people hunting and introducing our children to the sport is the best way to do this.  More hunters mean more money for conservation.  Take a kid hunting this season, speaking from experience, you will be glad you did.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Narrative Being Written On How Democrats Win on Gun Control

With just a little less than a week to go in Campaign 2013, the left is already writing the narrative on how Democrats can use the results of the Virginia election to win on gun control.  Eleanor Clift starts of with this piece in the Daily Beast.  From the story's lead-in:
From governor to attorney general and state House, Democratic candidates are campaigning on guns—and painting their opponents as extreme. This cycle, the strategy looks like a winner.
Never mind that Terry McAuliffe all but avoided the issue of gun control until two weeks ago.  But Clift believes that a victory for McAuliffe will mean a big sea change on the issue of gun control in Virginia.
The massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007 is still fresh in people’s minds, and with the recent shooting at the Navy Yard, which is geographically in Virginia’s backyard, voters are more open to hearing politicians talk about gun safety. The same Washington Post poll that has McAuliffe up by a dozen points found that 86 percent of those surveyed support background checks; just 10 percent oppose, with 4 percent undecided. On the campaign trail, McAuliffe emphasizes that he is a hunter, that he owns guns, and that supporting measures that keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill does not interfere with the rights of hunters.
Clift notes that a large percentage of the public supports background checks.  But I bet that the Post did not carry the question to the next step, and ask if those people believe we should have to perform background checks on friends that we have known for 20 years or fellow gun club members that we have known for similar amounts of time, or on family members before private citizens transfer their private property.  I'd bet a completely different response would be received.  .

There is a reason that Bloomberg has targeted Northern Virginia voters in both the statewide races and House of Delegate races - because that is the only part of the Commonwealth where the NRA is not viewed as favorably as in the rest of Virginia.  So, in the end, if McAuliffe wins, it will not be because there has been any great change in the dynamics of the gun issue in Virginia.  It will be because Terry McAuliffe, spent like a drunken sailor to define Cuccinelli:

Courtesy of Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt
...and, as Jim Geraghty put it this morning in the Morning Jolt, Cuccinelli's "whistling past the graveyard" thinking because he had always been outspent, that getting clobbered by a 2-1 margin would not make a difference.

New Poll Shows Governor Race Close Going Into Final Days

The Washington Times reports this morning that a new Quinnipiac University Poll released today that McAuliffe's lead is only 4 percent - much closer than other recent polls. What should concern the Democrat is that most all polls show that the former Democratic fundraiser's support is very soft.  That probably explains why outside groups like Mayor Bloomberg's gun ban group is targeting Northern Virginia to try and get out the vote in the vote rich region.

More on that poll from the Washington Times:
“State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is nipping at Terry McAuliffe’s heels as the race to be Virginia’s next governor enters the final week of the campaign,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “It goes without saying that turnout is the key to this race and the harshly negative tone of the campaign is the kind that often turns off voters.”
That's right - this race is going to be determined by turnout.  It's not over till the last vote is counted and Bloomberg may have awakened a sleeping giant by going over the top pushing McAuliffe to run on gun control in the final two weeks.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Bloomberg Injects Himself Into Virginia AG Race

After pumping $2 million into the Virginia Governor's race, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is now adding an additional million targeting GOP candidate for Attorney General, Mark Obenshain.  But unlike the ads against Cuccinelli, which attack the Republican for his stance against gun control, Bloomberg is targeting Obenshain on other social issues in addition to gun control.  From Politico:
The Bloomberg spot broadly paints Obenshain as a hard-right candidate, using his support six years ago as a state senator for a so-called “personhood” amendment and pivoting to a vote against background checks at gun shows.

And just as Bloomberg's ads against Cuccinelli are misleading (a polite description), the ads against Obenshain are just as dishonest:
“Here are few things Mark Obenshain tried to outlaw,” the narrator of the ad says. “Birth control pills. Women choosing to have an abortion, even in the case of rape or incest.”
The ad goes on: “But when it comes to actual criminals, Obenshain voted to let convicted felons avoid background checks at gun shows, and voted to repeal the one gun a month law, meaning criminals could buy guns in bulk. Instead of dictating to women, Virginia needs an Attorney General who cracks down on real criminals.”
Bloomberg is on a mission to defeat those who believe in the Second Amendment. He sees that the Attorney General’s race is neck-and-neck, with Mark Obenshain leading in most public polls.  
Bloomberg is hoping to tip the scale in favor of anti-rights Democrat Mark Herring.

Cuccinelli, Jackson and Obenshain need your help to counter the big money.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Majority of Virginians View NRA Favorably Except in Northern Virginia

This explains why the gun ban lobby have limited their big spending to the Northern Virginia Area.  Politico reports that while a majority of Virginians view the NRA favorably,  the numbers are slightly different in the Northern Virginia area:
There is a significant regional divide in opinion. In Northern Virginia, the NRA survey found that critics of the group outnumber the sympathizers, 46 percent to 43 percent.  Outside of the D.C. media market, the NRA has a 19-point advantage in favorability.


The question is, have the gun ban lobby and anti-gun candidates like Terry McAuliffe determined that Northern Virginia has finally reached a tipping point in statewide elections where it not only votes anti-gun and Democratic, but brings enough of those votes to the polls to make the rest of Virginia’s vote irrelevant?

Friday, October 25, 2013

McAuliffe Doesn't Care What Gun Owners Think

Last night during the final debate between Virginia's candidates for Governor, we heard something very familiar from Terry McAuliffe when he answered a question about gun control ("I support the Second Amendment, I'm a hunter..."), and we heard something new - that he doesn't care what gun owners think.  Well, not in so many words, but that's what he meant.  He said he doesn't care what the NRA thinks, but the NRA isn't the building or staff in Fairfax County, VA. The NRA is you and me.  Without gun owners joining the organization, there would be no NRA.

Shaun Kenny over at Bearing Drift put it this way:
Keep this in mind folks. No Democratic candidate for governor has ever won on a platform that has embraced the national Democratic position on the Second Amendment.

Mark Warner had to cave on firearms.
Tim Kaine had to cave on firearms.
Creigh Deeds had to cave on firearms.

Terry McAuliffe intends to use Virginia as a platform to show the rest of blue America how he can use Washington-style politics to radically change Virginia’s laws and traditions. ”I don’t care what grade I got from the NRA” was an unmistakable middle finger to 2A supporters everywhere… and this in the birthplace of Patrick Henry and the Gunpowder Incident, folks.
So, are we going to let McAuliffe be the first candidate to openly run on gun control and win?

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ken Cuccinelli on the Nearly $2 Million Bloomberg is Dropping in Virginia

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli spoke with Cam Edwards of NRANews yesterday and talked about the pile of outside money being dropped, mainly in Northern Virginia, to defeat him in his race against Terry McAuliffe.  The San Francisco Gate noted:
Cuccinelli trails McAuliffe in campaign spending and polls. He has roughly kept pace on in-state donations, but out-of-state donors and activists have left Cuccinelli at a disadvantage with little time to make up lost ground.

In the closing days of the campaign, here are some critically important tasks that you can do to help:
 
Educate your family, friends and fellow firearm owners on the stark differences between the two candidates and ensure they vote for Ken Cuccinelli on November 5th!
 
Download, print and distribute the below flyer throughout the pro-Second Amendment community.
  • Below is contact information for the NRA-ILA’s Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs) that have been deployed in Virginia to help get out the pro-rights vote on November 5th. The CFRs are working in strategic locations throughout Virginia to ensure gun owners are actively engaged in our grassroots efforts to turn out the pro-gun vote on November 5th.
  • Please make sure you contact the CFR nearest to you to assist with his/her efforts and encourage your family, friends and fellow firearm owners to do the same.
Don’t let Mayor Bloomberg buy this year’s elections in Virginia to further his nationwide anti-gun crusade! Vote for Ken Cuccinelli for Governor on November 5th and urge your family, friends and fellow firearm owners to do the same!
 
If you are able to assist, please contact the NRA Campaign Field Representative nearest you to volunteer. If a couple hours of your time aren't worth protecting our freedom, what is?
defeat Terry McAuliffe 













 




Pittsylvania
James Lee
434-993-8672
JamesLeeNRA@gmail.com

Chesterfield, Powhatan
James Morton
512-659-5213
JCMorton.NRA@gmail.com

Newport News
Trey Ramsey
717-448-3426
tramseyNRA@gmail.com

Augusta, Rockingham
Terry Durkin
434-989-5089
tdurkinnra@gmail.com

Buchanan, Wise
Lexy Rusnak
540-315-4823
lexynra@gmail.com

Northern Virginia
Jacob Champion
703-672-0251
jchampionNRA@gmail.com

Bedford, Amherst
Raney Quirk
540-406-2342
rquirknra@gmail.com

Again, Please print and distribute the above flyer to your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to make sure they understand the clear choice Virginia gun owners have in this year's elections.

DC Business Man Faces Two Years in Jail for Having Ammo in Home

The Washington Times reports:
Mark Witaschek, a successful financial adviser with no criminal record, is facing two years in prison for possession of unregistered ammunition after D.C. police raided his house looking for guns. Mr. Witaschek has never had a firearm in the city, but he is being prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The trial starts on Nov. 4.
The police banged on the front door of Mr. Witaschek’s Georgetown home at 8:20 p.m. on July 7, 2012, to execute a search warrant for “firearms and ammunition … gun cleaning equipment, holsters, bullet holders and ammunition receipts.”
Sebastian over on Shall Not be Questioned accurately says at the end of the day, "this is what gun control looks like."

Emily Miller discussed it with Cam Edwards on NRANews.com yesterday.


Muzzleloader Season is on the Horizon!

The much anticipated muzzleloader season is set to open on November 2nd.  Below are a few tips to help you be successful in the field courtesy of our friends at Dance'sSporting Goods:
  1. Moisture condenses on metal when taken between extreme temperatures. The day before the season starts take your muzzleloader outside mid to late afternoon and leave in your vehicle overnight. This will allow for the warm to cool temperature change and will allow you to load your muzzleloader with a dry barrel on the morning of opening day.
  2. Use a finger cot over your muzzle to prevent rain or mist from fog from entering into the barrel and fouling your powder
  3. You may use an Ear Band-It® for protecting your primer/cap area from moisture. You will need to fold and snug the Ear Band-It® over the area for proper fit and then install a snap. It makes a quick and easy protection during light to moderate rain fall.
 For those who will be hitting the woods in search of that big buck next Saturday, Good Luck!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

IACP Uses Bogus Numbers to Push for Expanded Background Checks

At yesterday's close to the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference, a group known as the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence held a press conference to push for "expanded background checks."  From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Currently, only buyers who purchase firearms at gun shops are subjected to background checks, while the 40 percent of buyers who purchase their guns privately, including online and at gun shows, are not, said Baltimore Chief Jim Johnson, chairman of the partnership.
Chief Jim Johnson is no stranger to gun control as he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year pushing for more gun control.  But these guys need to stop using the discredited talking points of the gun ban lobby. From that piece in the Washington Post that put the lie to the 40%:
Cash purchase from gun, hardware or department store, from pawnshop, or from seller at gun show, flea market or military, or through mail that respondent says “yes” was FFL [federally licensed dealer]: 22 percent 
Add cash purchase from seller at gun show, flea market or military, or though the mail that respondent says “probably was/think so:” 20 percent 
Add cash purchases, trades with family, friends/acquaintance that respondent says are or probably are FFL: 14 percent 
 In other words, rather than being 30 to 40 percent (the original estimate of the range) or “up to 40 percent” (Obama’s words), gun purchases without background checks amounted to 14 to 22 percent. And since the survey sample is so small, that means the results have a survey caveat: plus or minus six percentage points. 
Moreover, as we noted before, the survey was taken in late 1994, eight months after the Brady law went into effect, and the questions were asked about gun purchases in the previous two years. So some of the answers concerned gun purchases that took place in a pre-Brady environment. 
If only the media assembled at yesterday's press event at the Philadelphia Convention Center had pointed out the fallacy of IACP's numbers.

Quinnipiac Poll Shows Cuccinelli Down by 7 to McAuliffe

We get slightly better news from Quinnipiac this morning than we did from Rasmussen yesterday, which showed Cuccinelli trailing Terry "Party Animal" McAuliffe by 17 points.  The new Quinnipiac Poll shows the deficit at 7 points, more in line with most other polls in recent weeks, and a more achievable deficit to over come than 17:
While 47 percent of Virginia likely voters say the government shutdown hurt the Old Dominion "a great deal," it apparently has no impact on the governor's race, where Democrat Terry McAuliffe leads Republican Ken Cuccinelli 46 - 39 percent, with 10 percent for Libertarian Party candidate Robert Sarvis, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.  
Note that in this poll, McAuliffe is still under 50%.  Now for the bad news, Democrats are more excited about voting for McAuliffe than Republicans are about voting for Cuccinelli:
In today's survey, McAuliffe leads 92 - 3 percent among Democrats, with 2 percent for Sarvis, while Cuccinelli leads 81 - 6 among Republicans, with 11 percent for Sarvis. Independent voters are divided 39 - 39 percent, with 14 percent for Sarvis.
 Women back the Democrat 49 - 35 percent, with 10 percent for Sarvis. Men are divided with 44 percent for Cuccinelli, 42 percent for McAuliffe and 10 percent for Sarvis.
 Only 4 percent of Virginia likely voters are undecided and 7 percent say there's a "good chance" they will change their mind by Nov. 5.
Cuccinelli needs to find a way to tap into that 7 percent that say it is a "good chance" they will change their mind (hoping they aren't folks who are currently in his camp), and need to get those Sarvis voters that will most likely decide their vote is wasted for him and decide to choose between one of the two candidates that have a shot at actually being elected.  It's not impossible, but Cuccinelli has his work cut out for him.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Overheard at the IACP Conference While Eric Holder Was Speaking

Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at he IACP Conference in Philadelphia yesterday. Apparently not all in the room were pleased to hear what he had to say. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
But despite his pledge of continued support for local law enforcement, not all at Monday's conference welcomed the attorney general's pledges. At the back of the hall, a handful of uniformed officers could be heard grumbling, "Three more years of this?"
The Inquirer noted that under Holder's tenure, the number of mass shootings have tripled from an average of 5 per year to 15 per year.

Bloomberg Drops Over $1 Million in Virginia Governor's Race

Just received this from Ken Cuccinelli, who is running for Governor in Virgnia:
Last night, important news broke that I must share with you. After being successfully wooed by Terry McAuliffe, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pouring $1.1 million into the race. Bloomberg is doing so with the hopes that McAuliffe will be elected and immediately begin to curb Virginians' Second Amendment Rights.

Let me be clear: big money is pouring into Virginia from New York City to severely restrict your 2nd Amendment rights.

Terry McAuliffe has been courting Bloomberg for months – and even took a trip to New York City in August to plead for his support Terry has said he’s proud of his “F” rating from the NRA, and he’s supported bans on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard capacity magazines. He's even supported the criminalization of private firearm transfers between family members.
Gun owners need to answer with a show of support for Cuccinelli. You can help in two ways. First give a donation to Cuccinelli. Second, contact the NRA-ILA Field Reps and volunteer in these final 15 days of the campaign. You can find their contact information below:

Pittsylvania
James Lee
434-993-8672
JamesLeeNRA@gmail.com

Chesterfield, Powhatan
James Morton
512-659-5213
JCMorton.NRA@gmail.com

Newport News
Trey Ramsey
717-448-3426
tramseyNRA@gmail.com

Augusta, Rockingham
Terry Durkin
434-989-5089
tdurkinnra@gmail.com

Buchanan, Wise
Lexy Rusnak
540-315-4823
lexynra@gmail.com

Northern Virginia
Jacob Champion
703-672-0251
jchampionNRA@gmail.com

Bedford, Amherst
Raney Quirk
540-406-2342
rquirknra@gmail.com

Monday, October 21, 2013

NRA Reports Spending Almost a Half Million to Defeat McAuliffe

Roll Call reports that the NRA Political Victory Fund has spent $466,000 on television and Internet advertising to communicate Terry McAuliffe's anti-rights agenda to gun owners.
McAuliffe met with Michael Bloomberg during the summer and has said if elected governor, he would push for gun control.

Is the Obama Administration Responsible for the Ammunition Shortage?

You've probably seen the articles about the government (Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration etc) placing orders for more rounds of ammunition per person than is currently used by the military in a year. Some have said that the Obama Administration was stockpiling ammo so you and I could not buy it.

Frank Miniter has an interesting article on the question over at Forbes. In short, Miniter suggests that Obama's part in the shortage is due to the record increase in firearms sales since he took office. With more people buying firearms, there is an obvious correlation between the number of firearms and the amount of ammo needed to use them.
“The biggest change I see this year is that people in their twenties and thirties have become a bigger part of the market,” says Rob Southwick of Southwick Associates, Inc. “Those in this demographic are now buying rifles—especially modern sporting rifles—and they’re shooting for fun.”
Miniter talked to a lot of people in the industry for the article. It's a good read.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

U.S. Supreme Court Won't Hear Maryland May Issue Permit Case

The U.S. Supreme Court said yesterday that it will not hear and appeal of Maryland's handgun permit law.  This leaves in place a lower court ruling that the state's restrictive rules for carry permits do not unconstitutionally infringe upon gun-owners' rights.  The full story is here.

VSSA had filed a amicus brief in the case (Woollard v. Gallagher) when it was before the 4th Circuit.  SCOTUS did not explain their reasoning for denying the petition to hear the case.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Supreme Court to Hear Case of Virginian Convicted of "Straw Purchase"

ABC News has the story here.  The defendant,  Bruce James Abramski, Jr., a former police officer, purchased a Glock 19 handgun in Collinsville, Va., in 2009 and transferred it to his uncle in Easton, Pa.  His uncle is legally able to own and purchase firearms.  Apparently, Abramski used his police discount so that his uncle could get it a little cheaper than he would have if he bought it himself in PA.

Abramski says he should not be considered a straw purchaser because his uncle is not a prohibited person.  The Feds say he lied on his 4473 because he said he was the "actual buyer."

You will recall that all the talk about so-called "universal" background checks back in April was really more "transfers" than purchases.  Manchin/Toomey/Schumer could have made you a felon for "transferring" a firearm to someone without first conducting a background check, including simply letting a friend try your firearm at the range.  Colorado's new "universal" background check does the same.  So, this could prove to be an important case.

Gun Show Firearm Retailer Help Police Nab Felon Attempting to Buy Firearms

It's a common refrain from the gun ban lobby that gun shows are a great resource for criminals to purchase guns. But this story from the Richmond Times Dispatch tells a different story:
According to a summary of evidence, Reaves, who now lives in Richmond, tried to persuade numerous federally licensed firearms dealers to sell him a gun privately and without a background check at the Showmasters gun show July 7 at the Richmond Raceway Complex.

The dealers refused and alerted state trooper D.M. Sottile, who eventually identified Reaves and arrested him after determining he had a felony record.
The prosecutor, Robert C. Cerullo, pointed out how licensed retailers play a key role in stopping illegal purchases by felons, especially staw purchases. Cerullo, a former police officer, also had a little to say about the claim that private sellers account for a lot of sales at gun shows:
Cerullo said it’s difficult to say what percentage of gun show transactions are private because they aren’t tracked.

“I’ve heard the argument from Mayors Against Illegal Guns, but how does anyone say whether they are numerous or not if we don’t track it?” Cerullo said. “They say it happens all the time. Maybe. But then maybe not.”

Last Day to Register to Vote in 2013 Election

Today is the last day to register to vote in the 2013 state wide election.  You can register online, in person, or by mail, but if you mail the form it must be postmarked today to be valid.  You can find out how to register on the State Board of Elections web site.

This year's election is very important to gun owners.  Terry McAuliffe has come out in favor of Colorado style gun control.  Some may say he would never get those type of bills through the General Assembly.  That may be true, but it also is an indication that he would likely not sign any pro-rights legislation that makes it to his desk.  There is a clear choice in this election.  Please make sure your are registered to vote.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Breaking - California Governor Signs Bill Banning Traditional Ammo

Listening now to NRA Lobbyist Ed Worley speaking to Cam Edwards on NRANews.com.  Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a number of very bad gun control bills, including a ban on semi-automatic firearms.  But, in a blow to hunters, he signed a bill banning the use of lead ammunition.  More to follow later.

Update: California Governor's signing message can be found here.  Look for the anti-hunting groups to try and pass similar bills in other states.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Cuccinelli Faces Uphill Climb According to New Poll

The full results are here.  It appears that McAuliffe's constant onslaught of negative ads defining Cuccinelli and the AG's inability to fully respond has taken it's toll.
"Terry McAuliffe's strategy has been to paint Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as too conservative to be Virginia's next governor. Today, almost half of Virginia voters agree, more than the 38 percent who say McAuliffe is too liberal," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Cuccinelli can take solace in the fact that in 2001 polls showed Democrat Mark Warner winning by as much as 17% and he ended up winning by just 5%.  But it is clear the AG has his work cut out for him and it is also clear that his campaign strategists, even though they have been told they need to make a mid-course correction, have ignored the message.

CSGV Weighs in on Virginia's Governor Race

I just opened an email from Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence asking me to sign a petition telling Ken Cuccinelli to release a copy of the candidate questionnaire he completed for another Virginia pro-rights organization.
Ken Cuccinelli wants to be governor of Virginia, but he refuses to reveal his positions on gun laws and public safety. That's why we're partnering with ProgressVA to demand Cuccinelli tell Virginia where he stands on public safety.
I don't however know what Horwitz is trying to accomplish other than raise money because the group he targets in his email is famous for releasing the results of their candidate questionnaires before the election. Also, anyone who has paid attention for the last seven years knows where Attorney General Cuccinelli stands on the right to keep and bear arms.  It's just one more example of CSGV attempting to be relevant, and once again they have failed. So Josh, be patient.  You'll get to see the questionnaire you are looking for soon enough, and it won't have anything to do with your petition.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

New Indoor Range Opening in Harrisonburg Area

A new indoor shooting range will be opening November 1st in Mt. Crawford. Virginia.  According to WHSV TV3, it will be the only indoor range in the Harrisonburg and surrounding area.  The owners of the Gun Shack in Verona, VA will also be the owners of this new range.



Monday, October 7, 2013

Government Shutdown and Firearms

This from today's NSSF Bullet Points:

      Federal agencies that provide customer services to the firearms and ammunition industry are affected by the shutdown. The FBI's NICS Section is maintaining normal business hours. On the other hand, ATF's Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS), which includes the imports, firearms technology, NFA branches, the licensing center and firearms industry programs branch now processing marking variances, is effectively shut down, operating with minimal staff. The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) is accepting licenses, but only acting on them in genuine emergency situations. The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is no longer accepting export license applications, classification requests (CCATS), encryption reviews, encryption registrations or advisory opinion requests. Similarly, BIS will not be issuing any final determinations. All pending export license applications, commodity classification requests, encryption reviews, encryption registrations and advisory opinion requests will be held without action by BIS until the shutdown ends. NSSF will continue to update the industry as additional details on the government shutdown become available.

2013 Cardinal Cup Virginia State Action Pistol Championship

The 2013 Cardinal Cup was held at the Bedford Rifle and Revolver Club on September 22, 2013.  There were 38 shooters participating, firing 49 firearms.  This year's State Champion is Travis Hayton, a Deputy Sheriff in Tazewell, County.  Deputy Hayton dropped only 2 points over the entire course of fire, the least possible drop.  That means that of the 186 rounds he fired, 185 of them were in the 8 circle out to 35 yeards.  Congratulation to Deputy Travis Hayton on a great day of shooting for the 2013 Cardinal Cup  Virginia Action Pistol Championship.

Thanks to Match Director Alan Strawn for passing on this report.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Coyotes an Increasing Problem in Virginia

This isn't news to Virginia hunters.  There have been increasing reports of coyote sightings by hunters, but now suburban residents are seeing more of them.  Coyotes are in every part of Virginia.  Last night, WTVR CBS 6 had this story.  Coyotes are playing havoc with the Commonwealth's deer herd and on small game, and even kill domestic animals in suburban areas.  I had a coyote on my trail camera two of the last three winters.   I've noticed a reduction in the number of deer I have had on camera this year, seeing only one doe/fawn pair, when in years past I had several family groups on film during the summer.



Can Cuccinelli Win?

According to a new Hampton University Poll and former Wilder Chief of Staff and Democratic Stratigist Paul Goldman, only if he makes a mid course correction with a month left in the campaign:
Their numbers show us seven KEYS to the current state of the race.
They also show that while Cuccinelli seems to have a chance in terms of common sense – there are still enough voters undecided – there is a very slim if any statistical chance.
He appears to need to get 2/3 of the undecided vote, these Virginians concentrated in a few larger metro areas as is typical in a VA GUV race.
But as will be clear shortly, without a mid-course correction of the AG’s strategy by his top strategy guy Chris LaCivita – there is not mathematical reason to think Cuccinelli can win.
What is that correction?  In the final month, he needs to find a positive message of why Virginia voters should vote for him, and just a message of vote against Terry McAuliffe.  It's a truism in politics that you have to give voters a reason to vote for you.  So far, it would seem Cuccinelli hasn't done that.  There is still time left to do so.  The question is, will he?

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Defend Freedom, Defeat McAuliffe

NRA is now running this ad in Virginia:



Today, VSSA endorsed Ken Cuccinelli, E. W. Jackson, and Mark Obenshain earlier today.