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Friday, January 31, 2014

Combat Pistol Concepts Fun Shoot

Virginia Pistol (a VSSA advertiser)  is holding a series of Combat Pistol Fun Shoots beginning in April.  The events are designed to help handgun shooters of ALL experience levels, develop, increase and test/evaluate their shooting skills in a fun yet professional environment.  They plan to hold the events once a month depending on popularity.  Trophies will be awarded in the following categories:
  • 1st Place Revolver
  • 2nd Place Revolver
  • 3rd Place Revolver
  • 1st Place Pistol
  • 2nd Place Pistol
  • 3rd Place Pistol
  • Top Female Shooter (In event of a tie, a "shootoff" will be held)
  • Top Male Shooter (In event of a tie, a "shootoff" will be held)
  • Most Improved Female Shooter-Instructors Choice
  • Most Improved Male Shooter-Instructors Choice
You can get more information here.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

JMU Professor Predicts Gun Bills Pro and Anti Not Going Far in General Assembly

Both the State Senate and the House of Delegates have dispatched most all of the gun control bills introduced this year.  It has been slow going for pro-rights bills.  Dr. Bob Roberts, a Political Analyst at James Madison University believes that neither side will gain any ground this year in the General Assembly.  WHSV TV3 in Harrisonburg ran this story yesterday.
A new dynamic has been introduced into the mix however with Democrats taking over the State Senate this week.  VSSA's lobbyist told me earlier today that the Senate has changed and not for the better.  All House bills will now go to the Senate Rules Committee rather than the Clerk of the Senate for assignment to Senate committees.  It is believed this will allow bills passed by the more conservative House of Delegates that the Senate Leadership (or even the Governor) does not like, to die.

Things have changed overnight and it is anyone's guess what the outcome will be.  VSSA is watching this very closely and will let members and gun owners know when action is needed.

VA Senate Democrats May Try to Revive Gun Control Bills

Elections have consequences and the election of Democrat Ralph Northam as Lt. Governor has switched control of the evenly divided State Senate to the Democrats.  This control was cemented when Delegate Linwood Lewis won Northam's vacated seat by a total of 11 votes after the recount.  Now, according to the Roanoke Times, Democrats are looking for ways to revive bills defeated earlier this session when Republicans and a majority on nine committees, including gun control bills.
And gun control bills like SB 520, which was defeated Monday in the Courts of Justice Committee, could also be resurrected with a new, 9-6 Democratic majority on the panel.

That measure, sponsored by Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Richmond, would create a Class 2 misdemeanor for a person who is not a licensed dealer to sell, rent, trade or transfer a firearm to any other person who is not a licensed dealer.

“There definitely are bills that are important to our core constituency,” said McEachin, the architect of Tuesday’s takeover.

Typically, to revive a bill killed in committee, someone who voted on the prevailing side (in this case the side that killed the bill) would have to move to reconsider the vote.  Doubtful that any of the Republicans on the committee would do that and the one pro-rights Democrat, John Edwards has been a good friend to gun owners and he is the only Democrat who voted on the prevailing side and could move to reconsider the vote.  Though this does not mean there are not other slights of hand the anti-rights Democrats could try.


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Gun Control All But Vanishes From Obama Agenda

Politico has the story here.  As Sebastian said on the subject, there wasn't, much meat to his comments. 

We'll see if Obama goes the route of "Executive Actions" but it appears there will be no further congressional pushes in the near future.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permits Moves to Senate Finance Committee

Yesterday, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee reported SB 608, a bill to provide for Lifetime Concealed Handgun Permits was reported by a unanimous vote and rereferred to Senate Finance as it carries a fiscal impact to a state agency.  If passed and signed by the Governor, the bill would change the process for applying for a permit, changing it from the Clerk of the local circuit court to the State Police.  It would also require the State Police to run annual background checks on every permit holder to make sure there has been no change in the holder's legal status.  We will see if the State Police make the case that they cannot handle that requirement.

USA Today Story on Firearm Injuries is Incomplete

USA Today is reporting this story that repeats a familiar theme of the gun ban lobby, "the safest home is the home without firearms."  It does appear however that those attempting to use statistics to infringe on our rights have started to learn from past mistakes.  Usually, when they talk about "children" injured by firearms, they included people under the age of 20, the high range of which most people would not consider children.  So, you will note in the headline to the story they have now changed the term to "young people."

Let's be serious. When you get to the age range with the most "injuries," the 15-19 age group, you are talking about a lot of gang bangers, as the graphic below shows that the overwhelming cause of injury in that group is assault. 

Source: "Pediatrics" journal for February. 1 - Most recent figures available. Age unknown for 112 victims.
Janet Loehrke and Anne R. Carey, USA TODAY
Doesn't make it any less tragic, but it does put the number in perspective. The fact is, fatal firearms accidents are down 45% since 1993 according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The study was just another attempt to push for gun control using a "Public Health Cost" argument.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Legislative Update

Gun owners have fared well so far in the two legislative committees that have heard firearm related bills.  The House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee has defeated bills that would have banned out of state residents from purchasing long guns, banned standard capacity ammunition magazines, required private sales to undergo background checks, and prohibited firearms from legislative buildings.

Senate Courts of Justice met yesterday and also defeated some bills related to background checks on private firearm sales.  Unfortunately, they also all but killed a bill that would have exempted concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders from background checks at the time of a firearm purchase - carrying the bill over to next year.  Typically, that is the way the legislature kills bills without having to taking a vote to do so.

Sunday Hunting cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday when HB1237 was reported out of committee on a vote of 12-10. The bill has never made it out of subcommittee in the past.  This year it was heard by the full committee.  HB1237 would allow Virginians to hunt on private property with the permission of the land owner, but would prohibit the use of dogs for deer and bear, and prohibit hunting within 200 yards of a House of Worship.  The bill moves to the full House and will likely be debated Friday or Monday.  VSSA knows that this issue divides the hunting community, but HB1237 is a good compromise that allows those who cannot hunt the other six days of the week due to work and family responsibilities, the opportunity to hunt if they have access to private land.

The good news is that gun control bills are still being defeated in both the State Senate and the House of Delegates.  We will have to wait to see if we can get good bills out of the State Senate and on Governor McAuliffe's desk.

The House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 will take up two bills today - Lifetime CHPs and exemption from background checks at the time of a firearm purchase for CHP holders.  VSSA will give live results via Twitter.  You can also track the progress of legislation on the VSSA Legislative Tracking Form.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Sunday Hunting Bill Moves to House Floor

This morning, on a vote of 12-10, the House Agriculture Committee reported HB 1237, Delegate Todd Gilbert's bill to allow Sunday Hunting on private property.  It is expected that the bill be be debated in the full House of Delegates on Monday.  This is a good first step but the opposition will have the entire weekend to work members in an attempt to attach amendments to weaken or kill the bill.  Please contact you member of the House of Delegates and urge them to vote yes on this important property rights and pro-hunting piece of legislation.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Virginia Sunday Hunting Hearing Wednesday In Full House Agriculture Committee

This Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. HB 1237,a bill to allow Sunday hunting on private land, will be heard in the House Committee on Agriculture. This is the first time the bill has been set to be heard in the full committee, having been killed in Subcommittee with litte to no hearing in the past.  This is an issue that has divided  the hunting community in Virginia for years, with as many hunters supporting the ban as opposing it.  There is a large portion of the hound hunting community that has worked hard to keep the ban.  This bill however is a property rights issue.  It only allows hunting on Sunday on private property so it would not affect those who like to have Sundays to ride horses or bird watching, because the hunting would not be done on public land.
 
VSSA supports lifting the ban on Sunday hunting.  Twenty years ago there were a half million hunters in Virginia.  Now, there are about half that number.  With the economy being what it is, many people work two jobs and have to work Saturdays.  Allowing Sunday hunting on private property would go a long way to giving those folks an option to hunt.
 
We need your help to contact Delegates on the committee as soon as possible and tell them you support Sunday hunting on private land. Every hunter should support this measure if they want new generations to have the option to hunt in the future. Hunting license sales have dropped from 500,000 in the mid-1970s to 300,000 today. If we don't increase license sales, our hunting tradition will be lost. The only way to promote license sales is by creating more time for hunters to hunt.

Whether you speak to the legislator, an aide, leave a voicemail or write a letter, be firm but polite. Tell them why you want Sunday hunting, in your own words. And be certain to mention that if the number of hunters continue to decline, the sport will be soon be gone, and that Sunday hunting is the best means available to bring more people into the sport. Get your family and friends to call/email/write as well. It makes a big difference.

Please contact delegates on the committee today!
Urge them to support Sunday hunting!

Arrests Increase in Virginia for Prohibited Persons Attempting to Buy Firearms

The Times Dispatch has the story here.
In 2011, the first year Virginia State Police began tracking gun show transactions, 10.6 percent of the people denied permission to buy firearms were charged with an offense related to being someone legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. That proportion rose to 12.4 percent in 2012 and more than doubled to 27 percent last year.
The State Police noted that not all people denied correspond to a previous crime that makes them a prohibited persons.
Some misunderstand what they are required to disclose on the background check form or unknowingly provide false information, others don’t satisfy identification requirements, and a few are accidentally flagged as being prohibited from buying a gun, among various reasons.
Not suprisingly, when you look at the actual number of denials, the number is quite small compared to the number of transactions.
The number of denials rose slightly from 359 in 2011 to 380 in 2012, but fell sharply to 263 last year.
And when you look at the number os people actually charged, it confirms what the U.S. Department of Justice research arm, the National Institute of Justice found, that very few criminals attempt to get their firearms at gun shows.
Despite last year’s drop in denials, the number of arrests at gun shows continued to climb steadily, from 38 in 2011, to 47 in 2012 to 71 last year.
Thomas R. Baker, a criminologist and an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, who did an intensive study on the number of firearm sales over the last six years and crime rates over the same period, believes that the drop in denials can be attributed to the repeal of "one gun-a-month" because people who attempted to puchase a second handgun before the expiration of the 30 days since their last purchase were listed as denials.  Handgun rationing was repealed in 2012.
He noted that between 2000 and 2012, rejections based on attempts to purchase more than one handgun per month among all commercial venues (including gun stores and gun shows) was the most common source of denial during that period, larger than even denials for prior felony convictions.
While Baker tries to make the case that the numbers should lead everyone to support so-called "universal background checks" the real take away should be when the law is enforced, people who should not be purchasing firearms will be stopped, as they have been increasingly in Virginia.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Virginia Democrats Push for Gun Control at General Assembly

A list of bills on the VSSA web site shows that the usual suspects are at work again at the Virginia General Assembly.  Today, a group of Democrats outlined their agenda which was covered by the Associated Press.  The legislators in attendance said they are hopeful they can enact new restrictions they say are only targeting criminals and the mentally ill.  Don't bet on it.
The proposals, outlined Wednesday at the Capitol, would require background checks for all commercial gun purchases and ban gun ownership for five years for individuals convicted of stalking or violent sex crimes.
The proposals are modeled after recommendations made on December 2nd at a gun control consortium presentation at UVA.  It's the same old proposals repackaged to look like they are new.

Caldwell's New AR-15 Magazine Charger

The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show is currently being held this week in Las Vegas.  Here is one of the many products being introduced at this year's show.



Hat tip Grand View Outdoors.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Firearm Bills to Be Heard in Militia Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 Thursday

The following bills will be heard in the Militia Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1 on Thursday at 4:00 PM in the 4th Floor West Conference Room of the General Assembly Building:

  • HB 61 Firearms; purchase and sale of rifles or shotguns, penalties. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 100 Concealed handgun permits; references to issuance of handgun before July 1, 2008. VSSA Supports
  • HB 357 Concealed handgun permit applicant; access to information. VSSA Supports
  • HB 448 Firearms; restoration of rights, report to State Police. VSSA Supports
  • HB 535 Firearms; criminal history record information check on transferee; penalties. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 695 Concealed handgun permit; changes to types of firearms safety courses. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 705 Concealed handgun permits; eliminates certain requirements for an out-of-state permit. VSSA Supports
  • HB 736 Concealed handgun permits, lifetime; Department of State Police to issue, penalty. VSSA Supports
  • HB 809 Prohibition of sale, transfer, etc., of certain firearms magazines; fine. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 810 Firearms; willful discharge, penalty. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 812 Firearms; criminal history record information checks for sales, penalty.VSSA Opposes
  • HB 823 Firearms; transfer at gun shows, voluntary background check. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 828 Concealed handgun permits; completion of firearms safety courses. VSSA Neutral
  • HB 878 Firearms, certain; law-enforcement officer certification. VSSA Supports
  • HB 962 Concealed handgun; carrying in a secured container or compartment in vehicle. VSSA Supports
  • HB 992 Firearms; prohibited in libraries owned or operated by localities. VSSA Opposes
  • HB 1055 Concealed handgun permits; completion of firearms safety courses. VSSA Neutral
  • HB 1118 Criminal background check for transfer of firearms; exemption for holders of concealed carry permits VSSA Supports.

  • Gun owners who can are encouraged to attend and should where business attire.  VSSA's lobbyist will be in attendance and has been working committee members ahead of the meeting.  Check the blog on Thursday for results of the meeting.

    Is Mark Warner Vulnerable

    Conventional wisdom has it that U.S. Senator and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner is one of the safer senators seeking re-election this year.  He is personally popular in Virginia, left office as a popular Governor and was overwhelmingly elected in the 2008 tidal wave that swept Democrats into control of the entire federal government.  Until 2013, he did all he could to at least keep the NRA from endorsing any of his opponents (they made no endorsement in the 2001 election when Warner was elected governor and in 2008 both Warner and former Governor Jim Gilmore received "A" ratings but no endorsement).

    Then, in 2012, Newtown happened and Warner was heard distancing himself from Virginia gun owners and NRA members, and when given the chance to say exactly what he was for and against, he could not quite do it.. In the end, in April of 2013, Warner voted for the Manchin/Schumer/Toomey criminalization of private firearm sales but voted against Diane Feinstein's amendment to renew the so-called "Assault Weapons" ban, and voted against Frank Lautenberg's ban on so-called "high capacity" ammunition magazines.

    Up until now, only a couple of unknowns with very little experience had come out of the woodwork to challenge Warner as he gears up for re-election this year.  He has raised gobs of money and has gobs more in his personal fortune.  But columnist Marc Theissen suggests that if former RNC Chairman and lobbyist Ed Gillespie ends up throwing his hat in the ring, Warner may not have the easy campaign he had originally expected:
    Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is in a lot more trouble than it seems. Despite his ample war chest and approval ratings, only 50 percent of Virginians say Warner should get a second term. And independents, by a margin of 49 to 43 percent, say they would rather have someone new in Virginia’s Senate seat.
    A candidate like Gillespie will also likely hound Warner on the fact that he was a deciding vote in the passage of Obamacare, which continues to be even more unpopular with each passing day. And last month, former Virginia Democratic Chairman Paul Goldman and Conservative Blogger Norm Leahy noted how the election of Terry McAuliffe could be Warner's worst nightmare.
    Our hunch: He learned that voters are surprised when told of Warner’s support for Obamacare. That vote is a huge liability right now among the Virginians whom Gillespie needs to attract to be more than a sacrificial lamb. And should he run, it would mean a major national GOP guru is betting he can use Obamacare to bring someone of Warner’s stature down.
    Warner is already trying to tar Gillespie with the "high paid lobbyist" label, but as The Hill notes, with McAuliffe's election, that may not work.

    Most bets will still be on a Warner victory in November.  But, if the Virginia GOP does not commit suicide at it's nominating convention this spring, and instead goes with a nominee that can at least match Warner's ability to raise money and make it a credible race, if the voter mood remains what it it now, Warner may find himself in the fight of his life.

    Wonder if Bloomberg Was Disappointed in Terry McAuliffe

    Did not see any mention of gun control among the priorities McAuliffe outlined in his address to a joint session of the General Assembly last night. He talked about reforming Virginia's education accountability system, expanding Obamacare to include Virginia's Medicaid enrollment, giving in-state tuition to the children of illegal aliens. But no mention of gun control. We'll see if he tries to put the weight of his office behind the growing list of gun controls bills that continue to be introduced in both chambers.

    Thursday, January 9, 2014

    Firearm Bills Start Flowing at General Assembly

    With the first day of the 2014 Session of the General Assembly behind us, here is a look at some of the more important firearm related bills VSSA will be working over the next two months.  Be sure to check this blog, the VSSA Twitter feed, and the VSSA Facebook Page for updates.  Bills will continue to be introduced until Friday January 17th.  The below list will grow and it is expected that a number of additional anti-rights bills will be introduced before next Friday. 

    One final note; if your membership is about to expire, please take a moment now to renew so we can continue to include you in our voice to the General Assembly.  Because of you, we beat back all of the anti-rights bills last year and even passed a few good bills.  We need you to help us again this year.  And by renewing now, you will help save VSSA valuable resources that would be used on postage to send a renewal notice.

    Pro-rights Bills:

    HB 8 - Fees for concealed handgun permits. Decreases the local law-enforcement background investigation fee from $35 to $10, which includes any amount assessed by the FBI for providing criminal history record information. The total amount assessed for processing an application for a permit is thereby decreased from $50 to $25.  
     
    HB 21 - School boards; employee firearms training. Requires every school board in the Commonwealth to designate at least one qualified person for every school in the district who, upon application with the school board, may carry a concealed handgun on school property. The bill requires all designated persons, including certain school division employees, certain school volunteers who carry valid concealed handgun permits, and certain retired law-enforcement officers, to be certified and trained by the Virginia Center for School Safety or the National Rifle Association in the storage, use, and handling of a concealed handgun. The bill also outlines the training requirements for designated persons as designed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.  
     
    HB114 - Possession of firearm, etc., on school property; private or religious schools. Eliminates the crimes of possession on the property of a private or religious elementary, middle, or high school; a school bus owned or operated by such school; or any property being used for functions or extracurricular activities sponsored by such school of a stun weapon, knife, or other weapon (currently a Class 1 misdemeanor) or a firearm (currently a Class 6 felony). The bill does not affect the criminal penalties for the possession of such weapons on public school property. 
     
    HB127 - Use of muzzleloading pistols. Allows persons to hunt big game with muzzleloading pistols of a caliber of .45 or greater where and in those seasons when the use of muzzlelooading rifles is permitted. The bill authorizes the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to adopt regulations that specify the types of muzzleloading pistols and projectiles and propellants that can be used. The bill contains technical amendments.  
     
    HB317 - Prohibition on weapons at airport; exception for concealed handgun. Provides that a person who holds a valid concealed handgun permit may lawfully possess or transport a concealed handgun into any air carrier airport terminal.  
     
    HB357 - Concealed handgun permit applicant; access to information. Allows a clerk of a circuit court to disclose information contained in a concealed handgun permit application to the applicant. Currently, the clerk may not disclose such information to anyone except for a law-enforcement officer acting in the performance of his official duties.  
     
    HB639 - Concealed handgun permits; residents of the Commonwealth. Allows any resident of the Commonwealth who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywhere he may lawfully carry a handgun within the Commonwealth (commonly referred to as Constitutional Carry).  
     
    HB644 - Concealed handgun permits; lifetime permits. Provides for the issuance of concealed handgun permits for Virginia residents that do not expire. Currently, such permits must be renewed every five years.  
     
    HB646 - Replacement concealed handgun permits. Provides that no fees shall be charged for the issuance of a replacement concealed handgun permit because the permit holder has changed his address (currently subject to a maximum fee of $10) or to replace a lost or destroyed permit (currently subject to a maximum fee of $5). 
     
    HB705 - Out-of-state concealed handgun permits. Eliminates certain requirements for an out-of-state concealed handgun permit to be recognized in Virginia and provides that such a permit authorizes the holder of the permit to carry a concealed handgun so long as the permit holder carries a valid government-issued photo identification and presents that identification to any law-enforcement officer upon request. 
     
    HB714 - Renewal of concealed handgun permit; no fees required. Provides that a person who has previously been issued a concealed handgun permit does not have to pay any fees to renew such permit.  
     
    HB736 - Lifetime concealed handgun permits; Department of State Police to issue; penalty. Provides for the issuance of concealed handgun permits that do not expire to Virginia residents upon payment of a one-time fee of $100, except that the fee for a person currently holding an unexpired permit is $50. Currently, the fee for issuing such permits is $50, and the permits must be renewed every five years with an additional $50 fee charged each time. Such lifetime permits will include a photograph of the permittee.  
     
    HB752 - Student expulsion; pneumatic guns. Removes pneumatic guns from the list of weapons that require a school board to expel from school attendance for a period of not less than one year any student whom such school board has determined to have possessed such a weapon on school property or at a school-sponsored activity.  
     
    SB368 - Regulation of transportation of a loaded rifle or shotgun. Provides that lawful concealed carry permit holders shall not be subject to the provisions of certain local ordinances that make it unlawful for any person to transport, possess, or carry a loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road, or highway within such locality.  
     
    SB396 - Criminal background check for transfer of firearms; exemption for holders of concealed handgun permits. Provides that a licensed firearms dealer does not have to have a criminal background check performed to determine a person's eligibility to purchase a firearm if the purchaser possesses a valid concealed handgun permit and presents a photo-ID issued by an agency of the Commonwealth or the Department of Defense.  
     
    Anti-Rights Bills: 
     
    HB48 - Possession of firearms following conviction of certain crimes; penalty. Prohibits any person who is convicted of stalking, sexual battery, or assault and battery of a family member that results in serious bodily injury from possessing, transporting, or carrying a firearm or any other weapon for a period of five years following his conviction. A violation would constitute a Class 6 felony. The bill also provides for the forfeiture of any weapon possessed, transported, or carried in violation of the prohibition. Finally, the bill provides for a process by which a violator may petition the circuit court for a reinstatement of his rights to possess, transport, or carry a weapon. (the pupose of bills like this is to take us down the road to California where some 40 different misdemeanor crimes can cause someone to lose their 2nd Amendment rights). 
     
    HB61 - Firearms; purchase and sale of rifles or shotguns; penalties. Prohibits the sale of any rifle, shotgun, or assault rifle by a federally licensed firearms dealer to any out-of-state resident. Under current law, out-of-state residents may purchase rifles, shotguns, or assault rifles from licensed dealers in the Commonwealth provided certain background checks have been passed. Also, the bill moves language regarding driver's license designations from Title 18.2, Crimes and Offenses Generally, to Title 46.2, Motor Vehicles, with no substantive change to the language. The bill contains technical amendments.  
     
    HB129 - Explosive material; method of ignition. Adds high impact velocity to the methods of ignition contained in the definition of "explosive material." It is a Class 5 felony to possess materials that may be used to manufacture explosive materials or to manufacture, transport, distribute, possess, or use explosive materials. (You may be asking why? Because this would make a substance commonly used in exploding targets illegal.  Exploding targets are used safely by many shooters). 
     
    HB535 - Transfer of firearms; criminal history record information check; penalties. Adds a definition of "firearms show vendor" and requires that a criminal history record information check be performed on the prospective transferee before the vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show. Under current law, only licensed dealers must obtain such a check. The bill also requires that the promoter of a firearms show provide vendors access to licensed dealers who will conduct the criminal history record information check.  
     
    HB695 - Concealed handgun permit; firearms safety course; nonresident permits. Makes various changes to the types of training courses permitted to satisfy the requirement to display competence with a handgun to obtain a resident or nonresident concealed handgun permit, including (i) requiring that a National Rifle Association (NRA) or Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) course focus on the use and handling of a concealed handgun; (ii) requiring that a law-enforcement course be a handgun training course rather than a firearms safety course; and (iii) requiring that online NRA or DCJS training courses be synchronous. The bill also requires that applicants for a nonresident concealed handgun permit possess a valid concealed handgun permit from their state of residence and provide a copy of that permit with their application. 
     
    HR7 - Rules of the House of Delegates. Prohibits firearms on the floor of the House of Delegates.  
     
    SB39 - Transfer of firearms; criminal history record information check; penalties. Adds a definition of "firearms show vendor" and requires that a criminal history record information check be performed on the prospective transferee before the vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show. In order to be a "firearms show vendor" the person must have paid or given other thing of value to the promoter for the opportunity to sell guns at the gun show. Under current law, only licensed dealers must obtain such a check. The bill also requires that the promoter of a firearms show provide vendors access to licensed dealers who will conduct the criminal history record information check.
     
    SB65 - Brendon's Law; celebratory gunfire; penalty. Provides that any person who willfully discharges a firearm with no discernible or designated target within or into the limits of any city or town or within two miles of any occupied building and such conduct results in the death of another person is guilty of an offense punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than five nor more than 40 years. The bill also provides that such conduct that does not result in the death of another but does result in bodily injury to another person is a Class 3 felony. Finally, the bill provides that such conduct that does not result in the death or bodily injury to another is a Class 6 felony. (This bill is a response to the tragedy that occurred on July 4th where some idiot apparently fired into the air and the bullet came down and struck a young boy walking to a fireworks show.  It is already against the law to discharge a firearm in an unsafe manner such as occurred in Chesterfield that night).
     
    SB287 - Transfer of firearms; penalty. Provides that any person who sells or otherwise transfers a firearm to a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm by state or federal law is guilty of a Class 6 felony if the transferor does not obtain a background check from a licensed firearms dealer.  (It is already illegal, and a felony to "willfully and intentionally" sell a firearm to a prohibited person.  The bill also creates a registry of firearms similar to what Manchin, Schumer, Toomey did by basically cooercing private sellers to go through an FFL for a background check in order to protect themselves - and requires the licensed retailer to list the purchase in his records similar to what is required of FFLs by ATF).
     
    SB377 - Firearm transfers to dealers; penalty. Requires firearm dealers to go through a process administered by the Department of State Police to determine whether a firearm that is being transferred to the dealer by a person other than a dealer, importer, or manufacturer can be lawfully transferred. The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2015.





     





    Wednesday, January 8, 2014

    2014 General Assembly Convenes

    The 2014 Session of the Virginia General Assembly convenes today at Noon and VSSA's lobbyist is there and ready to defend your rights.  There are currently just under 20 firearm related bills pre-filed.  Be sure to check this blog, the VSSA Twitter feed, and the VSSA Facebook Page daily for updates.  The VSSA Legislative Tracking Form will be posted on the website by the weekend.

    This year is the long session (60 days) so while legislators have a little more time to take up legislation, things will still move fast.  This year is expected to be as busy as last year with the anti-rights lobby turning to states to try and do what they could not do at the federal level.

    Tuesday, January 7, 2014

    No Firearms at McAuliffe Inauguration

    The Virinian Pilot has the story here.
    Virginia legislators who lawfully carry concealed handguns at the state Capitol can't bring them to Virginia's inauguration Saturday due to stricter U.S. Secret Service security protocols due to the attendance of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
    There will also be a restriction on umbrellas, but depending on the weather (rain is forecast as of today), that restriction may be lifted.

    Bill Introduced to Reduce CHP Fee by Half

    Delegate Lee Ware has introduced House Bill 8 which would reduce the application fee to apply and renew a Concealed Handgun Permit from $50 to $25.

    Much at State in Tuesday's Special Election in Senate District 6

    The Special Election tomorrow to replace State Senate Ralph Northam, who will be inagurated Lt. Governor on Saturday, is important for a couple of reasons.  First, it could keep the State Senate in the hands of the marginally pro-rights GOP.  But, Bearing Drift lays out an even more important reason:
    While that is certainly true and conventional wisdom, there is a far more important reason for Republicans to go “all-in” today and tomorrow in supporting Norfolk businessman Wayne Coleman’s candidacy – the fact that for the first time in twenty years the state is without a Republican attorney general.
    Why is this important? With the election of Democrat Mark Herring as attorney general, whose seat in Northern Virginia is almost certain to return to the Democrats (especially with Republican John Whitbeck and independent Joe May campaigning for the same voter pool), not only will all legislation pass through this progressive’s office to “be reviewed” for state constitutional muster, but Herring was unequivocal during his campaign that he would “pick and choose” which laws to enforce and which to ignore.
    Coleman's Democrat opponent is Lynwood Lewis (NRA "A-" Rated in 2013).  Lewis voted to repeal the "Restaurant Ban" in 2010 and repeal handgun rationing in 2011.  He serves on the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee where most all firearm related bills go, as well as the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.  Coleman has not held public office.

    Here is the problem; Lewis will vote to organize the Senate with the anti-rights Democrats, putting the Senate Courts of Justice chairmanship in the hands of the vehemently anti-rights Senator Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), and insuring he may not have the opportunity to vote for pro-rights legislation for at least two years. Should anti-rights legislation get to the Senate floor, he can likely be counted on to vote against it.

    The NRA did not endorse or issue grades in the special election.

    Comstock to Seek 10th Congressional District Seat

    Virginia state delegate Barbara Comstock has made it official that she will seek the seat being vacated by Representative Frank Wolf in Virginia's 10th District.  So far, she is the only serious candidate seeking the seat.  State Senator Richard "Dick" Black has set up an exploratory committee but has not made a decision to run.  The only other announced candidate on the GOP side is White House crasher Traeq Salahi.

    Comstock is solid on the Second Amendment.  She earned an "A" rating from NRA in last year's election.  Among the pro-rights votes she has cast since her election in 2009 are the repeal of the ban on carrying concealed in restaurants and repeal of handgun rationing. 

    Delegate Comstock won re-election by 422 votes last year, after former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg donated to her opponent late in the campaign.

    Monday, January 6, 2014

    Be Careful What You Wish For

    Bob Owens of Bearing Arms is spot on:
    In one location after another, long gun open carry intentionally designed to evoke a response from the public is leading to more anti-gun laws.

    Please tell me again how doing Bloomberg’s work for him is a winning strategy.
    Open carry is legal in Virginia. Let's keep it that way.