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Monday, June 30, 2014

Anti-gun Delegate Indicted on Possession of Child Pornography

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting that anti-gun Delegate Joe Morrissey (D- Richmond) has been indicted on five counts, including indecent liberties with a minor and possession of pornography involving a minor.
You may recall that two years ago Morrissey resorted to theatrics on the floor of the House of Delegates when he waved around an AK-47 to urge support for his bill banning so-called "assault weapons" that was to be heard in committee that evening.

Just one more gun banner having a run-in with the law.

Target Asks Gun Ban Activists to Leave Store

Dana Loesch has the story here via Fox29 San Antonio.

Apparently, activists affiliated with Bloomberg's Moms Demand Action were hoping to collect signatures yesterday at a San Antonio Target as part of their effort to get the chain to ban people from openly carrying firearms.  However, the store manager asked the assembled "moms" to leave the store.

Sig Sauer Reflexive Shooting Coming to Colonial Shooting Academy
























Taught exclusively at the SIG SAUER Academy by instructors personally trained by legendary FBI Agent Bob Taubert, this course is coming to Richmond and emphasizes decades of law enforcement experience in real world, close combat situations. Through repetition, students will master instinctive shooting using natural point-of-aim and target-focused techniques without the use of sights. By building muscle memory, students will achieve both speed and precision while maintaining situational awareness.

This is an intermediate level class.  The student needs to know and be able to demonstrate safe gun handling, weapon system familiarity, foundational marksmanship skills, and working from a holster.
Get course information here.  To register for the class, click the "Schedule" tab at the bottom of the page

John Frazer Law on Fairfax County CHP Denials

Attorney John Frazer, formerly Director of Research at the National Rifle Association, shared this information on Fairfax County related to denial of concealed handgun permit (CHP) application denials:
Fairfax County gun owners should be aware that the Circuit Court clerk’s office may treat concealed carry permit applications as incomplete, and forward them to a judge for review, based on disclosure of pending criminal charges.

While some pending charges—such as any felony, or assault, battery, unlawful discharge or brandishing of a firearm, or stalking—can be the basis for denial of a permit, most misdemeanors are not.
Fairfax is one of the handful of localities in Virginia that has a history of making it as difficult as possible for residents to get a CHP.  Henrico County in the Richmond area is another.

Frazer notes that anyone whose application is denied in situations such as the above can either wait until their pending charge is resolved, or challenge the denial in an ore tenus (“word of mouth”) hearing in circuit court.

If you have a Second Amendment/Firearms related issue for which you need legal counsel, John Frazer has over 20 years of experience in firearms law and policy.  He can assist clients in firearm-related litigation, as well as to provide compliance advice for firearms and ammunition manufacturers, importers, dealers, ranges, clubs, and instructors.  Frazer's other general practice areas include explosives law, civil rights restoration, criminal defense, asset forfeiture and civil litigation.  You can contact John Frazer Law PLLC at:

Thursday, June 26, 2014

The NRA Mom is Determined

The July Issue of NRA's America's First Freedom features this article written by world champion shooter and Team Smith and Wesson captain Julie Golob.  Golob is a veteran, author, shooter, and mom of two. She writes about Bloomberg's efforts to use " emotional manipulation" to create gun phobia and avoidance.   Golob then lays out some important facts:
The number of privately owned guns in the U.S. is at an all-time high, upwards of 300 million, and is rising by about 10 million per year.  Meanwhile, the firearm accident death rate has fallen to an all-time low, 0.2 per 100,000 population, down 94 percent since the all-time high in 1904. Since 1930, the annual number of firearm accident deaths has decreased 81 percent, while the U.S. population has more than doubled and the number of firearms has quintupled.  Among children, such deaths have decreased 89 percent since 1975. Today, the odds are a million to one against a child in the U.S. dying in a firearm accident. 
Golob is the type of personality we want as an advocate for our rights and the NRA is smart to promote and feature her in it's publications and outreach material.  Her face was featured on a huge banner at this year's Annual Meeting.  Soft spoken and professional, she quietly makes her case for why women (and all Americans) should have the right to keep and bear arms, and why those so-called "commonsense" solutions are not so commonsense after all. 
Golob completes the piece with this:
The NRA Mom is determined. She understands the all-important role she serves in her children’s lives. She teaches her children firearm safety at all ages. She instills a sense of self-worth and encourages her young ones to reach their full potential.
Most of all, the NRA Mom stands up for freedom—and the Second Amendment rights that guarantee all of our other freedoms. 
It's a great article.

You can find more about Julie Golob at www.juliegolob.com.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Project ChildSafe launches S.A.F.E. Summer Across America Campaign

VSSA is proud to partner with  Project ChildSafe and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to promote the “S.A.F.E. Summer Across America” campaign. The campaign will focus attention on the importance of safe firearm storage—particularly while children are home from school and more likely to be unattended.

NSSF is implementing S.A.F.E. Summer to further spread the message of Project ChildSafe and help prevent firearm accidents, theft and misuse. "S.A.F.E." serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Be Aware of those around you who should not have unauthorized access to guns; Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage. The effort is focused on providing education and tools that helps gun owners take responsible action to keep their families and communities safer.

 Educational materials and resources are also available through the Project ChildSafe (www.projectchildsafe.org) website and social media, with tips on safe firearm storage, brochures, and information on the variety of safe storage options available.

Last week, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) launched a public service announcement campaign to get gun owners to lock up their firearms when not in use. VSSA is betting however that S.A.F.E. Summer Across America will be better received than the approach taken by NCPC and BJA.

NSSF launched Project ChildSafe in 1998 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help young people and adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. The program has provided more than 36 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. That's in addition to the more than 60 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998 and continue to do today.

Project ChildSafe was originally supported by federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2008, when this funding was cut, the firearms manufacturing industry has solely funded the Project ChildSafe program through the members of NSSF.

Number of Young Competitive Shooters Skyrocketing

During his NRANews program yesterday, Cam Edwards mentioned this article that appeared over the weekend in the Boston Globe.  The article, titled "Gun Controversy Lost on New Shooters" is a pretty balanced article that discusses the rise in the number of young competitive shooters at a time when some adult policy makers want to restrict our gun rights.
Participation in the nationwide 4-H Shooting Sports Program, which includes archery, hunting, pistol, rifle, and other firearms, has nearly tripled since 2009 and last year drew 336,558 program participants nationally. The actual number of youths involved is doubtless somewhat different than that, as some sign up for more than one offering and not all states report, but the trend is clear.

Also, after a long decline, participation in hunting in the US increased by 9 percent between 2006 and 2011, and one of the main reasons appears to be an array of youth recruitment and retention programs sponsored by local clubs and national youth organizations, according to a recent study funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
No surprise to those of us who have children who enjoy the shooting sports, parents interviewed for the article mentioned target practice and competition has increased their child's focus and sense of responsibility.

During Sportsman Channel's NRANews Cam and Company, Edwards spoke with world champion shooter and captain of Team Smith and Wesson Julie Golob about the article and the positive impact the shooting sports have on young shooters.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Sussex County Fully Repeals Sunday Shooting Ban

At tonight's Board of Supervisors meeting, Sussex County has removed the language from the recently enacted county noise ordinance related to shooting on private property on Sunday.  The ordinance, enacted on April 17th, effectively banned shooting on private property on Sundays, targeting the new Sunday Hunting Law.  The ordinance had been passed in time to affect spring gobbler season.  After an outcry from gun owners and hunters, the Board passed an emergency ordinance at the May Board meeting, repealing the shooting section but had to act in 60 days to make the change permanent.  They did just that tonight.
This victory is due to the hard work of gun owners and hunters who made a public outcry to the Board Chairman Eric Fly.  Thanks to your hard work, it is once again legal to target shoot on private property.

Department of Justice's Million Dollar "Gun Safety" Public Service Announcements

So this is how the Obama Administration spends $1 million of taxpayers money trying to reach gun owners with a message about safe storage of firearms.
That was the most offensive of the two television public service announcement developed by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Ad Council and funded by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.  You see, firearms are scary. They scare kids, and, they cause nightmares, and are something for which we have to apologize.  Apparently, they didn't think about the millions of kids that participate in the shooting sports.
If they had simply stayed with the below, ad, it might not have been so bad, other than the fact NCPC/Ad Council must think that gun owners need children to tell them how to "follow rules."
But the print ads are even worse:


The above print and video ads are all part of a campaign where the Obama Administration found $1 million laying around (at a time when the "sequester" was causing cuts in defense) to spend on this.  You'd think from the ads, that there is an epidemic of accidental deaths from firearms in the home.  But just the opposite is true.

So, you tell me, which do you think will be a more effective firearm safety campaign targeting gun owners, something like this:
or the Justice Department/BJA/NCPC campaign?

By the way, the Julie Golob firearm safety campaign rolled out for Mother's Day didn't cost $1 million.




Trouble with Grouping Handgun Shots?

Dance's Sporting Goods shares this tip in their recent email blast.
If you want to check to see if you are pulling the trigger, draw about a 6" vertical line on your target and put a 1" circle or smaller in the center. Aim at the circle every time and you will know if you are pulling the trigger off to the left or right. Right-handers typically pull the gun to the left, left-handers to the right.  

Still having trouble getting your handgun to group well? Try the "Ball & Dummy" drill to get you back on target

Halbrook: Should Not Read Anything Into Court's View of Carry With Abramski Ruling

VSSA Life Member and Second Amendment Attorney Steve Halbrook appeared on NRANews' Cam and Company on Wednesday to provide some additional analysis of the Abramski vs. US ruling where Virginia resident Bruce Abramski, Jr.'s, conviction of making a so-called "straw purchase" was upheld by a divided U.S. Supreme Court. Cam Edwards asked whether gun owners should read anything into Justice Kennedy's siding with the anti-rights justices on the court and whether that spells bad news for the carry cases like Peruta vs. San Diego, that are possibly headed to the Supreme Court.  Halbrook said we shouldn't read Monday's ruling as bad news (he didn't say it was good news either) because it was a totally different  question before the court.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

New York Times: Minority Gun Owners Face Balancing Act

Over the weekend, the New York Times ran this article that talks about minority gun owners and what the Times refers to as a "balancing act" they face weighing the "isolation" of being a minority gun owner and the "stigma" of gun violence.  Once you get past the headline, it's not a bad article.

It starts off talking about Ken Blanchard, a minister, blogger and podcaster known as "Black Man With a Gun."  They caught up with Blanchard in April at the NRA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. The article than goes into the numbers of minority gun owners and how they are lower than their white counterparts as well as their percentage of the population:
Blacks are less likely than whites to own a gun. In surveys from 1973 to 2012, an average of 27 percent of African-Americans nationwide said they owned a gun, compared with 47 percent of whites, according to data from NORC, a research center at the University of Chicago. Even so, their attendance at the N.R.A. convention was minuscule compared with their rate of gun ownership, let alone their presence in the population at large.
The accompanying video with the article featured interviews with a number of minority shooters at Anthony Colandro's Gun For Hire range.  It also mentioned NRANews Commentator Colion Noir.  While discussing the number of minorities who own firearms, the reporter accurately mentioned "the number of Blacks who admitted" to owning a firearm.  It is likely that a lot of gun owners, black and white, aren't likely to admit to a stranger on the phone if they own firearms, whether that person identifies themselves as a representative of a polling firm or not.  The reporter also repeated the myth that "overall less people own firearms now than in the past."  Tell that to the gun shops, firearms instructors, and manufacturers.
Talking about the "stigma" of being a Black gun owner, and how "gun violence" plays a part of that and how Blacks are more likely to be victims of such acts, the article also dredged up "Stand Your Ground" laws and the Trayvon Martin incident.  What the Times did not mention is that, at least in Florida, which has been the focus of such laws and where the Martin incident occurred, Blacks have actually benefited more from the Stand Your Ground defense.

Overall, it is a good article and worth checking out.

Update: Reverend Ken Blanchard, one of the main subjects of the story, spoke with Cam Edwards of NRANews about the experience and how the reporter became a convert to the Second Amendment.

Virginian Loses Supreme Court Case on "Straw Purchase"

On Monday, a divided Supreme Court ruled against Virginian Bruce James Abramski, Jr., in a case related to "straw purchases."  Yahoo News has the story here.

The background: Abramski, a retired police officer purchased a Glock pistol for his uncle from a gun shop in Collinsvile, Virginia, using a law enforcement discount. He then transferred it to an FFL in Pennsylvania so his uncle could take posession of the firearm.  The rub was Abramski stated he was the purchaser on the form 4473. He was arrested as a suspect in a bank robbery several days later but never charged, but he was charged with lying on the 4473. He challenged the conviction and the Supreme Court sided with the government.  Anthony Kennedy was the deciding vote. In the past, Kennedy has sided with the majority in Heller and McDonald which up held an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Justice Elana Kagan, writing for the Majority, said:
“Abramski’s reading would undermine — indeed, for all important purposes, would virtually repeal — the gun law’s core provision,” Kagan wrote. She added, “Putting true numbskulls to one side, anyone purchasing a gun for criminal purposes would avoid leaving a paper trail by the simple expedient of hiring a straw.”
The problem with this is that Abramski was not arguing that he should be able to buy a firearm for a criminal.  I guess the difference between what Abramski did and what my wife would do if she buys a firearm for me for Christmas is, she is buying it - I did not give her the money to do so as Abramski's uncle did, she just gives it to me as a present after she buys it.

Apparently, Kagan does not find "ambiguity” in the law a bad thing.

Friday, June 13, 2014

31% of Self Decribed Liberals Don't Want Family Member to Marry a Gun Owner

The Wall Street Journal's The Numbers Guy blog shares an interesting Pew Research Poll to see how politics affects marriage.
Pew notes:
Liberals also don’t want to see their family members marry gun owners, with 31% saying they’d be unhappy; only 1% of consistently conservatives would feel unhappy about a gun owner.
As you can see, religion seems to be another area that affects family relations.  Conservatives really don't want a family member to marry an Atheist.  About 27% of Liberals don't want family members to marry a Born Again Christian, but guns really seemed to get Liberals upset more than any other area.  Seems marrying a Republican gets slightly less dislike among liberals than if their family members marry a gun owner.

Virginia Self-Defense Law Offers VSSA Members Discount

Save Your Life Savings

As many of you know, our friend Ken Cuccinelli stepped down as Virginia’s Attorney General in January. Ken is continuing his advocacy for 2nd Amendment Rights as a lawyer in the private sector. With 3 other lawyers, he has started a unique law firm called “VSD Law, PLC,” a Virginia Self-Defense Law Firm. You can visit them at www.VSDLaw.com . Ken has offered VSSA members a special discounted membership rate for both individuals, or for married couples. What VSD Law, PLC does is defend you if you get harassed for being a gun owner or for carrying, and they will defend you if you have to use your firearm lawfully in self-defense. This is not insurance – you would be hiring a law firm – and if you have legal issues due to your ownership or use of your firearms, you will not pay for any attorney fees for their representation beyond the annual retainer cost noted above. My wife and I have signed up, and I’d urge you to visit their website and check it out. Don’t lose your life savings just because you have to defend your own life or family. If you want to sign up, contact the VSSA office by e-mail at vssamain@verizon.net. After your membership has been verified, you will be provided a special link for VSSA members, where you will receive the special VSSA discount.  This special discount is not visible any other way on the VSDLaw web site except through the link provided to you by the VSSA office.  You must be a VSSA member to receive this special rate.

I urge you to go to the VSDLaw web site to learn more about their services.  Then, if you are a VSSA member, send an email to the address above and you will be provided the special URL for VSSA members.  Not a VSSA member?  We can help with that too!  Just click here to join. 

I use VSDLaw and I urge you to use VSDLaw too.
 
Ernie Padgette,
President, VSSA

Thursday, June 12, 2014

No Surprise, Everytown for Gun Safety School Shooting Map Overstates Incidents

Michael Bloomberg's gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety has created a map that claims that there have been 74 “shootings at schools” since the Newtown, Connecticut school shootings. Investigative journalist Charles Johnson has examined the 74 incidents in detail, and found that some incidents did not take place on campuses, fewer than 7 were mass shootings, one was a case of self-defense, and one probably did not happen.  Not surprising, the map and related media reports have been widely circulated  by the usual gun ban proponents in Hollywood and the media, and even in the news clips of a bureau of the U.S. Department of Justice.   


Also not surprisingly, the numbers are wrong.  Johnson spoke with Cam Edwards on NRANews' Cam and Company yesterday about his finding.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Cantor Loses Primary , Democrats Find 11th Hour Candidate for 7th District

Back when everyone thought Eric Cantor was a shoe-in for re-election, the 7th District Democrats decided they would not run a sacrificial lamb.  But it appears the 7th District Democratic Committee had second thoughts and nominated John "Jack" Trammell two days before the GOP primary.  Trammell is an associate professor at Randolph-Macon College, the same place that employs Brat.

Reading news clips and listening to talk radio this morning, much is being made of the "historic" nature of Cantor's loss.  There is also a lot of talk about Brat's Tea Party connections and how the "Tea Party Roared."  It's likely less due to the Tea Party and more along the lines of what an unnamed "GOP strategist" told the Roanoke Times last night during a conversation at the Cantor election party wake and reported by the Times this morning:
“This is what happens when you don’t tend the weeds in your backyard,” the strategist said. He went on to question Cantor’s decision to go on television — a strategy that may have raised Brat’s profile and let more voters know about the race. “Six weeks ago, Brat was an unknown. The question will be: Did the campaign overreact?”
Something happened between 2012 and 2014.  Jim Geraghty noted on the Campaign Spot that in 2012, Cantor took 79of the vote in his primary.  He also notes turnout wasn't the issue.  It was higher than 2012:
Cantor and his allies can’t blame low turnout for this one. My old colleague Derek Willis noted that the 2012 primary turnout was surpassed with only 71 percent of the precincts reporting. “People who ran David Brat’s turnout operation are gonna be getting some phone calls, methinks.” 
A perfect storm appears to have been created in the last year that led to last night's surprise upset.  In full disclosure, I have known Cantor for years.  I also personally know many of the former Cantor supporters who were supporting Brat and, who in my opinion, made this more personal toward some of the players than it should have been.  And, I know Cantor's consultant.  Cantor became the target for the anger caused by events that began in the run-up to this year's GOP mass meetings and state nominating convention, orchestrated by Cantor's consultant, and likely with the approval of Cantor.  They were tactics that were regularly used in the 80's when I was cutting my teeth in politics.  They served only to tick off people and had for the most part been tossed in the waste can, until this year.  Bearing Drift does a good job of explaining those events in this post.  In short it can be summed up like this:
Don’t piss off the grassroots.
John Fund confirmed this when he wrote on National Review Online:
Primaries are often criticized for low voter turnout. But they are also expressions of the grassroots sentiments of political parties. The lesson tonight is that establishment candidates ignore their most ardent voters at their peril. As political analyst Stuart Rothenberg put it tonight: “The GOP establishment’s problem isn’t with the Tea Party. It’s with Republican voters.”
So, Brat is to be congratulated on his win.  He energized grassroots and it paid dividends.  But now he has to figure out how to raise money for a general election because you can bet the Democrats would love to try and make this a race.  The district is drawn to favor the GOP, but if you can't raise money to get your message out, that advantage may evaporate.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Brat Gets Stunning Victory over Cantor

NBC 12 is reporting that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has lost to Tea Party Challenger Dave Brat.  Brat leads 56% to 44%.  Cantor lost the bellwether GOP stronghold of Chesterfield County 55 to 45, or by 1650 votes with one precinct left.  He also is losing his home county of Henrico with two precincts left to report. Cantor also lost Hanover County big.

Cantor will likely question whether he made the right decision to not debate Brat and lay out his positions for the voters rather than first ignor Brat then go on an ad blitz to paint Brat as a liberal.

This is clearly a case of money not being able to beat energized grassroots.  Cantor spent raised $5 million and Brat raised less than 100,000 about $200,000.

Primary Day in Virginia's 7th District

Polls will be open for another five hours in Virginia's 7th District where there has been a hotly contested race pitting NRAPVF Endorsed Congressman Eric Cantor and Tea Party favorite challenger Dave Brat.  Most pundits believe Cantor will come out on top. The question is, will it be a blowout or will it be closer than should be expected for a candidate with millions in campaign cash and an opponent who raised less than $100,000.  What little money Brat has had was dumped into radio ads attacking Cantor on amnesty for illegal aliens.  The ads have run during the Rush Limbaugh program for the last couple of weeks.  The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog noted  yesterday that the Cantor's winning margin may give an indication of where the House of Representatives goes on the issue of amnesty for illegals.
The Virginia primary comes in a political season when most challengers trying to dislodge incumbents because they are too soft on immigration have failed, or likely to fail. But the anti-immigration side may score a measure of victory if their campaigns push lawmakers closer to their side, even if they are not defeated.

Responding to Mr. Brat, Mr. Cantor has repeatedly emphasized he work to block “amnesty” for “illegal aliens.”
If Brat holds Cantor to just a few points over 50%, Cantor may determine it is in the GOP's best interest not to address the issue until after the November elections so as not to depress their base vote. If Cantor trounces Brat with a vote total of 60% or more, he may take it as a signal the GOP has noting to fear and push forward with an immigration vote before November.  Either way, most voters in the 7th District are going to be happy when today is over.  The winner is assured of going to Congress next January as no Democrat has qualified for the ballot as of today.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Gun Banners Lose Control of Virginia Senate

In a surprise announcement Sunday, southwest Virginia State Senator Phillip Puckett (D-Russell) resigned from the Senate of Virginia, leaving Democrats one vote short of control of the chamber.  The Richmond Times Dispatch has the story here.  While this does not immediately impact legislation related to our rights, it could immediately impact committee make up as the General Assembly is still in special session to deal with the budget.  Governor Terry McAuliffe and the Republican controlled House of Delegates are in a stalemate over expanding Medicaid as part of Obamacare.  While McAuliffe's statement on Puckett's retirement showed his anger at the move and the likely impact it will have on Democrats in the State Senate to continue to hold the budget hostage, it could just as easily been aimed at how the move will impact future firearm related legislation. 
“This situation is unacceptable, but the bipartisan majority in the Senate and I will continue to work hard to put Virginians first and find compromise on a budget that closes the coverage gap.“
With the gun banners in contol of Senate Courts of Justice, they were hopeful they could get gun control bills to the floor of the Senate.  Now, that could all change as Repubicans could be slightly favored to win the open seat.  Stay tuned as more information for the special election becomes available.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

June Squirrel Season Opens Saturday June 7

If you aren't going out fishing over the next few weekends, grab your .22 or dust off that 410 you haven't shot in a while and go out squirrel hunting! Mornings and evenings shouldn't be too hot, and the kids will enjoy a little plinking without it being freezing outside. This is the perfect time to introduce a child to shooting, hunting, and the outdoors. It will also let you brush up on your shooting skills and stay sharp for this Fall/Winter!

Justice Department to Emily Miller: We're Not Stopping Operation Choke Point

Emily Miller, formerly Washington Times editorial writer and now Investigative Reporter with DC's Fox News 5, appeared on the station's Good Day DC on Monday to talk about the Justice Department's Operation Choke Point.  Choke Point is an initiative that USDOJ claims is set up to protect consumers from shady businesses that are breaking the law, but it increasingly is associated with shutting down legal businesses like firearm retailers and ammunition retailers (note - FDIC revised their guidance that to banks on July 28, 2014.  However, it is believed all they did was remove the list from their web site but did not change their policy related to the original list).  It should be noted that while they removed the list.  That's right, the official Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) list includes firearm and ammunition sales.  Last week, Congress included language in the Commerce, Science and Justice Appropropriations bill that directs the Department to not spend any of the appropriation on Operation Choke Point.  That would only impact the DOJ's spending after October 1, meaning they could continue to target our 2nd Amendment Rights until then.  But, Emily Miller said when she contacted the DOJ spokeswoman, that individual said they are only targeting illegal businesses and they don't intend to stop the intitiative.
Miller talked more in depth about the initiative and its impact on Second Amendment Rights with NRA News on Tuesday.

NRA Clarifies Position on Open Carry Texas

Earlier this week, NRA issued a statement on the situation that has unfolded in Texas with proponents of open carry of handguns, carrying long guns into businesses. Currently, the open carry of handguns is illegal in Texas while gun owners may open carry long guns.  If this sounds just nuts to you, it reminds me of when concealed carry of handguns in Virginia was illegal in family restaurants that serve alcohol while open carry in those same eating establishments was legal.

Anyway, as could be expected, the mainstream media jumped all over what appeared to be a family feud in the pro-rights community.  Yesterday,  NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox appeared on NRANews to clarify their position.
I'll admit that when I read the original statement, I was surprised at some of the terms used, but was not surprised at the overall message.  As Sebastian noted on Shall Not Be Questioned, even legislators pushing the current open carry bill in the Texas legislature have said what some supporters of Open Carry Texas (OCT) are doing is not helping their cause.  And, their actions are impacting all of us.  National attention has been drawn to businesses like Sonic, Chili's, and Jack-in-the-Box, and the subsequent requests that patrons leave their firearms at home.  These businesses haven't outright posted "no firearms" but that doesn't matter to the media and gun ban groups.  The narrative is being written that another business has told gun owners we don't want your business.  The businesses didn't ask for this attention, and like the below video from a Texas based blogger, shared on Bearing Arms notes, they have to consider all of their patrons.
So, what was hoped to be a story that went away after Open Carry Texas issued new guidance on how supporters should conduct themselves, continues to cause heartburn.  We can only hope that the most zealous among OCTs' members have not caused irreparable damage to the legislative effort to secure open carry of handguns in the Lone Star State.  If they can get a bill passed, the story may finally go away.  Wishing Texas gun owners success in this legislative effort.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Handgun Sales Are Hot

CNN Money reports that the sale of handguns are quite brisk with Smith and Wesson sales jumping by nearly a third at the end of last year and Colt Manufacturing sold 12 times as many handguns early this year as it did in 2013. And, compact handguns, those easiest to carry concealed, are growing at double the rate of overall handgun sales.
The market shift toward handguns has been so pronounced that Colt is repurposing some of its manufacturing equipment and personnel that were dedicated to making semiautomatic rifles to make handguns instead.


No surprise based on the story shared yesterday where the Seattle Times noted that the growth in concealed carry permits in Washington is being driven largely by women.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Why Women Are Carrying Concealed

The Seattle Times had this story on the "skyrocketing" number of concealed carry permits in the state of Washington, especially among women.  They had an accompanying pictorial with quotes from some of those women on why they want be responsible for their self-defense:
Katie Oittinen, just received her Concealed Pistol License in the mail. "It's important for me to have a CPL to protect myself and my son," she said. Oittinen drives down long, dark roads to reach her home outside Granite Falls. "You can't count on a sheriff to show up in a timely manner and keep you safe. It is also important for me to be able to protect myself while out in the woods. You never know what kind of wildlife you may run in to," she said. 
Gracie McKee, director of training and range manager at West Coast Armory, knew she wanted her Concealed Pistol License by the age of 19, and obtained it at age 21. "The reason I carry is out of a deep-seated love for myself, my family and the innocents," she said. By the age of 24, McKee became an NRA training counselor, a certified instructor and a range safety officer. "I'd like to encourage women to explore any avenues, whether it be carrying concealed or something else, that will empower them to take on the survivor mind-set and refuse to be a victim," she said. 
Anette Wachter, a member of the U.S. National Rifle Team and Belltown resident, secured her Concealed Pistol License three years ago. "I carry because I feel I am responsible for my own safety," she said. Wachter says she can't rely on others or the police to be there at the right time to protect her. She conceal carries in a variety of ways, including a bra holster, an inner waistband holster and side holster. She also designs upcycled-bullet jewelry and blogs about women and gun culture at http://www.30calgal.com
Michelle Locke Hemby, of Queen Anne, applied for her Concealed Pistol License in March. "My biggest concern is that in the event I need to use a gun, I most certainly do not want to be afraid to," she said. Hemby wanted a license to exercise her rights of gun ownership. She also applied after hearing rumors that the federal government could try to restrict CPLs. The license would also give Hemby the ability to make an immediate purchase of a gun, instead of going through a waiting period. 
Apparently Moms Demand Action has never talked to these women. 

Sussex Board of Supervisors Likely to Revisit Sunday Shooting Ban at June Meeting

The Sussex Surry Dispatch reported in its latest edition that the Sussex County Board of Supervisors will likely revisit the noise ordinance issue at it's June Meeting. If the Board permanently repeals the section related to target shooting on private property on Sunday, they must hold a public hearing. As of today, no such notice has been posted and the county has not posted the agenda for the June meeting. The Board has until July to act or the temporary repeal will expire and the original noise ordinance will again become effective.

Has the Virginia GOP Learned Its Lesson

According to the Roanoke Times, we will know some time this Saturday afternoon.  The Virginia GOP will hold its U.S. Senate Nominating convention in Roanoke on Saturday and choose between four candidates for the chance to take on incumbent Mark Warner.  The four candidates are former RNC and Virginia GOP Chairman Ed Gillespie, Tony DeTora, a congressional policy adviser from Stafford County; Shak Hill, a U.S. Air Force veteran from Centreville; and Chuck Moss, a businessman from Prince William County.   

Last year's convention for the three state wide offices was a disaster.  The nomination for Governor was unopposed and most people came in committed to one or the other AG candidates.  But for the Lt. Governor nomination, there were five candidates and most delegates were uncommitted, which created the perfect storm for the eventual winner, E.W. Jackson, who made a real stem winding speech and led on every ballot.  In the end, his 20 point loss in the general election likely helped pull down State Senator Mark Obenshain in the AG's race.  Will the GOP go with the best candidate this year?  UVA Political Scientist Larry Sabato seems to think so: 
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, agreed that a Gillespie defeat in Roanoke is unlikely, given the stakes and following Republicans’ losses of all three statewide races in November.
“Political people are not dumb; their learning curve is not flat,” he said. “The GOP has a fair to good chance to take control of the Senate, and the party is trying to broaden the playing field.
I guess we will find out Saturday if Sabato is right.