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Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

NRA-ILA Election Kick-off Meeting Huge Success

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , on July 29, 2009| 1 Comment »

The NRA-ILA Grassroots Division held an Election Kick-off meeting in Richmond last night. Approximately 100 gun owners and Second Amendment supporters turned out for the meeting. You can read more about it on the VSSA blog as well as find a complete list of additional meetings taking place this summer.

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Hannity Covers Shad Planking

Posted in Politics, tagged on April 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Last week was the annual Shad Planking and Fox News was there. Shawn Hannity ran this story on his program last night.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about "Hannity Cover’s Shad Planking", posted with vodpod

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Eric Cantor Has Monster Fundraising 1st Quarter

Posted in Politics, tagged , on April 22, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Congressional Quarterly ran a great article this morning about Eric Cantor and his “monster first-quarter” campaign finance report, raising an impressive $963,900.  That more than doubled his take from the comparable first quarter of the last non-election year — 2007 — the other six members of the House Republican leadership combined to produce $25,900 less in the first three months of 2009 than they had two years earlier. Together, those six raised $1,031,100 for the first quarter of 2009 — only $67,200 more than Cantor.

Cantor is my congressman and he is one of the few bright spots in what can only be described as a dismal period for the GOP right now.  He has always been a hard worker and the fact he is an “A” when it comes to Second Amendment issues just makes him that much better in my book.  While I disagreed with his vote on the bailout bill late last year, he has an otherwise spotless record when it comes to voting conservative. 

Cantor’s Chief of Staff Rob Collins when asked about the great numbers said, “We’re grateful that we have been able to tap into a grass-roots energy to support Eric Cantor and the common sense conservative ideas he brings to the table.”

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DC Gun Rights Amendment

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged on March 10, 2009| Leave a Comment »

NPR ran this story yesterday on the DC Voting Rights Act/DC Gun Rights Amendment.  The theme of the story was how the big bad NRA injected itself into how the House does its business by making a vote on voting rights for DC without the pro-rights amendment a tabulated vote against the rights of gun owners.

 They found some Indiana representative who said he has always been an NRA supporter to say “But the NRA is wrong on this one.”  In fact, the NPR reporter actually begins the story by asking “What does all this have to do with guns?  Well nothing.”  

 They miss the whole point – that DC has to recognize the rights guaranteed by the Constitution – they can’t pick and choose what they want.  Norton has said she will not entertain a vote on the bill if it includes the pro-rights amendment

The story reports that for her part, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton plans to use a similar tactic by getting “civil rights” organizations to count the vote negatively against any member that votes for what Norton calls a poison pill.  Norton is qouted as saying “we have to get this bill without the amendment.”

Yeah, when was the last time that so-called civil rights interest groups carried the clout of the NRA in an election.  Further, the right to self defense is a basic civil right so a vote for the DC Gun Rights Amendment should be a positve civil rights vote.

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Light Load of Gun Bills but Good Bills Moving

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , on February 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

The Virginia General Assembly had a light load of gun bills introduced this year compared to the last couple of years but there are some good bills moving through the legislature.  There is also one bad bill still lingering that I hope will die in the House.  Let’s talk about the good bills first.

HB 1655, Delegate Carrico’s bill requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to anyone that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance that violates the Commonwealth’s pre-emption statute.  Passed House 82 – 16 and is now in the full Senate.  It should be noted the bill was amended in the State Senate and removed the requirement that reasonable attorney fees be awarded, changing it to the ability (may) to award attorney fees to the winner.

HB 1851, Delegate Lingamfelter’s bill exempting active duty military from handgun rationing (one gun-a-month). Passed House 83 – 13  and is on the docket in Senate Courts today.

HB 2144, Delegate Nutter’s bill to codify the AG’s opinion that prohibits the State Police from disseminating CHP holder information. (The information would still be available from individual circuit courts).  Passed House 98-0 and on the docket in Senate Courts today.

HB 2528, Delegate Cole’s bill that would require localities that operate compensated confiscation schemes (gun buy backs) to sell the guns they take in to an FFL.  Passed House 64 – 33 and reported from Senate Local Government yesterday on an 8-7 vote.  It will be on the floor today for Second Reading and likely final vote Thursday.

SB 1035, Senator Hanger’s bill repealing the ban on carrying concealed handguns in restaurants that serve alcohol. Passed Senate 24-16 but Senator Marsh noted in the vote that he voted yes but intended to vote no, so there are actually only 23 affirmative votes – leaving it four short of a veto proof margin should Governor Kaine veto it as he did last year.  The bill is now awaiting action in the House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee.

SB 1513, Senator Smiths’ bill requiring a court to award reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and court costs to anyone that prevails in an action challenging an ordinance that violates the Commonwealth’s pre-emption statute.  Passed Senate 30 – 10 and is awaiting action in House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee.

 The bad news is that Senator Watkins’ SB 1166 – the gun purchase tax increase bill – passed the Senate.   This bill increases the tax paid by gun owners for background checks from $2 to $5.  The bill has been assigned to the House Militia, Police, and Public Safety Committee.  Gun owners are urged to contact members of the Committee and urge them to oppose SB 1166.

The Virginia Shooting Sports Association has up-to-date information on their blog and often has vote information posted shortly after the vote.

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Maybe Obama Should Have Been More Concerned About Taxes

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , , on February 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Gun owners will recall that during the transition, Barack Obama’s employment questionnaire included the infamous question #59 that asked prospective employees about whether they or their family ever owned guns.  Maybe he should have been more concerned with the issue of whether his team had paid their taxes.

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Gun Show Loophole Bill Advances to Vote on Final Passage

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , , on January 29, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Senator Henry Marsh’s SB 1257 advanced to Third Reading today and set up a vote on final passage as soon as Friday, January 30.  Virginia gun owners need to call their senators now and urge them to oppose the bill and vote no.

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Obama takes on Limbaugh

Posted in Politics, tagged , , on January 24, 2009| 1 Comment »

Apparently the President does not have enough on his hands with the economy and two wars that he feels the need to to take on the #1 Radio Talk Show Host in America.  According to the New York Post:

President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.

“You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done,” he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

One White House official confirmed the comment…

You know, as a conservative, I don’t want Republicans to “get along with the Democrats and the Administration,” I want to to stand up for what is right and what is best for the country.  Spending a trillion $ on public works projects is not what this economy needs – we need lower taxes and less government spending. 

The Post said the President even told my Congressman, Eric Cantor, during an exchange about the “stimulus” package that “I won, I will trump you on that.”  In a battle of wits between Barack Obama and Eric Cantor, my money is on Cantor.

Update: Limbaugh Responds to Obama

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Gun-show loophole takes center stage today

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , on January 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »

The Virgina Crime Commission meets this morning at 10:00 AM to determine whether to support legislation addressing the so-called “gun show loophole.”  Its at the top of the agenda so we should know their decision before noon.  I’m betting no on “loophole” legislation but its any body’s guess if they go another route such as creating a definition for what type or how many guns sold make an individual a dealer to try and passify the moonbats – which it won’t.

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More Firearms Legislation Introduced at General Assembly

Posted in gun rights, Politics, tagged , , , , , , on January 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

With the start of the 2009 Session of the General Assembly a couple days away, four additional firearms related bills have been introduced.

HB 1734– Introduced by Delegate Brenda Pogge, amends various processes, procedures, and requirements for obtaining a Virginia concealed handgun permit. Among the amendments is a provision that allows permit applications to be submitted and returned by mail, and specifies that the court may not require any additional information with a permit application other than what is required or authorized by § 18.2-308. If a current permit holder wishes to obtain a replacement permit indicating a change of address, the permit holder is no longer required to provide proof of the new address.

HB 1741– Also introduced by Delegate Pogge, increases from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony the possession or transportation of certain firearms by persons under the age of 18.

HB 1748– Another bill introduced by Delegate Pogge, clarifies that no locality may require a person who has previously been issued a concealed handgun permit in the Commonwealth to submit to fingerprinting for a new permit. (There have been reports that some localities have tried to continue requiring fingerprints for permit renewals.)

HB 1821Democratic Delegate Joe Johnson has introduced a bill to repeal the ban on carrying concealed in a restaurant serving alcohol.  A person who carries a concealed handgun onto the premises of a restaurant or club from consuming an alcoholic beverage while on the premises. A person who carries a concealed handgun onto the premises of a restaurant or club shall inform a designated employee of the restaurant or club of that fact. A person who consumes alcohol in violation of the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor and a person who becomes intoxicated in violation of the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

HB 1822 Delegate Johnson has also introduced a bill exempting concealed handgun permit holders from the prohibition of carrying a firearm on to the property of a public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high school.

SB 877 – Senator Steve Martin of Chesterfield introduced this bill and it clarifies that retired law-enforcement officers from anywhere in the United States, District of Columbia, or territories of the United States are not subject to Virginia’s concealed handgun laws, if such officer meets the requirements of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004. The federal law allows retired officers with more than 15 years aggregate experience, who are certified annually on handgun proficiency, and meet other requirements, to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in the United States.

The restaurant bill could make it through the House and Senate again but I have no doubt that Governor Tim Kaine will veto it like last year.

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