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New member portal
1. URGENT ACTION ITEMS
2. Victory for gun owners today - preemption still safe!
3. Committee meetings you might want to attend this week
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1. URGENT ACTION ITEMS
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Click on the links below to send message on some important bills coming up tomorrow and Thursday:
SB 1431, Senator Cuccinelli, requires the state to not comply with Read ID
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HB 1655, Delegate Carrico, puts teeth in preemption
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HB 1748, Delegate Pogge, clarifies that an expired CHP still exempts the holder from fingerprinting on renewal
HB 1851, Delegate Lingamfelter, exempts active duty military from One Handgun A Month
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HB 2144, Delegate Nutter, prevents the State Police from giving out private information on CHP holders, BUT lets courts do so. The Fredericksburg Freelance-Star loves this bill
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HB 1910, Delegate BaCote, allows localities to ban guns in libraries
HB 2178, Delegate E.T. Scott, makes possession of ammunition by a convicted felon a crime
HB 2227, Delegate Marsden, adds an airgun that can expel a projectile at over 250 FPS to the concealed weapons list
HB 2318, Delegate Morrissey, requires anyone selling three or more guns at a gun show be an FFL
HB 2418, Delegate Ward, requires a machine gun owner to notify the State Police of any change of address
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2. Victory for gun owners today - preemption still safe!
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Today two anti-gun bills were both crushed by a 10 to 5 vote!
SB 832, Senator Locke, would allow localities to ban guns in their government buildings while government meetings are in session
The comments the other side made to justify this bill were:
Senator Marsh, "an irate citizen carrying a gun for self-defense might get in a shootout" and "It is not disputed that 85% of citizens want more gun control."
Member of Hampton City Council, "Because someone might have criminal intent to shoot someone during a city council meeting, we must not let anyone carry" and "Gun sales are booming"
I had a great deal of fun using those arguments to justify killing the bill.
I pointed out that if an irate citizen decided to start shooting, I want a gun at the meeting to protect myself. I told Marsh that the 85% number was ABSOLUTELY disputed. I said that if we are going to ban guns because someone might do something illegal, then we need to ban cars lest someone might drive drunk.
They tried to sweeten up the bill by allowing CHP holders to be exempt, but I still said that VCDL opposed the bill because most law abiding gun owners don't have CHPs and don't need one to carry openly, as is their RIGHT.
Senator Locke said that localities should have the same ability to ban open carriers as does the General Assembly.
At that point Senator Cuccinelli ask me if the reason that the General Assembly didn't allow non-CHP holders to carry was because of the Rules Committee.
I said, "Yes. In fact the General Assembly has never voted on that rule and it is in violation now of the General Assembly's own rules. In fact last year the House voted to ban guns and that idea was CRUSHED by something like a 20 to 80 vote."
Here are the Senators that voted pro-gun:
Quayle (R), Martin (R), Hanger (R), Reynolds (D), Ruff (R), Cuccinelli (R), Obenshain (R), Herring (D), Smith (R), Stuart (R)
Here are the Senators that voted anti-gun:
Lucas (D), Marsh (D), Ticer (D), Puller (D), Locke (D)
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SB 1053, Senator Whipple, was next and it would prohibit guns in any local government facility if they have an ordinance to that effect.
Falls Church is apparently still angry at VCDL members for having the audacity to attend, while armed, one of their city council meetings to protest one of their gun control schemes. ;-)
Arguments for the bill:
Senator Whipple, "It's for the children" and "Open carriers scare people"
David Snyder on the Falls Church City Council, "There was a gang shooting in Falls Church."
Alice MountJoy, "Because gun owners can't carry in all government buildings, this bill would make the law consistent by not allowing any carry in government buildings."
Here are the Senators that voted pro-gun:
Quayle (R), Martin (R), Hanger (R), Reynolds (D), Ruff (R), Cuccinelli (R), Obenshain (R), Herring (D), Smith (R), Stuart (R)
Here are the Senators that voted anti-gun:
Lucas (D), Marsh (D), Ticer (D), Puller (D), Locke (D)
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3. Committee meetings you might want to attend this week
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Wednesday - Senate Room B at 2 PM - Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology:
SB 1431, Senator Cuccinelli, requires the state to not comply with Read ID
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Wednesday - Senate Room A at 2 PM - Senate Courts of Justice Committee:
SB 1035, Senator Hanger, repeals the restaurant ban (VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS)
SB 1385, Senator Stolle, requires a State Police presence at gun shows (VCDL OPPOSES as written)
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Thursday - 8th Floor West Conference Room at 5 PM - House Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee #1:
HB 1655, Delegate Carrico, puts teeth in preemption (VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS)
HB 1748, Delegate Pogge, clarifies that an expired CHP still exempts the holder from fingerprinting on renewal (VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS)
HB 1851, Delegate Lingamfelter, exempts active duty military from One Handgun A Month (VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS)
HB 1910, Delegate BaCote, would allow localities to ban guns in libraries (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES)
HB 2144, Delegate Nutter, prevents State Police from giving out private information on CHP holders, BUT lets courts do so. Fredericksburg Freelance-Star loves this bill (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES as written)
HB 2178, Delegate E.T. Scott, makes possession of ammunition by a convicted felon a crime (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES)
HB 2227, Delegate Marsden, adds an airgun that can expel a projectile at over 250 FPS to the concealed weapons list (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES)
HB 2318, Delegate Morrissey, requires anyone selling three or more guns at a gun show be an FFL (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES)
HB 2418, Delegate Ward, requires a machine gun owner to notify the State Police of any change of address (VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES)