Special Election Today

Today is the Special Election to fill the vacant 26th and 27th House of Delegates seats. If you live in either of these House districts, please go to the polls and vote for the VSSA endorsed candidates - Tony Wilt (26th - City of Harrisonburg and part of Rockingham County) and Roxann Robinson (27th - Part of Chesterfield County). This will be a very low turnout election so every vote could mean the difference between a win for firearm freedom and a loss. Polls open at 6:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM. Not sure if you live in either of these districts? Click here and complete the form. It will confirm if you live in either the districts.

VSSA Endorses Roxann Robinson in the 27th House of Delegates Race

On June 15, 2010, there will be a special election to fill the vacancy in House of Delegates District 27 which was left vacant when Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Sam Nixon to be the Chief Information Officer for the Virginia Information Technology Agency. VSSA has endorsed Roxann Robinson in this race. Ms. Robinson has committed to VSSA that she supports the concealed carry reforms enacted in the last session of the General Assembly as well as to support other issues of importance to VSSA members and gun owners in general. Of the two candidates running to replace Delegate Nixon, Roxann Robinson stands head and shoulders above the competition. Gun owners and sportsmen in the 27th District are urged to go to the polls on June 15th and vote for Roxann Robinson for Delegate.

VSSA Makes Endorsement in June 15th Special Election

The Virginia Shooting Sports Association has endorsed Tony Wilt for the Special Election to fill the 26th House of Delegates District that was left vacant when Governor Bob McDonnell appointed former Delegate Matt Lohr Commissioner of Agriculture earlier this year.

Wilt is a longtime hunter and sport shooter. He has also received an AQ rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) and is also endorsed by the NRA-PVF.

In accepting the endorsemenment, Wilt said:

“All of my friends know that I’ve been an avid hunter and sport shooter my entire life. Protecting our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms is something I feel passionately about. The Virginia Shooting Sports Association and the National Rifle Association recognize that passion, and I’m proud to have their support in this campaign.”

The 26th District includes all of the City of Harrisonburg and part of Rockingham County. All gun owners and sportsmen in the 26th District are encouraged to go to the polls on June 15th and vote for Tony Wilt.

Tuesday's Special Election Should Send Message

CQ Politics' Bill Pascoe (@wpascoe) makes a good point in his analysis of the results of yesterday's special election in the 37th Senate District.

Even as Republicans and conservatives approach giddiness and near euphoria over the state of the special election campaign for a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, the results of a special election in northern Virginia yesterday should remind them not to take anything for granted.

Pascoe's point in the article was that just because the GOP won a major victory by sweeping all three statewide offices and picking up seats in the House of Delegates, you still have to do the work and turnout the vote. It is clear from the election returns that those inclined to support Hunt simply did not show up at the polls yesterday in those areas where they could have made a difference - precincts that Ken Cuccinelli carried in 2007.

According to blogger Not Larry Sabato - Hunt flipped several precincts that Cuccinelli's 2007 opponent carried but had little or no margin of victory in precincts that Cuccinelli carried. Hunt also was skunked in the absentee ballots, losing them by almost 500 votes in an election that he lost by a total of 317 votes.

The lesson Pascoe point's out to the GOP rings true for gun owners as well. Every election is important and we must be engaged in those races where we can make a difference.

Losing this seat will impact our cause in the State Senate. Marsden is an NRA "F" rated candidate. Depending on who the Democrats tap to fill what was Cuccinelli's seat on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee (they will now fill that seat by having an additional member in the Senate) will decide our chances of getting pro-rights legislation out of that committee. With Deeds going squishy on the gun show issue, one more anti-rights vote could get the gun show bill out of committee.

Reminder - Vote in Today's Special Election

Just a quick reminder that if you live in either the 8th or 37th State Senate districts that you should vote TODAY for the VSSA and NRA endorsed nominees - Jeff McWaters and Steve Hunt. Both of these are special elections - which means that your vote will make a huge difference. Turnout for these elections will be low - so every vote counts. If you haven't done so already, please go vote TODAY!!!

The polls close at 7PM this evening and you vote in your normal polling location.

Please don't forget! It is essential that pro-rights legislators hold these two seats.

VSSA Endorses Jeff McWaters for State Senate

VSSA announces that it has endorsed Jeff McWaters in the special election to fill the vacate 8th District State Senate seat. The special election will be held January 12, 2010. Jeff is the best candidate to protect our Second Amendment rights. This tidbit from his web site accurately states his views on our basic right:

Jeff believes that additional regulations placed on gun dealers or gun shows will only make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to own guns—the criminals will still be able to obtain them on the street. Strict enforcement of existing laws, respect for human life, and allowing law-abiding citizens to protect their persons and their homes will do more to deter crimes involving firearms than adding more gun control laws to the books.

Jeff is running to replace former State Senator Ken Stolle, who was elected Virginia Beach Sheriff on November 3rd.

All gun owners living in the 8th Senate District are encouraged to contact Jeff's campaign and volunteer to help him in this final week leading up to next Tuesday's special election. You can find contact information by clicking here.

General Assembly Special Elections

There are two special elections scheduled for January 6th (81st District) and January 13th (46th District) to fill vacancies in the Virginia House of Delegates. The 81st District (portions of the Cities of Chesapeakeand Virginia Beach) is due to the resignation of Republican Terrie Suit when she joined a local lobbying firm. The vacancy in the 46th District (portions of the County of Fairfax andthe City of Alexandria) is due to the resignation of Democrat Brian Moran so he can focus on his run for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Terri Suit was a reliable pro-gun vote with rare exceptions. Moran was reliably anti-gun until he decided to run for Governor and decided he should cast some pro-gun votes.

The candidates running are:
81st Democrat John LaCombe press@votelacombe.com
81st Republican Barry D. Knight barry@barrydknight.com
46th Democrat Charniele Herring voteherring@gmail.com
46th Republican Joe R. Murray joemurray7@gmail.com

If you are not sure if you live in either of these districts, click here, complete the form and you will be directed to information for your current representative. If either Terri Suit or Brian Moran are listed as your delegate, you need to vote on the appointed date.

It is important that we elect candidates that share our pro-rights views. VSSA will alert gun owners on which candidates will best protect the 2nd Amendment. Check here and sign up for our legislative email alerts to stay current on all of the important news related to your gun rights.