Virginia Shooting Sports Association

New Polling Shows Strong Support For Second Amendment Rights

2012-01-27T09:06:00.001-05:00

Sebastian over on Shall Not Be Questioned (formerly Snowflakes in Hell) has a post on some new polling that shows strong support for Second Amendment rights and gun ownership among Americans.

New Polling

Pro-Gun Bills Sent Back to Senate Courts

2012-01-26T14:45:00.004-05:00

As the State Senate began today's session, Senate Majority Leader and Senate Courts of Justice Committee Chairman Tommy Norment had SB4 (Castle Doctrine), SB323 (repeal of handgun rationing), and SB67 (removal of the option for localities to fingerprint CHP applicants) recommitted to the committee. After discussions with Senator Norment, he said it was a procedual move due to proxy votes being cast for members who were not on the Capitol grounds at the time the votes were cast. The state senate allows members to vote in committee by proxy because they may have meetings that overlap, but you must be on Capitol grounds for the votes to be allowed. Apparently, two members who had proxy votes cast were not at the Capitol. The bills will have new votes but there will be no rehearing (meaning the public will not get a second shot at speaking for or against the bills), likely on Monday.

Sunday Hunting Bill Passes

2012-01-26T13:55:00.000-05:00

SB 464, a bill that allows Sunday Hunting on private property, by the owner or with the permission of the owner, and without dogs to hunt deer, just passed the State Senate by a vote of 29-11. The bill now moves to the House.

Busy Day in Senate Courts Wednesday, Militia and Police Subcommittee Up Next

2012-01-26T10:26:00.006-05:00

Yesterday saw a marathon meeting in Senate Courts of Justice as noted in last night's legislative update with both of VSSA's top priorities, repeal of handgun rationing and Castle Doctrine reported out of committee. Another busy day is set as there are a number of bills scheduled to be heard this evening at 5:00 PM in House Militia, Police and Public Safety Subcommittee #1. Bills to be considered in the subcommittee tonight are:

Anti-Gun Legislation:
House Bill 364 would prohibit the private sales of firearms at gun shows by requiring that all sales conducted at a gun show go through a federally licensed dealer. We have already seen in the State Senate that the real target of such legislation is to ban all private sales.

House Bill 458 seeks to weaken Virginia's preemption law by allowing localities to adopt an ordinance that prohibits firearms, ammunition, or components, or a combination thereof, in libraries owned or operated by the locality.

Pro-Gun Legislation:
House Bill 20 would update Virginia's Emergency Powers doctrine by adding lawful carrying and transportation to the list of actions that cannot be prohibited during a declaration of emergency.

House Bill 22 would establish that no locality or entity may participate in compensated consfiscation schemes (gun "buyback") where individuals are given anything of value or money in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body first passes an ordinance authorizing the gun "buyback." This legislation also requires that any locality holding gun "buybacks" sell the firearms to a federally licensed dealer "or be disposed of in any appropriate manner" if they could not be sold.

House Bill 26 would allow a court to waive a $25 dollar fine upon presentation of the permit to the court, if a person fails to display his concealed handgun permit when requested by a law enforcement officer.

House Bill 375 would prohibit localities from adopting any workplace rule that prevents an employee from storing a lawfully possessed firearm and ammunition in his locked motor vehicle. The firearm must be in a secured container or compartment in the vehicle.

House Bill 940 repeals Virginia's handgun rationing which prohibits the purchase of more than one handgun in a thirty-day period.

Sunday Hunting Set for Final Senate Vote Today

2012-01-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

It appears that Sunday Hunting (SB464) is set to pass the State Senate today. The bill was amended to add that no hunting shall be within 250 of a place of worship on Sunday, then the bill was Engrossed by a vote of 25-14. The bill is on Third Reading for final passage today.

Senate Courts Agenda Full of Firearm Related Bills Wednesday

2012-01-24T13:11:00.001-05:00

On Wednesday, January 25th, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee is scheduled to hear a number of firearm related bills. The meeting will begin 1/2 hour after the adjournent of the Senate Session.

Among the pro-rights bills on the agenda is SB 323, Senator Carrico's bill to repeal handgun rationing ("one gun-a-month"), two bills to repeal the option for localities to require fingerprinting for concealed handgun permit applications (SB 67 and SB 670), and two bills to enact Castle Doctrine (SB 4, SB 64).

Also on the agenda is anti-rights Senator Don McEachin's bill to prohibit the private sale of firearms (SB 379). If McEachin's bill passes, it would make the private sale of firearms a Class 2 misdemeanor. Senator McEachin also has SB 648, a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for a person who is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs to carry a loaded firearm in public. Both bills are a solution in search of a problem and should be defeated.

Please contact members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and urge them to support the pro-Second Amendment bills and oppose the anti-rights bills.

Sunday Hunting Set for Senate Vote Wednesday

2012-01-24T11:06:00.001-05:00

This Wednesday, January 25, the state Senate is expected to consider Senate Bill 464, legislation that would remove the prohibition on Sunday hunting in the Commonwealth of Virginia by alllowing hunting on private land and public waters. It prohibits the use of dogs for deer hunting on Sunday. SB464 was reported out of Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee by an 11 to 4 vote last week. While it is all that many would have hoped for, it is a giant step forward.

At a time when the number of hunting licenses purchased in Virginia are 1/2 what they were 20 years ago, and many Virginians are not able to get into the woods on Saturdays due to work or family obligations, Sunday is the only day available for some hunters. Additionally, allowing hunting on Sunday will be a boast for the Commonwealth's economy. NRA-ILA notes that comprehensive research from the National Shooting Sports Foundation shows that allowing hunting on Sundays would generate a total annual economic impact estimated at $296 million and create 3,927 jobs. All of this would be spurred by simply eliminating words from state statute books (the current prohibition), not spending taxpayer dollars on some pie-in-the-sky scheme.

Please contact your state Senator today, and respectfully urge him or her to support this critical pro-hunting legislation and extend Virginians the same privileges and opportunities that hunters in the vast majority of states already enjoy. To locate your state Senator and their contact information, please click here.

Sunday Hunting Bill on First Reading in Senate.

2012-01-23T08:22:00.000-05:00

The substitute to SB464 that was approved by the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday has been printed. Below is the key language of the bill.

To hunt or kill any wild bird or wild animal, including any nuisance species, with a gun, firearm or other weapon on Sunday~~, which is hereby declared a rest day for all species of wild bird and wild animal life, except raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings~~, except as provided in this subdivision. The provision of this subdivision that prohibits the hunting or killing on Sunday of any wild bird or wild animal, including any nuisance species, shall not apply to (i) any person who hunts or kills raccoons prior to 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning or (ii) any person who hunts or kills any wild bird or wild animal, including nuisance species, with a gun, firearm or other weapon on Sunday (a) on private property, either as a landowner, the landowner's spouse or the children of the landowner, or with the written permission of the landowner, or (b) on the waters of the Commonwealth, only to the extent not prohibited by formal action of the Board. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, it shall be unlawful to hunt or kill any deer on Sunday with the aid or assistance of dogs. However, a person lawfully carrying a gun, firearm or other weapon on Sunday in an area that could be used for hunting shall not be presumed to be hunting on Sunday, absent evidence to the contrary.

The bill is on first reading in the Senate today.

Cunningham Pleads Fifth in Fast and Furious

2012-01-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

Fox News is reporting that Patrick J. Cunningham, the second highest ranking U.S. Attorney in Arizona, informed the House Oversight Committee late Thursday through his attorney that he will plead the Fifth to avoid testifying before Representative Darrell Issa's House Oversight Committee. He had been subpoenaed by the committee regarding his role in the ATF scheme known as Fast and Furious, that sent more than 2,000 guns to the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. Guns from the fatal operation were found at the murder scene of Border Agent Brian Terry. Cunningham believes he is being set up as a fall guy by the Department of Justice.

Things should be very interesting when Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on February 2nd.

This schism is the first big break in what has been a unified front in the government’s defense of itself in the gun-running scandal. Cunningham claims he is a victim of a conflict between two branches of government and will not be compelled to be a witnesses against himself, and make a statement that could be later used by a grand jury or special prosecutor to indict him on criminal charges.

New Look for NRABlog

2012-01-20T10:21:00.000-05:00

The NRA showcased a new look for the NRABlog as the SHOT Show opened this week.

It is a lot cleaner and much easier to navigate than version 1.0. Check it out.

Sunday Hunting Advances to Full Senate

2012-01-19T19:12:00.001-05:00

Four Sunday hunting bills were heard in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee this afternoon. The result was a substitute bill being reported on a vote of 11-4. Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Ralph Northam (D- Norfolk), was the vehicle for the substitute bill. The substitute allows hunting on Sunday on private land and public waters (restricted on certain waterways). The bill also banned hunting deer with dogs on Sunday.

Speaking for the bill were:

The Sunday Hunting Coalition lobbyist, Virginia's Secretary of Natural Resources, former DGIF Board Member Jimmy Hazel, the General Manager of Bass Pro Shops, and a few other citizens.

Speaking in opposition to the bill were:

A representative from the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, the lobbyist for the Independent Baptists, a Northern Neck Farmer, a number of rural property owners, a fox hunter, the Virginia Horse Council, Virginia Agribusiness and the Virginia Farm Bureau.

This is a small step in the right direction. While it may not be all that proponents of lifting the ban may have wanted, it strikes a good balance respecting the rights of land owners, while giving Virginian's an opportunity to hunt on Sunday if they wish. The bill will likely be up for a final vote in the Senate on Monday or Tuesday.

Please take a moment and thank the following members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for voting in favor of reporting the bill to the full Senate:

Watkins, Puckett, Blevins, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Marsden, Stanley, Black, Miller, J.C., Ebbin

The New Face of Shooting

2012-01-19T11:01:00.006-05:00

The face of the shooting sports has changed over the last decade with more and more women shooting and hunting. Cam Edwards and NRANews spoke to some of the new faces of the shooting sports while at the SHOT Show earlier this week.

Pro-rights groups need to make sure we integrate these new shooters in our outreach and legislative activites. For far too long, the middle age, white male has been the face of the pro-rights movement and the anti-rights groups trot out "soccer moms" before legislative committees. There is no reason we can't counter this with our own female activists.

Castle Bills Passed By

2012-01-18T18:42:00.001-05:00

All of the Castle Doctrine bills were passed by in the House Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee meeting today. The bills will be rescheduled for another meeting.

Range Protection Bill Introduced

2012-01-18T14:51:00.000-05:00

Delegate Rick Morris has introduced House Bill 1114, a bill to restrict localities from enacting onerous ordinances related to the opening or operation of shooting ranges, such as those we have documented being tried by Sussex County over the years.. The bill has been referred to the committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns, on which Delegate Morris sits. If the bill passes the House, it will face touch going in the State Senate where it will likely be referred to the Committee on Local Government. That is the only senate committee that has a Democratic majority, with a Republican chairman.

Is This the Year for Sunday Hunting in Virginia

2012-01-18T13:51:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, the Richmond Times Dispatch ran this article asking if Sunday Hunting is gaining traction in the General Assembly. It points out that the formerly fragmented groups supporting repeal of the ban have now joined forces.

Just recently, a group of prominent politicians and sportsmen, including Dels. Albert Pollard and William Janis, and former state Sen. Ken Stolle, started the Virginia Sunday Hunting Coalition (virginiasundayhunting.org) to push for a repeal.

As posted earlier today, the bills will get their first hearing in the Senate tomorrow.

Senate Sunday Hunting Bills on Thursday's Senate Ag Agenda

2012-01-18T12:16:00.001-05:00

Four Senate bills addressing Sunday Hunting are on the agenda for tomorrow's 2:00 PM Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee meeting.

The four bills are Senate Bill 151, Senate Bill 173, Senate Bill 464, and Senate Bill 512.

Senate Bill 173 is different in that it allows landowners to hunt on their own property on Sundays. It also allows persons who have the written permission of the landowner to hunt on the landowner's property on Sundays. The other three bills simply strike the ban on Sunday hunting.

Castle Doctrine in House Courts Criminal Subcommittee Today

2012-01-18T10:35:00.008-05:00

Four Castle Doctrine Bills are on the docket for today's House Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee meeting today. The Meeting will take place 1/2 hour after adjournment of the House Session. The three bills are House Bill 14, House Bill 47, House Bill 48 and House Bill 925.

Both House Bill 14 and 47 would provide civil immunity for an occupant of a dwelling who uses any degree of physical force while engaged in the defense of his dwelling when (i) the other person has unlawfully entered the dwelling and committed an overt act toward the occupant or another person in the dwelling and (ii) the occupant reasonably believes that he or another person in the dwelling is in imminent serious danger of bodily injury.

House Bill 48 and 925 encodes a version of the "castle doctrine," allowing the use of physical force, including deadly force, by a person in his dwelling against an intruder in the dwelling who has committed an overt act against him or another person who is lawfully in the dwelling, without civil liability.

McEachin Bill Targets All Private Firearm Sales

2012-01-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

Richmond anti-rights State Senator Don McEachin has finally introduced what we all knew was the real target of the so-called "gun show loophole" bills - ending private sales of firearms. Senate Bill 379 would make it a Class 2 misdemeanor for a person who is not a licensed dealer to sell, rent, trade, or transfer a firearm to any other person who is not a licensed dealer, and make it a class 2 misdemeanor for a person who is not a licensed dealer to buy, rent, trade, or transfer a firearm from any other person who is not a licensed dealer. So, the charade is finally over.

Bills Introduced to Repeal Handgun Rationing

2012-01-14T13:28:00.000-05:00

Bills have been introduced in the Virginia House and Senate to repeal Virginia's Handgun Rationing Law. Repeal of the law is the top priority for VSSA during the 2012 legislative session. Follow all of the firearm and sportsmen legislation on the VSSA Legislative Tracking form and be sure to subscribe to VSSA's Twitter feed for timely updates.

Washington Post Laments Republican State Senate Majority

2012-01-12T13:07:00.000-05:00

In an article that reads more like an editorial, the Washington Post reports that Virginia Republicans took over as the majority in the Virginia Senate yesterday.

By day’s end, the GOP acquired greater power through a raft of rule changes that not only mean they chair all committees but also allows them to have greater say over school funding, transportation and social issues, among others. Republicans now have the votes to approve legislation that would limit abortions and ease gun laws, which have been previously blocked by Senate Democrats.

It should be an interesting 60 days reading the Post's coverage of the General Assembly.

Firearm Legislation So Far

2012-01-12T11:08:00.004-05:00

Here are the bills and VSSA's position to date. Expect bills to drop until January 20th.

Bill No.	House Bills Introduced LIS Bill Summary as Introduced (unless otherwise noted) Title	VSSA Position
HB 20	Emergency Services & Disaster Law; shall not be interpreted to prohibit carrying, etc., of firearms.	Support
HB 22	Firearms; disposition thereof acquired by localities.	Support
HB 25	Concealed handgun permits; confidentiality of permittee information.	Support
HB 26	Concealed handgun permit; failure to produce upon demand of a law-enforcement officer, penalty	Support
HB 91	Higher educational institutions; possession of concealed handguns by faculty members.	Support
HB 139	Concealed handguns; persons who may lawfully carry hidden from common observation, penalty.	Support
HB 172	Hunting; knowingly trespassing while carrying a firearm, penalty	Neutral at this time
HB 237	Criminal history record information checks upon handgun purchases; dissemination of information.	Support
HB 288	Courthouses; exception from prohibition against carrying weapon for city and county treasurers.	Neutral
HB 364	Criminal history record information; record check to be performed on prospective transferee. (Annual attack on gun shows)	Opposed
HB 375	Firearms; workplace rules by localities.	Support
HB 458	Firearms; locality may adopt an ordinance that prohibits in libraries.	Opposed

Bill No.	Senate Bills Introduced LIS Bill Summary as Introduced (unless otherwise noted) Title	VSSA Position
SB 67	Concealed handgun permit applications; removes option for locality to require fingerprints.of firearms by persons subject to orders.	Support

House of Delegates Committee Assignments

2012-01-11T13:45:00.001-05:00

Below are the new assignments of committees where gun and hunting bills may be assigned.

Since 2000, House Republican Leadership has apportioned committee membership in proportion to the body as a whole, which has 68 Republicans and Independents and 32 Democrats. Most standing committees now include 22 members, with 15 Republicans and 7 Democrats serving on each. The membership of the Courts of Justice Committee was reduced from 22 members last session to 18 members, while the Rules Committee has 15 members.

COURTS OF JUSTICE

Albo (Chairman), Kilgore, Bell (of Albemarle) (Vice Chairman), Cline, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Miller, Loupassi, Villanueva, Habeeb, Farrell, Minchew, Morris, Johnson, Watts, Toscano, Herring, McClellan.

COUNTIES, CITIES AND TOWNS

Ingram (Chairman), Marshall (of Prince William), Marshall (of Danville) (Vice Chairman), Iaquinto, Crockett-Stark, Poindexter, Merricks, Knight, Morefield, Edmunds, Stolle, LeMunyon, Wilt, Morris, Hodges, Spruill, Ware (of Roanoke City), McQuinn, Howell (of Norfolk), Surovell, Kory, Torian.

AGRICULTURE, CHESAPEAKE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Sherwood (Chairman), Ware (of Powhatan), Wright, Orrock, Scott (of Madison) (Vice Chairman), Marshall (of Danville), Poindexter, Pogge, Knight, Edmunds, Wilt, Morefield, Webert, Ransone, Fariss, Plum, Lewis, Bulova, Sickles, Englin, James, Torian.

MILITIA, POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Lingamfelter (Chairman), Sherwood, Wright (Vice Chairman), Cline, Gilbert, Merricks, Morefield, Edmunds, Wilt, Webert, Morris, Fariss, O'Quinn, Head, Rush, Lewis, Tyler, Filler-Corn, Hope, Surovell, Kory, Lopez.

RULES

Howell (of Stafford) (Chairman), Putney, Landes, Cox (of Colonial Heights), Kilgore, Ware (of Powhatan), Sherwood, Jones, Orrock, Gilbert (Vice Chairman), Knight, Joannou, Johnson, Plum, Alexander.

Bev Sherwood, who had been chairman of Militia and Police is now chairman of Ag. Lingamfelter, a staunch pro-freedom legislator takes over for Sherwood as chairman of Militia and Police.

General Assembly Convenes Today

2012-01-11T08:20:00.000-05:00

The 2012 Session of the Virginia General Assembly convenes at noon today. A few firearm related bills have been prefiled but expect more to follow in the coming days. So far the list includes:

HB 20 Emergency Services & Disaster Law; shall not be interpreted to prohibit carrying, etc., of firearms.

HB 22 Firearms; disposition thereof acquired by localities. This bill prohibits localities from participating in compensated confiscation schemes (gun buybacks) without the governing body enacting an ordinance authorizing the activity. A similar bill passed a couple of years ago but was vetoed by Governor Kaine.

HB 25 Concealed handgun permits; confidentiality of permittee information.

HB 26 Concealed handgun permit; failure to produce upon demand of a law-enforcement officer, penalty.

HB 91 Higher educational institutions; possession of concealed handguns by faculty members.

HB 139 Concealed handguns; persons who may lawfully carry hidden from common observation, penalty.
This is the s"Constitutional Carry" measure. It retains the permit option for those who still wish to obtain a permit (i.e. so they can carry in states that have reciprocity with Virginia's permit).

HB 172 Hunting; knowingly trespassing while carrying a firearm, penalty.

HB 237 Criminal history record information checks upon handgun purchases; dissemination of information.

HB 288 Courthouses; exception from prohibition against carrying weapon for city and county treasurers. This bill allows city and county treasurers to carry in courthouses while on duty.

HB 375 Firearms; workplace rules by localities. This is a limited "Parking Lot" bill that prohibits localities from prohibiting their employees from storing their firearm in their locked vehicle while at work.

VSSA's priorities this session are repeal of handgun rationing and enacting Castle Doctrine. There will be other bills that VSSA will be lobbying for passage and it is expected there will be a few anti-rights bill. But the pro-freedom forces will be playing offense again this year while the anti-freedom crowd will be forced to play defense. It will be a very active session.

CSGV Spin on Gun Sales

2012-01-09T13:25:00.004-05:00

Citing the number of media stories about the increase in gun sales, Josh Horwitz with the Coalitiion to Stop Gun Violence has put out an email that promotes "The Truth About Gun Sales."

In reality, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (the gun industry's trade association) refues to provide the media and public with sales data, which is unheard of. Instead, they offer reporters data on background checks. But the FBI has mide it patently clear that these checks "do not represent the number of firearms sold."

That's right, and NSSF makes it clear the number they report is for background checks, not firearms sold. This from the most recent Bullet Points.

According to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), December 2011 set a new record for the most background checks in a single month (emphasis added). The December 2011 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,410,937 is an increase of 24.5 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,133,371 in December 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2011 NICS figure of 1,854,400 reflects a 22.6 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,512,265 in December 2010. This marks the nineteenth straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year.

It is very likely that one background check could be for the purchase of more than one firearm (i.e. a father buying a shotgun or rifle for each of two sons as Christmas presents - two firearms sold under one background check). So, CSGV, the number of firearms sold is likely higher that the number of background checks, which should make Josh even more unhappy.

Update. The Richmond Times Dispatch makes the same point for us here.

More on Virginia Background Check

2012-01-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I posted the WINA story about Governor McDonnell looking favorably at ending the state police run background check in favor of the federal check which was brief. This Virginia Pilot story goes into more detail.

Under the current process in Virginia, potential gun buyers are run through state and federal checks. The scans look for records that would prohibit a purchase - things such as a criminal history, residency status in the country, drug offenses, a dishonorable military discharge, and mental health adjudications.

The state police say if Virginia transitions to using only the federal system, purchase restrictions unique to Virginia might not block a sale if the federal system were the only screening method in place. One such difference is that Virginia blocks individuals with juvenile felony convictions from purchasing firearms. But Virginia does not release juvenile information so a federal check would likely not block such a transaction. Delegate John Cosgrove will attempt to fix that.

A possible solution to that has been offered by Chesapeake Del. John Cosgrove, a Republican who previously filed legislation to allow juvenile records to be shared with the U.S. attorney general.

Although his bill failed, Cosgrove said he plans to reintroduce it in the legislative session that begins Jan. 11 as a vehicle to create uniformity between that aspect of state policy and the federal background check system.

The gun ban lobby opposes doing away with the Virginia background check. This is just one issue that VSSA will be tracking as the session begins.