CT Congresssman Says McAuliffe Election Proves Gun Control Winning Issue

The Washington Times has the story here:

“Last November, there was actually a battle for the governor of the commonwealth of Virginia where one of the candidates played to the pundits, the cheap cynics, that campaigning against Terry McAuliffe’s position on background checks was his ticket to the governor’s mansion and Terry McAuliffe, to his credit, stood firm,” Mr. Courtney said at an event on Capitol Hill Tuesday honoring the 26 victims of the December 2012 Sandy Hook school shootings.

Maybe Congressman Courtney should stick to representing his constituents and stop trying to analyze Virginia politics.  There was a lot that went in to McAuliffe's victory, the first of which was the fact Cuccinelli ran a terrible campaign.  McAuliffe also avoided talking about the gun issue like the plague until polls started showing him with a double digit lead.  It can be argued that his pivot to gun control had something to do with his only winning by about 2.5%.

I would also remind Congressman Courtney that gun control was a real loser for two recall candidates in Colorado - another "purple" state.  So, go ahead, run on gun control, and let's see just how much of a winner it turns out to be this year.

Moms Demand Misleads in Push to Criminalize Private Sales

If you saw this Moms Demand Action graphic as a stand alone item, you would think that the Virginia Tech shooter did not undergo background checks before he purchased his firearms.

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The Facebook post on their page however explains what happened a little differently.

Even that explanation is misleading.  Virginia law at the time was not clear related to what information had to be added to state databases related to mental health.  And, since the 2007 shooting, Virginia has changed the law and leads the nation in reporting mental health information for the purposes of background checks.  So, maybe Shannon Watts should find another talking point because the Virginia Tech angle is getting a bit worn.

What Happens Next for House Bill 962 on Concealed Handgun in Car

Friday, the House of Delegates rejected Governor Terry McAuliffe's anti-selfdefense amendment to Delegate Ben Cline's bill that clarified that the term closed container in the code section related to storying a loaded handgun in a vehicle or boat does not mean a "locked" container. McAuliffe amended the bill to have just the opposite effect. The House rejected the amendment. Roanoke's WDBJ TV 7 had the story.
If the Governor decides to veto the bill and both chambers do not override the veto, there will be no harm as the bill was just a clarifying piece of legislation. It will mean that the handful of jurisdictions who don't know the law may still cause some short term inconvenience to some gun owners. HB962 was intended to fix that. However, it is already lawful to keep your firearm in an unlocked container in your car, truck or boat.

Use of Tannerite for Target Practice Sets Off Concern in Hanover County

Hanover is a rural/suburban county north of Richmond. There is a gun club in the area where this occurred, but it is not clear if it was at the Black Creek club or just in the Black Creek community. Where ever it occurred, it is clear there were homes in the immediate area (there are also homes in plain site of the Black Creek Club too). It appears the neighbors intend to complain to the Board of Supervisors. NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

Cat Fight Between Gun Ban Lobby Groups

It was bound to happen.  Mayor's Against Illegal Guns has become the bully on the block over the last several years because it has had the money, and at times the savvy, to at least make themselves look successful.  At least one gun ban group that has been around longer, and been less successful when it comes to having funding to do what they wanted to do, is starting to get a little jealous.  We now have dueling notices to supporters between MAIG and Brady on the noise from the gun ban lobby related to Facebook/Instagram firearm posts.  Bitter has the story over on Shall Not Be Questioned:

Moms Demand Illegal Mayors, or whatever the two merged groups are called these days, are declaring total victory in the Facebook/Instagram policy statement that any reported post featuring an offer to sell any regulated product privately will generate a reminder to sellers that they shouldn’t violate the law. But the Brady Campaign swiftly sent out a letter to their supporters highlighting that the anti-gun groups didn’t get anything they demanded at all, and this is not in any way a victory. The thing is, the Brady Campaign is right on this, at least coming from a gun banner’s perspective.

So desperate to claim victory is MAIG and their satelite orgainzations, that they take a notice that those posting items for sale (in this case firearms) on Facebook/Instagram should not violate the law, as a smack down to gun owners.  As Bitter points out, in this case, Brady is right.

House Bill on "Celebratory Gun Fire" Emerges from Conference, Passes House Unanimously

Anti-rights Delegate Betsy Carr's HB810 emerged from a conference committee yesterday and was passed unanimously by the House of Delegates.  The bill is named "Brendon's Law" after the nine year-old who was tragically killed on July 4th of last year when some numb-nut discharged a firearm into the air somewhere in the area, and the bullet came down and struck the child in the head.  Authorities still have not identified the individual who discharged the firearm.

As originally introduced, the bill included provisions that would have made it a felony to randomly discharge a firearm into the air, hitting or killing someone, and a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail if no one is hurt.  It has a companion Senate bill, SB65, sponsored by anti-rights Richmond State Senator Henry Marsh.

Both Bills emerged in a different from when they passed their respective chambers.  HB810 had been changed to a malicious wounding bill, making it much more palatable.  The operative language in HB810 as it passed the House is:

A1. Any person who handles any firearm in a manner so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life and causes the serious bodily injury of another person resulting in permanent and significant physical impairment is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

SB65 as amended on the other hand was almost as bad as the introduced version.

When HB810 got to the Senate, it was conformed to SB65, but that was rejected when the bill was sent back to the House of Delegates for approval an the bill went to conference.  The Conference Committee recommended rejection of the Senate substitute and approval of the bill as it passed the House of Delegates.  That report was approved by the House yesterday.  SB65, which was amended by House Courts of Justice to mirror HB810, emerged from the House Appropriations Committee yesterday and should be taken up today or tomorrow in the House. 

Update: The House passed consideration of the Governor's amendment by for the day.  It will be on the Calendar again tomorrow (Thursday).

McAuliffe Amends Cline Bill on Storing Firearms in Vehicles

Governor McAuliffe has used a bill that simply clarifies existing law, to make a statement against self defense.  Delegate Ben Cline's HB 962 provides that for purposes of the exception to the prohibition against carrying a concealed weapon if it is in a secured container or compartment in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel, the term "compartment" includes a console, glove compartment, or any other area within or on the vehicle or vessel that possesses the ability to be closed. The bill also provides that the term "secured" does not require that a container or compartment be locked, but merely closed.  The bill passed both Houses of the General Assembly by large bi-partisan margins (27-13 in the Senate and 70-27 in the House of Delegates).  But Governor Terry McAuliffe amended the bill and sent it back to the Assembly.  His amendment strikes the work "secured" everywhere it appears in the bill and  replaces it with "locked".  

Please contact your member of the House of Delegates and urge them to reject Governor McAuliffe's Amendment.  If the amendment is rejected, McAuliffe's options are to sign the bill as passed or to veto it.

New Study Challenges Obama and Media Claim Regarding Firearm Research

A new study by the Crime Prevention Research Center has released the results of a study that challenges the myth perpetrated by the gun ban lobby, its lackeys in the administration, and the mainstream media, that the NRA is responsible for squashing academic research related to firearms.

There is no evidence that gun control research fell when restrictions were put on federally funded research. Indeed, whether one looks at the number of total articles or total pages, firearms research has been as high or higher than when the restrictions were enacted. In 2013, well before federal funding could have any impact on publications, there was an explosion in firearms research in medical journals.

The mainstream media falls all over itself to repeat the talking points of the gun ban lobby. Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been among the loudest making the claim that there is a lack of research on firearms. CPRC concludes in it's study:

Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns appears to be so anti-gun that they have been willing to manipulate their data to get their desired results. Unfortunately, data manipulation is appearing to be a consistent pattern Mayors Against Illegal Guns reports, and the misrepresentations can be seen in their studies from shootings in gun-free zones to the number of school shootings since Newtown.

Hat tip to Dr. John Lott.

Brady Leader Apparently Hasn't Seen Latest Polls on Gun Control

Yesterday, Sarah Brady and Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign, were slobbered all over by MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell.  Brady and Gross were on Mitchell's MSNBC program to talk about 20 years of background checks (it has been 20 years since the passage of the Brady Bill which temporarily created in most of the country a three-day waiting period for firearm purchases until the NICS background check could be put into place).  The three took the opportunity to get their facts wrong.  They repeated the discredited statement that "40 percent of all gun purchases in the US" occur without a background check.  Then Dan Gross said he is encouraged that more people in the country support gun control.  Apparently he missed this Gallup poll that showed, when combined, slightly more people either want gun laws to stay as they are or to be less strict, than those who want more gun control.  That poll is similar to this CNN poll from December that showed 50% oppose new gun control.

Now Gross would likely respond that the 49% figure supporting gun control is higher than it was in 2011, but the numbers continue to slide as the time after the Newtown shooting increases.

But, facts never have meant very much to the gun ban lobby.

Hat tip to AWR Hawkins and Breitbart News.

Hero's Like You Can Help Hero's Like These

Sixteen years ago, VSSA started what has become the longest running clay target charity event in the country,  VSSA's Crush'n Clays.  Since that first event, VSSA has raised over $281,000 to help support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the largest pediatric research facility in America established solely for the study of childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases including pediatric AIDS and sickle cell anemia.  This year's event is scheduled for June 14th and will again be heldat the Arlington Fairfax IWLA.  You can register to shoot in this event, become a sponsor of the event, or if you can't attend this year, make a donation by clicking here.

Why is this such a special event, please read the note below from the event's founder, Steve Canale.

A special message from VSSA's Crush'n Clays founder, and former VSSA President, Steve Canale:

Hero's Like You Can Help Hero's Like These

Pediatric medical centers, like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital work miracles. If you've ever lived it, you'd know. Though not a St. Jude's patient, several years ago, I introduced you to Finn. Finn has a serious congenital heart defect, severe aortic stenosis. Because of the wonderful doctors at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC., he is now a thriving 2 year old. But now, Finn needs a mitral 

heart valve replacement. His heart is so enlarged that they'll may need to replace it with an adult size, artificial heart valve.

Finn doesn't know he is sick, at home, he smiles, loves attention, wants to be tickled, and chases the dogs around the house. “Believe” is the motto of Children's National Medical Center.

Finn is also part of the of the Arlington-Fairfax IWLA family. His father, Ian Gillespie and his grandfather, Dan Gillespie are IWLA members who compete in the Winter Shotgun League and are regulars at Crush'n Clays.

Finn is also my grandson. Every Crush'n Clays event is, now, more meaningful.

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We hope you can join us for this fun and special event.  Below is a little more about the event and what has been accomplished in the first 15 years of the event.

Legislative Update

As we approach the final week of the Virginia General Assembly, it is likely we will end with no new gun control laws and few advancements in our rights.

A quick look at the VSSA Legislative Tracking Form tells the story.  A number of pro-rights bills were either carried over to next year (a soft way of killing a bill) or were killed out right in the State Senate after the anti-rights crowd took control of Senate Courts of Justice mid way through the session.  For instance, HB 878, a bill that would have improved the process for purchasing firearms and accessories covered by the National Firearms Act (NFA) passed the House, but was killed by the new anti-rights majority on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.  Lifetime concealed handgun permits made it out of the Senate on a bi-partisan vote but has been stalled in the House because of concerns with the State Police handling the application process.

On the bright side, all of the anti-rights bills have been defeated.  Thankfully, most of the bad bills went through Senate Courts of Justice before the power shift.  There are two minor bills (companion bills) HB 810 and SB 65, dealing with so-called "Celebratory Gun Fire" that are still hanging around.  It's not that VSSA supports the practice, but the fact that there are already laws dealing with negligent discharge and the fact that unless you see the individual violate the law, exactly how will it be enforced?  HB 810 had been significantly neutered to a bill dealing with the original issue, was amended to address malicious wounding.  It passed the House but was amended back the the version of Senator Marsh's bill (SB 65) when it got to Senate Courts of Justice.  The House of Delegates rejected the amendments and it is now headed to conference.  The House has amended SB 65 to the way HB 810 left the House of Delegates and is currently in the Appropriations Committee.  It is likely to meet the same fate as HB 810 if it gets back to the Senate, and both bills may be killed for lack of action by a conference committee.

Also on the positive side, working with the NRA, NSSF, and other pro hunting groups, we were able to pass a bill allowing Sunday hunting on private property.  This is a win for property rights while balancing the interests of those who wish to use public land on Sundays for the purpose of hiking, horseback riding, or biking.  A spokesman for the Governor indicated he would sign the bill.  That has not stopped opponents from trying to gut the bill however.  A move is underway to encourage local Board of Supervisors to pass resolutions encouraging McAuliffe to amend the bill with a provision making it a local option allowing Sunday hunting on private land.  Supporters of Sunday Hunting should contact Governor McAuliffe and urge him to sign HB 1237.

With one week left, the general assessment of the 2014 Session is that we are ending about as we expected - with the status quo.  For all his bluster late in the campaign, McAuliffe has not lifted a finger to help pass the large number of gun control bills introduced.  The gun ban lobby's attempt to push bills like SB 510, part of a new strategy that would take away a person's civil rights for certain misdemeanor conviction, failed.  Rest assured they will be back next year, and this time they have a willing majority in Senate Courts of Justice with which to work..

"Celebratory Gunfire" Drama to End the General Assembly

The two bills that were introduced to address the issue of so-called "Celebratory Gunfire" have made their way to the final week of the General Assembly and are set to cause a little drama.  Both House Bill 810 and SB 65.made it out of their respective houses of the General Assembly. HB 810 was changed to a malicious wounding bill, while SB 65 also amended, but remained bill creating a crime called "celebratory gunfire".  So, when HB 810 came up last week in Senate Courts, the Democratic majority, led by Richmond State Senator Don McEachin made a motion to change the bill back to the form of the "celebratory gunfire" bill as SB65 left the Senate.  The House rejected the changes so HB810 is likely headed to conference.  Today, SB65 was amended in House Courts of Justice Criminal Law Subcommittee to the version that HB810 passed the House.  The Senate is likely to follow the House action and reject the amendment, setting up a conference on that bill as well.  So, we may yet see the death of both bills, something that could not be achieved in committee for two bills as introduced, that would have been unenforceable (as evidenced by the fact they still have not identified the culprit of the incident that tragically killed a 9 year-old boy last July 4th - the child that the sponsor of SB 65 has named his bill after).

SCOTUS Not Interested in Three Gun Rights Cases

It appears the Supreme Court of the United States has no appetite for reopening the issue of the Second Amendment as it relates to carrying firearms outside the home. Lyle Denniston was the first to report it over on Scotus Blog this morning.

A Bitter notes on Shall Not Be Questioned, we should not be relying on the courts anyway. We need to make sure that we elect the right people on election day.

Washington Post: 10th District Candidate Comstock Under Fire from Both Sides on Gun Rights

The Washington Post has a piece on the 10th Congressional District Republican nomination race to replace retiring Representative Frank Wolf.  The Post reports that Delegate Barbara Comstock is under fire from both the gun ban lobby and from another candidate on the right for her position on firearm freedom.

Last week, Del. Barbara J. Comstock voted for a bill that would make it easier for teachers to bring guns onto school grounds. Democrats pounced, accusing the Fairfax County Republican of being “reckless” and out of step with Northern Virginia. The next day, Del. Robert G. Marshall (Prince William) joined the race for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R) in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, and he immediately accused Comstock of doing “nothing” to lead on gun rights and other issues important to conservatives.

The attacks from the gun ban lobby are to be expected, but exactly what is Delegate Marshall talking about? Complicating matters is the fact, according to the Washington Post, people in the district that are associated with the Tea Party have pegged her as being the "Establishment" candidate.  So, let's look at Comstock's record on Second Amendment issues.

Delegate Comstock was elected in the tidal wave of 2009 that swept Bob McDonnell into the Governor's Office.  Since that time, she has had the opportunity to vote on some important pieces of legislation affecting Virginia's gun owners. A quick search of the Legislative Information System shows since 2010, Delegate Comstock has been on the right side of important votes including repeal of the ban on carrying concealed in family restaurants like Applebee's and Olive Garden that serve alcohol as well as food, repeal of handgun rationing, bills that allow the transporting of firearms in vehicles for those who chose not to get a concealed handgun permit, and a host of other pro-rights bills, and a host of others.  During last year's election, the gun ban lobby targeted Comstock late hoping to pull off an upset.

It could be that Delegate Marshall is measuring her commitment based on the number of pro-rights bills she has introduced.  A better measure on where she stands on our firearm freedom is whether we can count on her when the going gets tough, as it did during last year's campaign.  By that measure, she passed because she did not back down on her previous votes protecting the rights of Virginia's gun owners.

VSSA can't speak to other issues on which Delegate Comstock has voted since 2010, but on the issue that is the mission of this association, Delegate Comstock is counted among our true friends, and attacks on her record on Second Amendment issues are baseless.