Campaign 2009 Post Mortem - Big Win for Gun Owners

Election 2009 was a huge victory for Virginia gun owners. In addition to electing VSSA endorsed Bob McDonnell to be our next Governor, Virginia voters also re-elected VSSA endorsed Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and VSSA endorsed Ken Cuccinelli as Attorney General.

While the pundits will debate the significance of this year's election and its impact on national politics, there is one thing that is clear - the big loser yesterday was the gun control crowd. All you have to do is look at the results of those who made gun control an issue in their campaign or who were solid anti-gun votes in the General Assembly.

For instance, Delegate Steve Shannon decided in the last two weeks of the campaign to run an outlandish ad against Senator Cuccinelli that tried to paint Cuccinelli's pro-rights stance as favoring the arming criminals and terrorists. This was clearly a reference to the non-existent "gun show loophole." Senator Cuccinelli's internal polling however showed that Shannon's ads backfired and actually drove up Shannon's own negatives among voters.

Of equal importance, a handful of vehemently anti-gun members of the House of Delegates were defeated yesterday - in Northern Virginia no less.

In House District 32, NRA "F" rated David Poisson was defeated by NRA "AQ" rated Thomas "Tag" Greason.

In House District 34, NRA "F" rated Margaret Vanderhye was defeated by NRA "AQ" rated Barbara Comstock.

Additional races of interest included the defeat of Delegate Danny "Dan" Bowling in House District 3. Delegate Bowling had been a reliable pro-rights vote in the House of Delegates until he pulled a "Creigh Deeds" in 2008 and voted against killing a bill that would have required background checks on private sales at gun shows. It was that vote that cost Delegate Bowling the endorsement of VSSA in 2009. Bowling was defeated by James W. "Will" Morefield who received an "AQ" rating on his NRA questionnaire.

Filling the open seat in the 55th District of retiring Frank Hargrove is John Cox. Cox was rated "AQ" by the NRA (VSSA only rates incumbents based on their voting record). This is a slight improvement as Hargrove always voted against repeal of the ban on carrying concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol.

Also an improvement is the defeat of 23rd District Shannon Valentine who will be replaced by the NRA "AQ" rated T. Scott Garrett.

In a race that will likely go to a recount, VSSA endorsed Ron Villanueva defeated decidedly anti-gun incumbent Bobby Mathieson. Villanueva's margin of victory is a mere 16 votes - showing that every vote is indeed important.

VSSA member Bill Janis cruised to victory over anti-gun James Towey. Janis was endorsed by both VSSA and NRA and is a stalwart supporter of our firearms freedom.

Another reliable vote is Delegate John O'Bannon who also fought off a spirited challenge from Tom Shields. O'Bannon was endorsed by both VSSA and NRA and is one of our true friends in the House of Delegates.

Overall, the House of Delegates should be a few votes stronger in support of our rights when it convenes next January. VSSA would like to thank all of Virginia's gun owners and sportsmen who voted yesterday and who voted Freedom First. It was truly the best election for gun owners since 1993 when George Allen was elected Governor and led to Virginia's "shall issue" concealed carry reform.

There is every reason to believe that should repeal of the "Restaurant Ban" pass the General Assembly again next year, that we will finally see the bill signed into law. VSSA will be working hard to make this a reality. We have a lot to celebrate after last night's election results. VSSA will now turn its attention to the legislative session and as we did last year, we will keep keep gun owners informed using this blog, and using out email alert list. If you are not already subscribed, please take a minute to click the link on the right side of the page and subscribe today. We won't inundate you with email, just information that will be necessary for you to protect your rights.

What Will the Message of Today's Election Be Tomorrow?

Polls opened in Virginia at 6:00 AM and will remain open until 7:00 PM. If the supporters of Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli turn out in the numbers that the pre-election polls have indicated, it should be an early night in Virginia with all three winning clear victories. But, we must turn out as the only poll that really counts is the one taken today.

There has been much talk about what the elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York's 23rd Congressional District will mean for the Obama agenda which up to now has pretty much been about seizing as much power for the federal government as quickly as possible. Congressional Quarterly reported this morning that more times than not, off year elections are more about local concerns than sending any message to Washington. There have however been exceptions - 1993 being one.

Sometimes, these odd-year elections can look oddly predictive, as in 2003, when Republican pickups for governor in Mississippi and Kentucky preceded the re-election of Republican George W. Bush as president in 2004, and in 2005, when the Democratic candidates scored hard-won holds for governor in New Jersey and Virginia on the eve of their party’s takeover of Congress in the 2006 elections.

But the big off-year races in 2007 ended up a wash, with a Republican takeover for governor of Louisiana, a Democratic take-back in Kentucky and a GOP hold in Mississippi. And the next year, the Democrats nonetheless celebrated Barack Obama ’s victory for president and big seat gains in Congress, governors’ offices and state legislative races.

One thing seems to be clear from this election cycle - more people are aware of what is going on around us - and what is being done to us by those in Washington. Jim Shepherd of the Shooting Wire writing yesterday about his travels around the country the last eight weeks where he evaluated new firearms and accessories that will be introduced next year, shared this observation:

In Virginia this weekend, I spent time with a group of professionals of varying ages. There were the usual conversations about golf handicaps, sports teams and the kids' sports, but once small-talk was out of the way, the tone changed. It is safe to say that many Virginians are looking to tomorrow's gubernatorial election as an opportunity to be one of the first states to deliver the message that the electorate is beyond disgusted with the status quo in government. They were also extremely aware of important races in other states. One that got special attention was New Jersey, a state described by them as "full of great people who are also fed-up with the current state of affairs."

So, whatever the outcome tonight, both sides will be spinning the results to fit their narrative. But one thing is sure, the citizens of this country have been awakened and the 2010 elections will be very interesting and will get underway tomorrow.

Delegate Dan Bowling and the "Gun Show Loophole"

Over the weekend, I was asked why VSSA did not endorse Delegate Danny "Dan" Bowling (D-3) in his House of Delegates re-election race. There is a good reason for VSSA making this decision. While Delegate Bowling has been a good friend of gun owners on most issues, in 2008, he pulled a Creigh Deeds on the so called "gun show loophole." In 2008, House Bill 745, was introduced, adding the definition of firearms show vendor to state law and would have required background checks on the private sale of firearms at gun shows. The bill was assigned to the Militia, Police and Public Safety committee on which Delegate Bowling is a committee member. When the vote came to "Pass By Indefinitely" (PBI- to kill the bill), Delegate Bolling was one of seven committee members voting "No" on killing the bill.

VSSA does a very thorough review of votes cast by legislators to determine who is deserving of our endorsement. The gun show issue is very important to VSSA members and gun owners in general. While questionnaires give an indication of what a candidate says he or she will do, a voting record is a true indication of where a candidate really stands. It is because of the vote on HB 745 in 2008 that Delegate Bowling did not receive the endorsement of VSSA. In addition, the NRA-PVF gave Delegate Bowling a rating of "B" likely because of his vote on HB 745. Bowling's opponent, James W. "Will" Morefield does not have a voting record therefore VSSA did not make an endorsement (he did receive an "AQ" from NRA-PVF based on his questionnaire). Gun owners in the 3rd House of Delegates district should decide who is likely to be a better friend, a candidate that voted against their interests when it comes to gun shows, or a candidate that has indicated on his NRA questionnaire that he will be with us.

VSSA Endorsed Manoli Loupassi Needs Poll Workers

VSSA Endorsed Delegate Manoli Loupassi needs poll workers for Tuesday. Please contact the campaign if you live in or near his west end Richmond district and can give two hours to work on Tuesday and help a pro-gun candidate.

Call Linda Gross at 804-440-6223.

Manoli needs your help. Thanks!

Matt Lohr the Choice for Gun Owners in House District 26

There is only one candidate in the race for the 26th House of Delegates district that has a proven record of supporting our firearms freedom and sporting heritage. That candidate is Delegate Matt Lohr. Delegate Lohr has earned the support of all gun owners and sportsmen with his unblemished record of supporting our right to keep and bear arms. Not only did Delegate Lohr earn an "A" rating and endorsement from the NRA, his voting record has earned him the endorsement of VSSA. While Delegate Lohr's opponent earned an "AQ" NRA rating based on his NRA questionnaire, he has no voting record on the issue. Only Delegate Lohr has proven record of supporting our rights and he has earned the support of all gun owners in the 26th House of Delegates District. VSSA urges all gun owners and sportsmen to contact Delegate Lohr's campaign in these closing days to find out how you can help then vote to re-elect Delegate Matt Lohr on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Desparate Shannon Uses VCPS Talking Points Against Cuccinelli

The Washington Times editorializes today that Democratic Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon is using terms similar to those used last week by the Virginia Center for Public Safety to charge that State Senator Ken Cuccinelli wants to arm violent felons.

In the race to become the commonwealth's next attorney general, state Delegate Stephen Shannon is trying to tar his opponent, state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, for purportedly giving guns to convicted felons. Mr. Shannon is sending around literature with a scary picture of a violent criminal claiming: "FACT: Ken Cuccinelli, candidate for attorney general, voted to allow violent felons to purchase guns in Virginia."

This of course is a reference to Senator Cuccinelli's vote against the anti-rights gang's numerous attempts to shut down gun shows in the Commonwealth using the phony "gun show loophole" as their clarion call. Clearly Shannon's attacks on Senator Cuccinelli are false.

The Times editorial makes an excellent point when it says Mr. Shannon's policies would disarm law-abiding Virginians and increase crime. And as the Times concludes, that's the real issue for Virginians who care about their personal safety.

Sources have shared with this writer that internal polling is showing Shannon's negative attacks may not be having the desired impact and may actually have caused his own negatives to go up. In these final days, lets all do our part to insure that Senator Ken Cuccinelli wins and wins big next Tuesday.

VA Tech Tailgate for Victory

Virginia's elections are ground zero for the enemies of freedom to try and turn the tide against our gun rights in the Commonwealth. Our opponents will be pulling out all the stops as a run-up to the 2010 elections, and all eyes will be on Virginia next Tuesday! To ensure we are prepared to meet the challenges and ensure victory on Election Day, the NRA-Political Victory Fund is hosting a tailgate on Thursday, October 29th, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Lot 2 at Virginia Tech! Stop by for free food, election gear, and a chance to meet VSSA and NRA-PVF endorsed candidates Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli.

What: Victory Tailgate Party
Where: Virginia Tech vs. UNC Football Game, Parking Lot 2
When: Thursday, October 29 beginning at 12:30 PM

For more information contact: Seth Waugh, Virginia Grassroots Coordinator at Swaugh@nrahq.org.

Now is Not the Time for Complancency

Poll after poll is showing all three of the VSSA endorsed candidates for statewide office running well ahead of their opponents. Last night the Washington Post released results of their latest poll showing Bob McDonnell ahead of Creigh Deeds by 11 points. Survey USA has McDonnell by 17 with Independents breaking 2-1 for the leader.

The SurveyUSA poll dated Oct. 27 shows McDonnell with a 17-point lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds, 58-41.

Republican Bill Bolling is beating Democrat Jody Wagner by 14 points, 56-42, in the race for lieutenant governor. In the attorney general race, Republican Ken Cuccinelli leads Democrat Steve Shannon by 16 points, 57-41.

But this does not mean we can relax in the final week of the campaign. It is more important than ever that gun owners and sportsmen make sure they get their friends, family and fellow gun club/hunt club members to the polls on election day.

With Saturday being the first day of Muzzleloader Season for deer, if you plan to be in the woods next week, you can cast your vote absentee before election day. Because today is the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail, you should plan to vote in person absentee.

And between now and Tuesday there are opportunities to attend a rally, help out at phone banks and go door to door in targeted neighborhoods. You can find the nearest campaign office here.

Don't let the good polling numbers give a false sense of security. The only poll that counts is the one taken on election day and the only way we will win is if we all show up at the polls and vote our freedom and our sport.

Hat tip to Jim Geraghty.

Another Good NRA Ad for Bob McDonnell

For those of you who have not seen this second NRA-PVF ad for Bob McDonnell, it's a good ad that incorporates all of the things that have voters anxious this year - massive government spending, mounting debt, increased government intervention - to bring it back to the issue of the Second Amendment. It is a good ad.

Gun Owner and Sportsmen Tailgate Party for Bob McDonnell

All gun owners are invited to come out to a tailgate party on Saturday morning (October 31st) at the Bass Pro Shop in Ashland. After enjoying a light breakfast attendees will go door to door for Bob McDonnell.

What: Gun Owner and Sportsmen Tailgate Party
When: 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 31, 2009
Where: Bass Pro Shop 11550 N Lakeridge Pkwy, Ashland, VA 23005-8047

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Contact: NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative Kristin Murray at KMurray12@gmail.com

Ashland Victory Rally October 30th

You are going to be seeing a lot of these posts in the next week. It cannot be stressed how important it is for gun owners to turn out at the polls on election day. We also need to attend the Victory Rallies that will take place around the Commonwealth to show our support for the VSSA and NRA endorsed candidates. For those in the Richmond Area, you can attend the Ashland Victory Rally on Friday, October 30th.

The Rally will be held at:

Homemade by Suzanne
102 North Railroad Avenue
Ashland VA.

The Rally begins at 4:00 PM. Call 804-612-9111 to get tickets to the rally. And, be sure to wear your VSSA and or NRA gear to the rally.

Vote for Delegate Lee Ware on November 3rd

Incumbant Delegate Lee Ware has been a strong supporter of our right to keep and bear arms. In the past he has sponsored legislation to repeal the ban on carrying firearms in restaurants like Applebees, Famous Daves, and others that serve alcohol in addition to food. Delegate Ware is being challenged this year by a candidate, Gary Reinhardt, who bills himself as "Independent," but according to gun owner who emailed me recently, he is no friend of gun owners. A big part of his campaign appears to be an attack on Delegate Ware for standing up for law abiding gun owners that want the opportunity to protect themselves and their families even when they go out to eat. Under the heading of "Community Safety" on his web site, Reinhardt states:

Our Founding Fathers regarded the citizenry's ability to arm itself paramount in gaining our liberty from the British and preserving it from other would-be tyrants. Our Constitution protects our rights to bear arms.

However, while gun ownership has a long, rich tradition in the Commonwealth, study after study confirms a correlation between violence and alcohol. Like driving and alcohol, guns and alcohol simply do not mix. I will oppose any legislation to allow concealed weapons into places that serve alcohol at any local establishment we visit with our families.

Reinhardt even has a side bar the side of his web site to "Alcohol and Violence" and includes a link to a story about a retired police lieutenant who shot himself and injured two other diners when a gun he had tucked in his waistband went off in a Danville restaurant. The brief article does not mention whether the restaurant serves alcohol but we are supposed to presume this is the case. Retired law enforcement officers gained the ability to carry concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol when Governor Kaines veto of SB877. The bill became law on July 1.

If you live in the 65th House District (which includes part of Chesterfield County and all of Powhatan County), please contact the Ware campaign and find out how you can help in these closing days of the campaign.

Steve Shannon Attacking Cuccinelli on Gun Rights

With two weeks left in the campaign, Steve Shannon, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General, has begun airing television anti-gun ads in northern Virginia attacking VSSA Endorsed and NRA "A+" rated Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli. The ads are straight out of the Brady Campaign’s playbook.

Shannon’s blatant attack on our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms clearly demonstrates that Ken Cuccinelli is the only choice for gun owners and sportsmen in the race for Attorney General.

Please contact Senator Cuccinelli's campaign today at 703-766-0635 and find out how you can help in the closing week of the campaign.

Volunteers Need in Richmond Area in Campaign's Final Days

Volunteers are needed in the Richmond area to campaign for Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli. Please contact the NRA-ILA Campaign Field Rep., Kristin Murry, to get involved! You can contact Kristin at KMurray12@gmail.com!

Anti-Rights Crowd Dump on McDonnell

With just 14 days left in this year's gubernatorial campaign, the anti-rights crowd has finally unleashed their dogs against Bob McDonnell. First it was the release of a poll by Christopher Newport University that claims a majority of Virginians want stricter gun laws. This was followed up by a press release from Virginians for Public Safety that carried this sensational headline:

Bob McDonnell Content to Let Felons, Terrorists, Buy Firearms at Gun Shows

The only thing that the group can offer to support such a preposterous claim is the one sided ABC 20/20 report from earlier this year where the brother of a victim of the Virginia Tech shootings claims to have purchased 10 firearms without a background check within an hour of arriving at a Richmond Gun Show. Just to refresh your memory should you have forgotten - Omar Samaha was able to pull off this stunt because ABC equipped him with $5000. I would still like to know if among those ten firearms he is said to have purchased were more than one handgun because if that is the case, he broke the law with the assistance of ABC. You see, Virginia's handgun rationing law applies to private sales as well as sales carried out through an FFL.



I find it interesting that these are the same folks that did not want Creigh Deeds to be the Democratic nominee and a group identifying themselves as family members of the Virginia Tech Victims even sent an email to anti-rights supporters the day before the Democratic Primary asking them not to vote for Creigh Deeds.

"The only individuals benefiting from loose gun laws in the Commonwealth are
criminals, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals," said Virginians for
Public Safety President Jim Sollo. "Bob McDonnell needs to decide what is more important to him: half a million dollars in NRA PAC money or the safety of Virginia residents."

Gun owners cannot let these tactics decide who becomes Virginia's next Governor. With just two weeks left, we need every gun owner to do something to help elect Bob McDonnell. Please volunteer some time between now and November 3rd to walk some neighborhoods, work phone banks, and most importantly, vote.


You can find the campaign office near you by clicking here.

Dan Casey and Tonight's Gubernatorial Debate

Tonight, Roanoke College's Olin Hall will host the final scheduled debate for this year's gubernatorial election. Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey has suggested some questions for the event. Remember, Mr. Casey is the columnist who has made a big deal out of the new law that clarifies that the safety training required to apply for a concealed carry permit can be conducted online or through some other electronic means. I'm beginning to think that Mr. Casey is obsessed with the law. Casey poses this query in his hypothetical debate questions:

Mr. Deeds, in the 2009 session you voted for an idiotic bill that defined anyone who had passed a one-hour streaming video "course" as competent enough with a gun to qualify for a Virginia concealed handgun permit --even if they had never touched a handgun.

I know this is true because I took that course and had never touched a handgun before the state issued me my permit.

The question is, do you regret supporting this dumb bill?

Follow-up: Would you support its repeal?

But Casey does not limit his gun related questions to the concealed carry permit safety training. His next question finally confirms what I have believed since reading his first column - that is less than pro-rights:

Messrs. Deeds and McDonnell, each of you has said that if elected, you would sign legislation allowing concealed-carry permit holders to take their hidden weapons into establishments that serve alcohol, provided those gun-packers don't imbibe.

A recent poll conducted by Christopher Newport University found nearly two-thirds of the commonwealth's likely voters are opposed to legalizing concealed weapons in bars.

Please explain why you're in favor of legislation opposed by nearly two-thirds of this state's voters.

Follow-up: Please explain to us how more guns in bars makes everyone safer.

Second follow-up: Are both of you insane?

I think Mr. Casey has finally shown his true colors.

VSSA Candidate Endorsements Are Posted

The 2009 VSSA Candidate Endorsements are now posted on the VSSA web site. Click here to see the list.

Deeds' Left Turn

Bitter has a good post over at Snowflakes in Hell describing how Deeds' slight left turn on the issues has negatively impacted his race for governor.

Full disclosure, I voted for Creigh Deeds in 2005. So did most other voters since he only lost by about 325 votes in a statewide election with nearly 2 million voters. At that time, he not only had the NRA endorsement, but I knew he was willing to step up as a Democratic leader for sportsmen. He was running on his own record, one that a non-affiliated, Republican-leaning, little-l libertarian, could generally get behind. I realized that we may not agree on everything, but for the issues I cared about, he was slightly better than McDonnell at the time.

By the time the 2009 primary rolled around and he had run a little left. He didn’t run far left, mind you, but a little left. Deeds threw gun controllers a bone while McDonnell had strengthened his record – a feat hard to do in the position of Attorney General where you generally shy away from policy. Deeds can’t keep it straight when it comes to tax policy.

This is a much different race than 2005 and Bitter is right; it is a lot different running for the top of the ticket than for the bottom of the ticket. It appears that the Democrats should have at least asked Deeds what his plan was to get Virginia moving again before allowing him to coast to victory after the Moran/McAuliffe bloodletting took place. It also goes to show a candidate does not help himself by trying to be all things to all people. Throwing a bone to the anti-rights folks on the so-called gun show loophole only succeeded in making Deeds look like he was a calculating politician rather than a principled individual that felt strongly on an issue.

There are a little over three weeks left in the campaign but if Deeds doesn't find a message that resonates with the voters soon, the Democrats eight year hold on the Executive Mansion will come to an end.

Monday's Deeds-McDonnell Debate

Last night the candidates for Governor debated at the Richmond studio of public broadcasting studio WCVE. The topic of firearms came up and as has been the case all year, McDonnell stood with law abiding gun owners on the issue of private sales at gun shows and Deeds sided with the tragedy peddlers by tying gun shows to the Virginia Tech shooting. CQ Politics reported this exchange:

One issue on which the candidates showed common ground was firearms. Both said they believed in the right to bear arms. They parted, though, on the real-world application of that right — especially on how, if elected governor, each would frame state law to avoid a repeat of the shooting at Virginia Tech.

Deeds said that he worked to close the so-called “gun show loophole” after the 2007 slayings and would accomplish the task as governor. McDonnell said that he worked to improve the state’s mental health statutes after the shooting and is opposed to “regulating the private sale of firearms.”

McDonnell has not backed down and has shown he clearly understands that gun shows played no role in the tragic shootings in 2007. It has been said before on this site; if Deeds can be sucked in by the anti-rights crowd on with a completely emotional argument when it comes to private sales at gun shows, can we trust the same will not happen on say, the repeal of the restaurant ban or handgun rationing?

NRA Ad for Bob McDonnell

If you live in an area like Richmond this ad may not be running in your area. Thanks to YouTube, we get to see it. Cam Edwards mentioned it to me last week when I was on his program and he was right. It's a hoot.