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.

Former Goochland Supervisor William E. Quarles, Jr to Challenge Lee Ware for 65th House Seat

Former Goochland Supervisor member William "Bill" Quarles, Jr, has announced he will challenge pro-rights member of the House of Delegates, Lee Ware in this year's election.

Quarles was one of the major impediments to the approval of Orapax Hunting Preserve's application to open a sporting clays range on their nearly 700 acre property in Goochland County.  He was defeated for a third term in 2011 by Manuel Alvarez.  Alvarez voted in favor of Orapax's recent application on January 2nd.

The 65th House of Delegates District includes all of Powhatan County and parts of Chesterfield, Fluvanna and Goochland counties.  Gun owners should remember that Quarles was not a friend during his tenure on the Goochland BOS and the Delegate Ware has always been with us on issues of importance to gun owners and sportsmen.

Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor

Today is Independence Day, America's Birthday.  At a time with the elites of the day think it fashionable to dismiss our founders as "Dead White Men,"  VSSA would like to share what those brave individuals put on the line so that their generation, and future generations, might live in freedom.  This is taken from a speech that was often delivered by the father of radio personality, Rush Limbaugh.

Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is still intact.

And, finally, there is the New Jersey signer, Abraham Clark.

He gave two sons to the officer corps in the Revolutionary Army. They were captured and sent to that infamous British prison hulk afloat in New York Harbor known as the hell ship Jersey, where 11,000 American captives were to die. The younger Clarks were treated with a special brutality because of their father. One was put in solitary and given no food. With the end almost in sight, with the war almost won, no one could have blamed Abraham Clark for acceding to the British request when they offered him his sons' lives if he would recant and come out for the King and Parliament. The utter despair in this man's heart, the anguish in his very soul, must reach out to each one of us down through 200 years with his answer: "No."

The 56 signers of the Declaration Of Independence proved by their every deed that they made no idle boast when they composed the most magnificent curtain line in history. "And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

As we celebrate today at the pool, at family and neighborhood cookouts, and firework shows, let us remember those who came before us, and those who still fight today, so that we may live in freedom.
 
Happy Independence Day!  Happy Birthday America!