More on Supreme Court Decision to Hear Chicago Case

Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States announced that they would hear a case dealing with the Chicago handgun ban. The case is McDonald vs. Chicago. The lawsuit was originally filed within hours after the high court's ruling in D.C. vs. Heller that overturned a ban on possessing handguns in the nation's capital.

The court had three cases to choose from on the Second Amendment, one dealing with New York (Maloney v. Rice) and two dealing with Chicago - the McDonald case where Alan Gura, the attorney that successfully argued the Heller case, and the NRA case. According to SCOTUS Blog:

Presumably, the Court will hold onto that case until it decides McDonald; the same is likely for the New York case, Maloney v. Rice (08-1592).

The case has major implications for the legality of restrictive gun laws not only in Chicago, but also in other cities across the United States such as New York. In short, the Supreme court could incorporate the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment to applied to states.

For those not familiar with the meaning of "Incorporation," it is the technical word for making a Constitutional Amendment applicable to the states. When the Bill of Rights was passed, the Founders specifically rejected a proposal to incorporate the Amendments. Instead, the laws were only applicable to the federal government.

But starting in 1897, the high court has undergone a piecemeal process of incorporating various parts of the Bill of Rights. The case in question is asking the justices to extend the federally protected Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms to the states. Something has yet to do.

It should be noted that VSSA joined our sister state associations in filing a brief in support of NRA vs. Chicago. While that case is not the one being heard, VSSA will be joining the other state associations in support of McDonald. We will keep you posted on the latest information about VSSA's role in the case.

Hat tip to Sebastian.

Supreme Court to Hear Chicago Gun Ban Case

The Supreme Court announced this morning that they will hear the case challenging Chicago's handgun ban. This is huge news. Earlier this year VSSA joined our sister associations in asking the Supreme Court to hear the case. We will now join them in an amicus brief that will urge the court to over turn the city's ban on handgun. Check back later today for more information on the Court's decision to hear the case.

Atlanta Newspaper Columnist Dumps on Wilder

Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Cynthia Tucker believes that former Governor L. Douglas (Doug) Wilder is shortsighted in his focus on handgun rationing as a reason not to endorse fellow Democrat Creigh Deeds for Governor. Wilder wrote in his letter where he announced he would remain neutral:

The present law [in Virginia] permits anyone of sufficient age, who is not a felon, to be able to buy one gun a month; twelve a year, twenty four a year for couples, etc. Mr. Deeds thinks that’s not enough and signed a pledge to repeal that law. This action would allow the truck loads of guns to come back in exchange for drugs from those Northeastern states where gun laws are more stringent.

When it passed, one gun-a-month was supposed to stop the flow of guns to states like New York. But the anti-rights crowd complain that Virginia's gun shows are providing a steady flow of guns. So, it leads one to conclude, if limiting law abiding gun owners to one handgun purchase in thirty days does not stem the flow of guns, maybe it's not the law abiding people that are the problem. Apparently both Mr. McDonnell and Mr. Deeds understands this. Unfortunately, Mr. Deeds seems to think that private sales at gun shows is to blame. But I digress.

What Tucker and others outside of Virginia don't understand is this is not about Deeds - it's about Doug. It always is about Doug. Deeds dissed the former governor by not supporting the bill when it passed in 1993 and Wilder has a long memory. The last time Wilder did not endorse a candidate for Governor, Republican Jim Gilmore followed George Allen into the Executive Mansion. At that time, it was car salesman and sitting Lt. Governor Don Beyer who learned that Wilder can stab fellow Democrats in the back too.

The fact is, Wilder's endorsement is overrated. He waited until the last minute to endorse Jim Webb over George Allen in 2006 when Allen was already showing signs of losing. He did the same for Tim Kaine in 2005. Insiders said that Wilder's endorsement in those races was more Wilder wanting to jump on the bandwagon. Folks I know in the Black Community have told me Wilder's endorsement carries very little impact these days.

We shall see if Wilder's neutrality hurts Deeds. After winning the Democratic primary in come-from-behind fashion, his campaign has been devoid of any substance on issues. Truth be known, it was not his stand on the issues that won him the primary. He simply laid back and let Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe beat each other over the head until the Washington Post endorsed him and used the money he had stashed away till the end to promote the Post endorsement.

Unless Deeds finds a credible voice on issues like transportation and economic growth between now and election day, it is very possible that he will crash and burn come election day and it will have very little to do with the fact that Doug Wilder sat out the election.

Virginia Among Leaders for Deer-Car Collisions

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that:

Virginia is one of the nation's 10 most-dangerous states for drivers colliding with deer, according to an insurance company study released today. One in every 137 drivers in Virginia is likely to hit a deer in the next 12 months, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. said.

The report notes that West Virginia drivers lead the nation in collisions with deer for the third straight year, with one in every 39 drivers likely to have a run-in with a deer.

No surprise here - collisions reach their peak from October through December -- deer mating season. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the collisions cause more than $1 billion in vehicle damage annually.

As a side note - if the anti-hunters had their way, the number of collisions would likely increase exponentially.

Time to Sight in Your Gun or Bow

Hunting season is just around the corner. In fact, Archery Season begins statewide on October 3rd and Muzzloader Season starts October 31st.

If you have not already done so, now is the time to check your firearms and archery equipment for accuracy and proper working condition. Waiting until you have that big buck in your sights could lead to a missed opportunity that may not come again. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has public sighting-in ranges on six Wildlife Management Areas and the U.S. Forest Service has seven ranges on National Forest sites. For details and rules of operation, see the Department's website.

DGIF Proposal Related to Elk in Virginia

The Board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has published for public comment a regulation that would prohibit the hunting of Rocky Mountain Elk within the Commonwealth. From time to time, elk that have been reintroduced in neighboring states cross the border and Virginia has allowed them to be hunted like deer during deer season because the state did not want an established population to take hold. Part of the reason for this was a fear that animals from the west where chronic wasting disease has been a problem, would lead to the disease being introduced in Virginia. Another reason is some landowners in southwest Virginia have not been happy about the prospect of such a large animal traversing their property. But CWD has not materialized in these re-introduced populations and have they have thrived to the point that controlled hunts are now being established in some of the areas to help manage the herd.

This appears to have led to a change of heart, at least at DGIF and the Board has tasked the Director of DGIF to develop a plan of action for the potential restoration of elk in Southwest Virginia. With this in mind, the Board has proposed a regulation that would prohibit the hunting of Rocky Mountain elk within the Commonwealth. There is a current comment period underway that will last until October 1 (it began August 27th). If you have in interest in this issue and would like to submit a comment to support or oppose the regulation, you can do so online.

Just click here to read the proposed regulation and to submit your comment.

The Board will hold a public hearing on the proposal at its meeting 9:00 a.m. October 22, 2009, at 4000 West Broad Street, Richmond, and will consider the proposal for possible adoption as a final regulation amendment at that time.

Places to Hunt in the U.S.

There is a new resource on the VSSA web site that allows site visitors to search for public hunting property anywhere in the country. You can use it to search for a specific area or to view information about different locations in a state. The list is editable as well as interactive. If you find any incorrect, out-of-date or missing information, you can update it. All you have to do is:

• Click an area’s name or activities to view its details.
• Filter or sort the information by clicking any of the column headings. You can apply multiple filters by first filtering one column – such as state – and then filtering another column.
• To find all areas in Virginia, for instance, click on the “state” header then hit “filter this field.” Next, place “VA” in the “state that contains” box.
• Resize a column by clicking-and-dragging the edge of the column heading. Alternatively, you can use the scrollbar at the bottom of the table to view obscured columns.
• Click the page number at the bottom of the list to jump to another page.
• Click any cell to update its data.
• Click the “add row” button to add an area missing from the table.
  

The information is syndicated and is available on a number of web sites. Any changes made on the VSSA web site will automatically update the list wherever it is displayed across the Web.

The table is provided by the folks who run the web site "Opposing Views." Opposing Views is a web site that provides debate on topics like guns, politics, society, health, money, and religion. According to the Opposing Views web site:

The hundreds of known and credible experts, opinion leaders and advocate groups include: the Obama Campaign, the McCain campaign, the National Rifle Association (NRA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), The Sierra Club and Amnesty International, as well as individuals who are authorities on issues of current consumer interest. Collectively, these partner organizations already have been cited as authorities on their topics.

You can check out and start using the Hunting Areas page on the VSSA web site by clicking here.

Ammo Still Hard to Find

The Associated Press has this story about the continuing shortage of ammo around the nation.

We are working overtime and still can't keep up with the demand, said Al Russo, spokesman for North Carolina-based Remington Arms Company, which makes bullets for rifles, handguns and shotguns. We've had to add a fourth shift and go 24-7. It's a phenomenon that I have not seen before in my 30 years in the business.

The AP reporter also talked to one gun dealer in California that says the worst seems to be over. Maybe because manufacters like Remington are now working around the clock. There are however other reports that support what the California dealer told the AP. This story posted by Sebastian yesterday.

While supplies may be getting back to normal, prices will likely remain high. I shake my head every time I pick up a box of shotgun shells and pay almost twice what I did just a couple of years ago. When the world economy picks back up as it certainly will (because markets go up and come down despite what government does - just to varying degrees depending on how much government interference there is) demand for the metals that go into ammo will again increase. I fear gone forever are the days of a $2.50 box of shotgun shells.

Bolling Gets NRA Nod

The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund announced today that it is endorsing Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling for re-election. Bill Bolling’s strong support of the Second Amendment has earned him an “A+” rating.

Democrat Jody Wagner, Bolling's opponent, failed to return the NRA candidate questionnaire which is often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, toward gun owners’ and sportsmen’s rights.

In a press release announcing the endorsement Chris Cox said:

As a former state senator and as Virginia’s current lieutenant governor, Bill Bolling has given 14 years of public service to defending and preserving the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians.

From his days in the State Senate, Lieutenant Governor Bolling has consistently earned NRA-PVF’s highest legislative rating for his support of law-abiding gun owners and Virginia’s proud hunting heritage.

In 2005, he voted in favor of HB 2282, a bill introduced at the request of VSSA by fellow member Delegate Bill Janis, creating a statewide standard for range noise management that ensures Virginia’s sportsmen have adequate venues in which to practice firearm safety and proficiency. Also that year, Bolling voted against SB 807, which would have been the first step to banning the private transfer of firearms, even between family members.

Virginia's gun owners are urged to do all they can to help Lt. Governor Bolling win re-election. You can find contact information at http://www.billbolling.com/.

NRA endorses Anne Crockett-Stark

The National Rifle Association has endorsed 6th District Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark (R-Wythe Co.) in her re-election campaign.

NRA Virginia State Liaison Andrew Jennison wrote in the endorsement:

Your exemplary record of past service in the Virginia House of Delegates clearly illustrates your commitment to protecting the rights of law-abiding firearm owners and sportsmen.

Crockett-Stark has served the 6th District since 2005. All gun owners in the 6th House of Delegates District is encouraged to contact Delegate Crockett-Stark and find out how you can help in her re-election campaign.

Only 13 more days to Register to Vote

Only 13 more days to register to vote! The final day to register to vote in the November election is Monday, October 5 at 5pm. Application forms are available at any of the following locations:
1. Any Public Library
2. Any office of DMV
3. Any General Registrar's Office
4. Download the form online at http://www.sbe.virginia.,gov/cms/Absentee_Documents/VA_Absentee_ballot_application.pdf

This is going to be a close election and we need to make sure that pro-rights candidates are elected. Please make sure that all of your pro-rights family and friends are registered to vote and that they vote on Election Day, November 3rd.

Firearms Allowed on Virginia Rail Express

The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star reported Saturday that the Board of the the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) overturned a policy that banned passengers from carrying firearms on the sytem's trains. Passengers that desire to do so will now be allowed to openly carry firearms on VRE trains in Virginia. Concealed firearms will also be allowed for those with a permit to do so. The change in policy was required by state law.

"People can carry firearms, therefore you can carry them on the train," said Dale Zehner, VRE's chief executive officer.

However, Virginia law does not apply once VRE trains cross the Potomac River into Washington. For those not familiar with the VRE, it is the commuter rail system that transports Virginians who work in points north of Fredericksburg as well as Manassas.

In typical fashion for an elected official of the peoples republic of Arlington, Operations Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman, who is also an Arlington County supervisor, did not particularly like the decision.

"I think encouraging people to bring guns onto loaded trains is a stupid idea," Zimmerman said.

To his credit, Stafford County Supervisor and Operations Board Vice Chairman Paul Milde said he disagreed with Zimmerman "100 percent on this."

As Supervisor Milde pointed out, concealed carry permit holders are some of the most law abiding people in the nation and there have been no incidents of law abiding gun owners who choose to open carry having committed any crimes while carrying.

Gun owners riding on the VRE need to be aware that once the train heads north across the Potomac River, DC law takes affect.

NRA-PVF Endorses Delegate Morgan Griffith

The NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) has endorsed longtime 8th District Delegate Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) in his re-election campaign. Griffith said after the the endorsement:

This endorsement recognizes my consistent record in support of the rights of law-abiding gun owners during my sixteen years in the General Assembly.

Griffith is in his 8th term as Delegate for the 8th District. He has been a good friend to law abiding gun owners - supporting repeal of the ban on carrying concealed in restaurants like Applebees, Olive Garden, and other restaurants that serve alcohol in addition to food. He was also an opponent of requiring background checks on private sale of firearms at gun shows. He has supported every pro-rights bill that has come before the House and opposed all of the anti-rights bills.

All gun owners in the House of Delegates 8th district are encouraged to contact Delegate Griffith's campaign and find out how you can help him in his re-election bid.

Courts and Wildlife Management Policy

The animal rights extremists have one goal - end all hunting. Wildlife management decisions should be made by those who know the issues - not federal courts. But that is exactly what is happening. Every time a western state is given authority to manage their gray wolf population, the anti-hunting groups go to court. Fortunately, a federal court just found in favor of allowing controlled wolf hunting to take place in Idaho and Montana. A coalition of 13 groups had sought to stop the hunts and return gray wolves to the endangered species list. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said the plaintiffs’ key arguments were “unpersuasive.”

Today, we learn via The Volokh Conspiracy that yesterday a federal judge restored protections for grizzly bears near Yellowstone National Park, overturning a finding by the Bush administration that the animals had made a sustainable recovery. The judge sited climate change concerns impacting one of the grizzly's most important food sources as a reason that the Bush administration findings were flawed.

A representative of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation told Cam Edwards recently on NRANews.com that the increasing wolf population in Idaho and Montana was having a negative impact on deer and elk populations and that those states were having to adjust the number of tags available for hunts.

David Allen, RMEF president and CEO said in August when the suit was filed:

Long gone are the days when species like elk, bears and wolves can go completely unmanaged. We don't live in a zoo and this isn't the old West. It is frustrating that America's wildlife conservation system, which has worked wonderfully well since the time of Theodore Roosevelt, has been reduced to a legal chess match.

I could not agree more. By allowing predators whose only natural enemy is man to increase unchecked, anti-hunting groups can impact those species that are hunted, and cause their numbers to decrease to a level that game management agencies will have to reduce the ability to hunt them.

Massachusetts Gun Ranges Targeted

Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) Executive Director Jim Wallace refers to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the "Second Amendment Battle Ground State." Every time I hear Jim on Cam Edwards' program (or anyone else from the northeast for that matter) I give special thanks that I live in Virginia.

The Boston Globe reports that if Governor Deval Patrick’s administration has it's way, things like turkey shoots will be a thing of the past at Massachusetts gun ranges. The Globe says this is a reaction to a terrible and tragic accident last fall, when an 8-year-old boy died after shooting himself with a machine gun during a “pumpkin shoot’’ at a Westfield Gun Club.

Patrick's new regulations would prohibit machine guns at all public sporting club events. In addition they would require clubs to obtain special licenses, hire a police detail, and have one certified firearms safety instructor for every 20 people in attendance (or one for every five attendees if children are present) at all public events. The regulations would also require clubs to submit a safety plan to their local police department 30 days before each event.

One gun club representative said of the proposed regulations:

"That tradition is going to go away because the public is invited to this event,’’ said Jim Finnerty, the Shirley Rod and Gun Club’s only certified firearms safety instructor. Based on the number of people (including children) who turn out for the Turkey Shoot, the club would need to have as many as 60 safety instructors, plus a police detail costing more than $40 per hour, to meet the regulations, he said.

But its not just things like traditional turkey shoots that will be put out of business. The Globe reports that the Ayer Gun and Sportsmen’s Club hosts an annual Military Demonstration Day featuring World War II machine guns. It may cease to exist, according to the club’s assistant range officer, Dan Damato. This event is held to honor veterans. Only one person is allowed to shoot the machine gun, while everyone else stands behind, Damato told the Globe. If Patrick's machine gun ban takes effect the tradition will end.

Damato said the regulations are aimed at shutting down small gun clubs. I can't disagree. The anti-rights crowd takes every opportunity to not only restrict access to firearms, but also restrict our ability to exercise our right. What good is a firearm is you have no place to practice to become proficient with it? They claim they want only trained individuals to have firearms but if there are no ranges, it is kind of hard to have "trained" gun owners. And that is their goal.

So you might ask what does this have to do with Virginia? Virginia's ranges have come under attack of a different sort over the last five to six years. Noise complaints caused by development encroachment around ranges have led to attempts to close down or restrict shooting ranges. Gun owners who own land ranging from several acres to several hundred acres have come under attack from new neighbors who have moved in from surburban areas to escape ubanization, only to find out that people own guns in rural areas. These new neighbors complain about noise from people target practicing on their private property.

VSSA is in the forefront of fighting these restrictions. We introduced and helped pass legislation in 2004 to protect ranges from localities that attempted to change noise regulations after a range applied for or was approved for a permit to operate. We continue to fight regulations that infringe on shooting on private property. We need you to join our fight. Go to our web page and join VSSA or renew your membership. Together, we can keep Virginia from following in the footsteps of our neighbors to the north.

God, Guns and Henry Rifles

Last Thursday, the New York Times reported on a new ad campaign by Henry Repeating Arms that references a statement made by then candidate Barack Obama to describe rural voters that believe in God and the right to keep and bear arms.

We at Henry Repeating Arms believe in our God given religious freedom and our right to bear arms. We are proud, not ashamed, to embrace two of our country’s greatest gifts. During this past presidential election folks like us were mocked for our beliefs, but we know better. It’s simple. We believe in God, Our Country and Our Freedoms. If you do too, we’d love to hear from you. If you don’t, that’s fine too - it’s another freedom we’re proud of, and we apologize if this ad has offended you.

According to the Post, Henry Repeating Arms, which is based in Bayonne, N.J., is one of the few gun makers that advertises to general audiences. The new ad has been accepted by national networks including CNBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC. But Anthony Imperato, president at Henry told the post that some local cable system operators have rejected them apparently out of fear that including the image of the Bible and a gun in the same frame may offend some viewers. In the print media, acceptance varies widely.

It’s a very serious subject when you’re using the Bible in an ad, he explained — not to mention when you’re making statements like those in the text of the ad...

There's no denying that the election of Barack Obama has had the unintended outcome of making the firearms industry the only segment of the economy that has seen increases in sales every month since last October. Even though they have come down from the stratospheric levels seen between November and May, they are still running in the low double digits - levels that most other industries would love to see. It makes sense that a gun maker would continue to try and capitalize on that fact. It will be interesting to see how these ads are accepted by the general public. Henry makes the claim that their guns will "only be made in America or they won't be made at all." Here's hoping Henry continues to see success in their ad campaigns.

Modern Sporting Rifles

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) announced a new media campaign yesterday aimed at dispelling the anti-rights crowd's myth that "you don't hunt with assault weapons" and other misinformation about the AR-15 platform. There are a good number of gun owners as well who don't think an individual needs to own an AR-15, or as NSSF said in it's release, the "new sporting rifle."

Today's AR-15-style modern sporting rifles are just another step in the evolution of the tools hunters and target shooters use to enjoy their activities. These rifles may not look like current hunting rifles, but remember, your current hunting rifle probably doesn't look much like your grandfather's rifle either.

NSSF will use a multi-pronged campaign utilizing print, video and Web-based components to reach as wide an audience as possible. It will emphasize educating sportsmen whose preference for "traditional-looking firearms" can lead them to misunderstand AR-15-platform rifles and to even describe them using terms such as "assault weapon," which inadvertently plays right into the anti-rights crowd's attempts to ban these rifles.

Ads have already been placed in major firearm and sporting magazines such as Field & Stream and Outdoor Life as well as outdoor cable television networks. The campaign's materials can also be seen on a dedicated web site, that will expand on the educational messages delivered in the media campaign for an even better understanding of how civilian sporting rifles have evolved from military rifles over time.

Included on the web site is a timeline of military-to-civilian rifle evolution, interactive features that identify the components and functionality of modern sporting rifles, and video. There is also a section on the web site, where gun owners can arm themselves with the facts to correct the anti-rights crowd's misinformation about these popular rifles.

Brady's No Win Situation in Virginia

Shortly after the NRA endorsed Bob McDonnell for Governor in Virginia, the Brady Campaign via Paul Helmke said this:

Creigh Deeds agrees with the families of the victims of Virginia Tech that the most dangerous people, prohibited by law from purchasing guns from federally licensed gun dealers, shouldn't be able to get around those laws by buying them from non-licensed gun sellers at weapons bazaars. Bob McDonnell, who now refuses to acknowledge that this gaping loophole in Virginia gun laws even exists, appears eager to do whatever the gun lobby wants him to. That's playing politics with public safety, and the voters should judge the candidates accordingly.

Now, let me get this straight, Deeds only parts company with pro-rights voters on the issue of gun shows but has said he would sign a repeal of handgun rationing (one gun-a-month), as well as repeal of the restaurant ban. Even on the gun show issue, Deeds tried to find a way to make both parties happy (never a good thing because you only succeed in ticking off everyone) by offering to exempt those with Concealed Handgun Permits (CHPs) from undergoing background checks to complete a private sale at a show. And Brady felt the need to issue a statement on the NRA's endorsement? It must really blow to be part of the gun control lobby these days.

NRA-PVF Endorses Bob McDonnell for Governor

Today the NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) officially endorsed Bob McDonnell for Governor of Virginia. The press release about the endorsement said the following:

“Bob McDonnell is an effective leader for Virginia hunters and gun owners,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “His opinions and actions as an attorney general have protected and enhanced the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians. His zero-tolerance attitude toward criminals makes him the best choice for governor. We ask every Virginia hunter, gun owner and Second Amendment advocate to vote McDonnell for governor this November.”

Please contact the McDonnell campaign to learn how you can help elect Bob in November. Just go to www.bobmcdonnell.com to find the campaign office near you. VSSA will also have more information on how you can help in the coming days. Check back here for details.

Norfolk County Rifle Range High Power Match

The Norfolk County Rifle Range (NCRR) in cooperation with U.S. Training (Blackwater USA) in Moyock, NC will hold a High Power Match on Saturday September 19. The match is an 800 Aggregate with courses of fire at 200yd, 300yd and 600yds. All shooters and observers need to be US citizens. The last day to sign up for each match is September 16. For more information on the location and cost of entry to compete in the match, click here.

Time to Take a Hunter Education Class

Hunting season is just around the corner so now is the time to enroll in a Hunter Education class. The Hunter Education course offered by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) is designed to teach hunting safety, principles of conservation, and sportsmanship, and is mandatory for all hunters age 12 and older. DGIF has classes scheduled statewide. But don't wait, as classes fill up fast as deer season approaches. You can find the class schedules and locations by telephone or website.

Annual Fall Outdoor Festival Set for September in Farmville

The Annual Fall Outdoor Festival will be held September 26, in Farmville at the Five County Fairgrounds from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The event is a family oriented event and sponsored by Riverside Community Church Outdoor Ministries in partnership with other area sportsmen's organizations including the VDGIF Outdoor Education Dept, the Hunt-N-Shack and NWTF High Bridge Strutters Chapter. Admission is free and there is a free lunch and dinner. Quaker Boy Calls is sponsoring a Turkey Calling Contest with Youth and Adult Divisions. There is a Big Buck Contest, Turkey Shoot, Five Stand Sporting Clays, Kid's Fishing Pond, 3-D Archery Contest, Retriever Dog Demo, and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Hunting Simulator. For more information call (434) 547-6770 or (434) 607-7776.

Virginia Concealed Carry Permits Increase by 50%

It's not very often that you can glean good news from an article that is intended to slam gun rights but that is exactly what happened with this Roanoke Times op/ed by Christian Trejbal. Since July 1, a columnist for the Times named Dan Casey has been detailing how he was able to qualify for a Conealed Handgun Permit (CHP) without touching a firearm. Casey's story was not a pro-rights angle. His was the "I can't believe Virginia does this" angle.

It all started when Senator Ken Cuccinelli's bill (SB1528), making it clear that online or electronically delivered safety training met the safety training requirement to qualify for a CHP, became law on July 1 of this year. Casey wrote a column in the Times that talked about how easy his online course was and that Virginians could now get a CHP without even touching a firearm. The truth is you never had to have touched a firearm. The course I took was a classroom course. Virginia law does not require range time to get a permit. It only requires a basic safety course and even a hunter safety course qualifies.

Casey followed up his July article with another one on August 30, letting people know he had received his permit and once again expressing horror in a snarky fashion that Virginia allowed him to do so without having touched a firearm.

Trejbal followed up with a column of his own that talked about the increase in Virginians now holding a CHP - in fact - 203,132 Virginians now have concealed carry permits. According to Trejbal via the State Police:

That is a 50 percent jump since January 2007, when only 135,789 people had them. The number of permits tends to increase over time, but this sort of growth is astonishing.

The uptick began in the second half of 2008 and took off in 2009, according to Virginia State Police records.

Already this year, the number of valid permits has grown by 18 percent, outstripping growth in all of last year and on pace to more than double the 2007 growth rate.

Anyone who has followed Trejbal's writing's in the Roanoke Times knows that he is no fan of gun owners. He is the one responsible for the publication of the names of all 135,000 permit holders on the Times web site in 2007 for a brief amount of time.

He repeats the new anti-rights talking point that concealed carry permit holders around the nation killed seven law enforcement officers and 54 private citizens in the last two years. Minneapolis Gun Rights Examiner John Pierce has debunked that myth.

Even Trejbal admits that few of those new people getting permits are like Casey and getting permits with little training or to prove a point. Casey and Trejbal may deplore the ease with which Virginian's can get a CHP, but clearly, more people are learning that it is their responsibility to protect their families so anything we can do to streamline that process is good for law abiding citizens.

I will be discussing this further tonight with Cam Edwards on NRANews.com and Sirius Patriot 144.

Hillsville Gun Show a Success Again

It's a part of the Labor Day weekend every year. Hundreds of thousands of people stroll along the streets of Hillsville, enjoying good deals, friendly conversation, and the aroma of the many food vendors present at the show.

The tiny town located in Carroll County in southwest Virginia has played host to the Gun Show and Flea Market for over forty years - since 1967, when some local men set out to host a small gun show that would attract the community. With the sponsorship of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1115, that first show was an immediate success.

The Virginia Tech Collegiate Times reports that in recent years, the VFW and the town have expected more than 500,000 visitors.

"There was a lot to do," said Smoot. "It was very scenic." The VFW Gun Show and Flea Market is a unique experience that highlights the culture of Southwest Virginia in an enjoyable, enticing way. Spending Labor Day among friendly vendors and delicious food is an experience that should not be missed.

As Ted Nugent says. "You can't do this in France."

VSSA Annual Meeting

If you have not already done so, I hope you will make plans to attend this year's VSSA Annual Meeting. We already have a good turnout registered for the dinner and meeting - one of the largest turnouts that we have had in the last four years. The meeting is being held on September 26th at the Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club and will include an afternoon of shooting, a "swap meet" where members can buy, sell and trade unwanted or unneeded shooting and outdoor gear from other members. This will be followed by the Annual Dinner and Meeting of Members. This year's dinner speaker is NRA National Rifle Manager, H.Q. Moody.

For more information click here. I hope to see you on September 26th.

How is campus any different?

This column appeared in the Virginia Tech student newspaper on Wednesday. Written by Sam Stephens, a student who is identified as a guest columnist, the article is thoughtful and concise on the topic of being able to protect one's life.

I feel like I lead a good life. I'm a student at an incredible school in one of the top 10 engineering programs in the country. I have an incredible family, any one of which I'd take a bullet for. I have good friends and just recently I've landed the most amazing girl I've ever met.

But I cannot pretend to comprehend why someone would take two students' lives in the middle of their camping trip. No one can answer what was on Cho's mind when he killed 32 of my classmates, and I will never know why no one acted when the girl was stabbed and decapitated in front of her fellow Hokies.

The one thing that I do know is that not a single one of the victims of these crimes stood a fighting chance. I do know that as soon as I cross onto campus I can no longer have my weapon on me even though I'm a law-abiding citizen with a concealed handgun permit.

This issue is not going away. As more students like Sam speak out, more legislators are going to take notice and the standard "college campuses should be places where guns are not needed" will no longer suffice as a response to the campus carry movement.

Suffolk City Council Makes No Changes to Rifle Regulations

After hearing from three citizens at last night's meeting, the Suffolk City Council decided to make no change to the rifle regulations currently in affect in the City.

Council voted unanimously to institute the same law the state had in its code last year.

According to the Suffolk News-Hearld:

The ordinance states rifles of any caliber for the hunting of bear and deer in the city will be prohibited except in the Great Dismal Swamp. It also is unlawful to discharge a firearm or air gun of .177 caliber or larger in a densely populated area, within 100 yards of any structure used as a residence, business or storage facility without the permission of the owner; within 100 yards of any public street, except at a permitted firing range; or at or upon the property of another without permission.

VSSA will continue to monitor this and let gun owners know if their action is needed in the future.

Getting Gun in D.C. Long and Expensive

The Washington Post has an article by a Post reporter detailing what he went through to get a firearm in D.C.

It took $833.69, a total of 15 hours 50 minutes, four trips to the Metropolitan Police Department, two background checks, a set of fingerprints, a five-hour class and a 20-question multiple-choice exam.

It's a good read.

More Information on the Suffolk Rifle Restrictions

This article gives more information on what the City of Suffolk is hoping to accomplish at tomorrow's City Council Meeting.

... Prior to this year, the use of rifles was prohibited in the western portion of the city, but allowed under certain circumstances in the eastern portion of the city.

The two halves are separated by the “Dismal Swamp line,” which starts at the intersection of Desert Road and the state line and goes northbound on Desert Road, through downtown and along Route 10 to the Isle of Wight County line.

Hunting with rifles east of the swamp line is allowed during hunting season as long as the hunter is on a stand at least 15 feet above the ground. It is not, however, allowed anywhere in the city within 100 yards of any structure used as a residence, business or storage facility without the permission of the owner; within 100 yards of any public street, except at a permitted firing range; or in a densely populated area.

Early this year, Suffolk petitioned the game department to allow the city to make its own regulations regarding rifles. The department agreed, but did not take up the issue of the exception east of the swamp line.

The structure of the zones is counterintuitive, Deputy City Manager Patrick Roberts acknowledged during a City Council meeting on Wednesday. The land west of the line contains the city’s most rural areas, while that east of the line and north of Portsmouth Boulevard hosts the city’s most booming growth in recent years, Councilman Rob Barclay IV noted.

...Roberts responded that the city could have more in-depth talks with the department on that issue next year, but he recommended the council enact an ordinance similar to last year’s before hunting season starts. A youth deer-hunting day is scheduled for Sept. 26, and hunting season starts soon after, so council should put new regulations in place before then, Roberts said.

Council agreed to consider a draft ordinance at a September meeting, and expressed its desire to create a more comprehensive regulation in the first half of next year. Councilman Charles Parr recommended the group seek the input of residents, farmers, hunt clubs and other interested people before creating the more comprehensive ordinance.

This agenda item is intended to get input from the public on the issue. Gun owners are encouraged to attend the meeting at 7PM tomorrow night.