Gun Ban Lobby Looking to Make Firearms an Issue in 2014

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) sent our a fundraising email last night with the subject line "Two Huge Projects":

Next year is going be huge. We have two major projects we need your help on:

1. Make guns a salient voting issue in the 2014 election. This past spring, 45 members of the U.S. Senate blocked a bill to expand background checks—a policy that 90% of American voters support. In next November's midterm elections, we have an opportunity to make gun safety legislation a prominent issue. We have a real chance to elect the champions of this issue and defeat its opponents. We saw this strategy work this year in Virginia, where gun violence prevention advocates swept all three statewide races after we used protests, earned media, and ads to put our issues at the center of the debate. We know we can do it again. Will you contribute $20 to help change the debate on the gun issue in the 2014 election?

2. "Dangerousness" legislation. CSGV has pioneered a new approach to stopping potential mass shooters who have glaring red flags in their background from legally purchasing guns. Our strategy? Focusing on evidence of “dangerousness”—a past history of violent misdemeanor convictions or domestic abuse, for example. The idea is to prohibit troubled individuals from buying guns before they ever do harm. We are already working with federal and state lawmakers to sponsor legislation to put our strategy into action. We want to move forward with this initiative and others in the new year. Will you help us by donating today to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence? Thank you so much for your continued support. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Here's to a safer America in 2014!

Sincerely,

Josh Horwitz
Executive Director
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

The second part of this is related to the strategy laid out at the UVA gun control forum on December 2nd.  It is looking like 2014 will be as active as 2013 was in fighting off the gun ban lobby at the General Assembly.

Gun Control Consortium Wants to Make it Easier to Seize Firearms

One of the take aways from yesterday's gun control forum hosted by the Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy at the UVA Law School is that the gun ban lobby wants to use a little slight of hand to get the same tired proposals passed that they have been pushing for years.  Josh Horwitz said as much when he said during his comments that all of their proposals that would be outlined must start with background checks.  But this time, they hope to gain support by making it sound like they only want to keep firearms out of the hands of people they think are a threat to others - like people who may have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), and even people that neighbors or family members think pose a threat to others.  To do this, they want to create the ability for law enforcement to seize firearms with and without warrants.  Throughout the four hours of the forum, attendees and those watching the event live streamed heard from anti-rights "researchers" and legislators. 

The Daily Progress summarized their proposals:

The group recommended a special warrant that would allow police to remove firearms from the possession of people authorities believe to be a danger to themselves or others. Additionally, the consortium proposed a new civil restraining order process could allow citizens to petition the court for the temporary removal of firearms from friends or family members who are considered at that time to be dangerous, according to the report.

Other high-risk populations targeted by the consortium's recommendations include people with histories of substance abuse and domestic violence.  

Another recommendation temporary bars anyone convicted of a violent misdemeanor; a temporary domestic violence restraining order placed on them; or multiple DUI, DWI or controlled substance convictions in the past five years from purchasing or possessing firearms. 

“We are looking not just at mental illness, but at elevated risk,” Horwitz said. “We also need to look at meaningful prohibitions for people who are at increased risk for other reasons.”

So who gets to decide the people at an "elevated risk"?  You guessed it - the gun ban lobby.  VSSA will be paying special attention to mental health bills. It will be a busy session again this year.

Gun Control Proposals to be Released at UVA December 2nd

A group of leading gun ban advocates will convene at the University of Virginia on Monday, December 2nd, to propose "specific state-level policy recommendations" they say are designed to keep firearms out of the hands of those most likely to commit violence.

Among those slated to participate are Lt. Gov.-elect Ralph Northam, state Sen. Donald McEachin; Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence; and gun ban advocate and member of Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe's Transition Team, Lori Haas.

Given this line up, look for the usual proposals such as so-called "universial" background checks, bans on ammunition magazines that hold more than ten rounds, and so on and so on.

The event will be live streamed from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. at http://new.livestream.com/UVABattenSchool/events/2565671.

CSGV Weighs in on Virginia's Governor Race

I just opened an email from Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence asking me to sign a petition telling Ken Cuccinelli to release a copy of the candidate questionnaire he completed for another Virginia pro-rights organization.

Ken Cuccinelli wants to be governor of Virginia, but he refuses to reveal his positions on gun laws and public safety. That's why we're partnering with ProgressVA to demand Cuccinelli tell Virginia where he stands on public safety.

I don't however know what Horwitz is trying to accomplish other than raise money because the group he targets in his email is famous for releasing the results of their candidate questionnaires before the election. Also, anyone who has paid attention for the last seven years knows where Attorney General Cuccinelli stands on the right to keep and bear arms.  It's just one more example of CSGV attempting to be relevant, and once again they have failed. So Josh, be patient.  You'll get to see the questionnaire you are looking for soon enough, and it won't have anything to do with your petition.