State Senate Committee to Hear Bills Repealing Pre-emption on Tuesday - Vote on So-called "Gun Show Loophole" Wednesday

Many of you may have received the NRA's alert earlier today that the Senate Local Government Committee is expected to consider three anti-gun bills on Tuesday, January 22, beginning at 2:00 p.m. All three bills target Virginia's commonsense firearms preemption statute. Senate Bill 32 sponsored by Senator Mamie Locke (D-2), would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms in public libraries. Senate Bill 33, also sponsored by Senator Locke, would allow localities to prohibit possession of firearms at outdoor events, such as fairs and carnivals. Senate Bill 300, introduced by Senator Mary Margaret Whipple (D-31), which would authorize any locality to ban the possession of firearms in government buildings.

If enacted, any of these proposals would tear apart Virginia's preemption statute paving the way for the Old Dominion to become an incomprehensible patchwork of gun regulations varying from one locality to the next. Such a development could lead to otherwise law-abiding citizens being charged for violating an ordinance of which they were unaware!

If you have not already done so, please contact the Senate Local Government Committee members listed below and strongly encourage them to protect Virginia's commonsense preemption statutes and your Second Amendment rights by voting against SB32, SB 33,and SB300.

Senator L. Louise Lucas (Chairwoman) - (804) 698-7518 - district18@sov.state.va.us
Senator Henry L. Marsh III - (804) 698-7516 - district16@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - (804) 698-7513 - district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Stephen H. Martin - (804) 698-7511 - district11@sov.state.va.us
Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. - (804) 698-7524 - district24@sov.state.va.us
Senator Patricia S. Ticer - (804) 698-7530 - district30@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds - (804) 698-7520 - district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Linda T. Puller - (804) 698-7536 - district36@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frank M. Ruff - (804) 698-7515 - district15@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli - (804) 698-7537 - district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain - (804) 698-7526 - district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark R. Herring - (804) 698-7533 - district33@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mamie Locke - (804) 698-7502 - district02@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ralph K. Smith - (804) 698-7522 - district22@sov.state.va.us
Senator Richard H. Stuart - (804) 698-7528 - district28@sov.state.va.us

Senate Courts Of Justice to Vote on SB109 Wednesday, January, 23rd
Also, Senate Courts played to a packed room this morning to hear both sides on the so-called "gun show loophole" bill. You can hear WRVA 1140 AM radio's report here. The committee set a vote on the bill for Wednesday during its regularly scheduled 2:00 PM meeting. It is important that you contact the following committee members and urge them to oppose SB 109:

Senator Kenneth W. Stolle - (804) 698-7508 - district08@sov.state.va.us
Senator Frederick M. Quayle - (804) 698-7513 - district13@sov.state.va.us
Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr. - (804) 698-7503 - district03@sov.state.va.us
Senator John S. Edwards - (804) 698-7521 - district21@sov.state.va.us
Senator W. Roscoe Reynolds - (804) 698-7520 - district20@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ken T. Cuccinelli, II - (804) 698-7537 - district37@sov.state.va.us
Senator Mark D. Obenshain - (804) 698-7526 - district26@sov.state.va.us
Senator Ryan T. McDougle - (804) 698-7504 - district04@sov.state.va.us
Senator R. Creigh Deeds - (804) 698-7525 - district25@sov.state.va.us
Senator Robert Hurt - (804) 698-7519 - district19@sov.state.va.us

Legislation will begin moving very quickly now that all bills have been introduced. Be sure to check this blog as well as the VSSA Legislative Tracking Form , which has been updated with a complete list of bills and most recent actions, to keep current on the latest news related to your gun rights.

If you have not already done so, be sure to sign up for the VSSA email alert list. You will only be contacted by this list when your immediate action is needed as VSSA strives not to fill your email inbox with unnecessary emails. You can sign up on the "Ask VSSA" page on the VSSA web site. Simply fill in the form and ask to be added to the email alert list in the body of the form.