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Protecting Virginia Gun Rights Since 1938.
Updated: 25 min 33 sec ago
You Have to Love This Ad
NPR ran this story earlier today about how more candidates are showing themselves actually using firearms in their ads, not just talking about supporting gun rights. Embedded in the story on their web site was this ad for an Arizona candidate for Congress.
It should not be surprising that NPR added their snarky commentary into the article:
Well, it is a scary world. And voters are looking for can-do leaders who can solve complex problems easily. But there is the question of whether a parade of politicians pictured with guns makes us feel safer, or even more frightened.I do think the article misses the mark in trying to compare what is happening in races this year on both the Republican and Democratic side as it relates to firearms by attempting to compare it to 1994. That year, a Democratically controlled Congress and White House had just enacted the Clinton Gun Ban. Voters were not treated so much to a bi-partisan display of support for the Second Amendment as you see this year. What is also different I believe is the actual use of firearms by candidates. We all also remember the photo-ops of John Kerry in 2004 where he tried to appear like the average gun owner on a clay target range and in the goose blind (though you never saw him actually doing the hunting - just entering and leaving the field).
It is up to gun owners to discern whether all of this is just for show or whether it shows a genuine understanding of the issue. There are a lot of candidates that support gun control but try to parse the issue by saying they don't want to take any hunter's shotgun. It is however a positive sign when you have candidates of both parities going after the votes of gun owners.
It should not be surprising that NPR added their snarky commentary into the article:
Well, it is a scary world. And voters are looking for can-do leaders who can solve complex problems easily. But there is the question of whether a parade of politicians pictured with guns makes us feel safer, or even more frightened.I do think the article misses the mark in trying to compare what is happening in races this year on both the Republican and Democratic side as it relates to firearms by attempting to compare it to 1994. That year, a Democratically controlled Congress and White House had just enacted the Clinton Gun Ban. Voters were not treated so much to a bi-partisan display of support for the Second Amendment as you see this year. What is also different I believe is the actual use of firearms by candidates. We all also remember the photo-ops of John Kerry in 2004 where he tried to appear like the average gun owner on a clay target range and in the goose blind (though you never saw him actually doing the hunting - just entering and leaving the field).
It is up to gun owners to discern whether all of this is just for show or whether it shows a genuine understanding of the issue. There are a lot of candidates that support gun control but try to parse the issue by saying they don't want to take any hunter's shotgun. It is however a positive sign when you have candidates of both parities going after the votes of gun owners.
Attend a Governor McDonnell Townhall on Government Reform
Last week, NRA-ILA sent an email alert encouraging gun owners to attend one of the town halls that Governor Bob McDonnell is holding around the Commonwealth on the subject of Government Reform. One suggesting for reforming Virginia government and saving taxpayers money would be to scrap the current Virginia Instant Check System for gun purchases and use the National Instant Check System (NICS). In April, I posted about the problem of background checks taking longer and the impact is has had on gun shows. The Richmond Times Dispatch reported at that time the reason according to the State Police:
Officials say it is tied to increased demand for firearms at the same time that budget and funding constraints have reduced the number of staffers available to handle the transactions.
Spokeswoman Corinne Geller said that since May 2009, the agency has lost 11 people from its 28-person staff at the Virginia Firearms Transaction Center, including two federally funded full-time workers who used to attend gun shows and conduct the computerized checks on-site.NRA believes that the best way to alleviate the problem is not allocate more money to the State Police, but to scrap the state system and have Virginia use the NICS. Such a suggestion is likely the type of government reforms ideas that Governor McDonnell may find appealing.
There are a number of town halls coming up in the next week and gun owners are encouraged to attend and suggest to Governor McDonnell that one efficient reform idea is for Virginia to stop doing its own checks and instead have them go through NICS. If you live near one of the town hall locations, please attend, then let VSSA know the Governor's response by posting a comment on this blog post.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
412 Lee Hall at University of Mary Washington
1301 College Avenue in FREDERICKSBURG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
CIT Auditorium
2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300 in HERNDON
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Montpelier Room of East Campus Dining Hall
James Madison University in HARRISONBURG
MONDAY, AUGUST 30
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Great Hall of Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
150 Slayton Avenue in DANVILLE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room in Bristol Public Library
701 Goode Street in BRISTOL
VSSA had the opportunity to discuss this with NRANews.com last week.
Officials say it is tied to increased demand for firearms at the same time that budget and funding constraints have reduced the number of staffers available to handle the transactions.
Spokeswoman Corinne Geller said that since May 2009, the agency has lost 11 people from its 28-person staff at the Virginia Firearms Transaction Center, including two federally funded full-time workers who used to attend gun shows and conduct the computerized checks on-site.NRA believes that the best way to alleviate the problem is not allocate more money to the State Police, but to scrap the state system and have Virginia use the NICS. Such a suggestion is likely the type of government reforms ideas that Governor McDonnell may find appealing.
There are a number of town halls coming up in the next week and gun owners are encouraged to attend and suggest to Governor McDonnell that one efficient reform idea is for Virginia to stop doing its own checks and instead have them go through NICS. If you live near one of the town hall locations, please attend, then let VSSA know the Governor's response by posting a comment on this blog post.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
412 Lee Hall at University of Mary Washington
1301 College Avenue in FREDERICKSBURG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
CIT Auditorium
2214 Rock Hill Road, Suite 300 in HERNDON
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Montpelier Room of East Campus Dining Hall
James Madison University in HARRISONBURG
MONDAY, AUGUST 30
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Great Hall of Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
150 Slayton Avenue in DANVILLE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room in Bristol Public Library
701 Goode Street in BRISTOL
VSSA had the opportunity to discuss this with NRANews.com last week.
Posting Will Be Light
As vacation week begins, posting will be light for the next seven days.
Menino Can't Enforce the Gun Laws He Has
This isn't Virginia related but it is worth noting because former WRVA (Richmond) radio talk show host Michael Graham has a good Op/Ed in the Boston Herald that demonstrates the hollowness of the "blame guns" crowd.
Here is the story. Three years ago, 8-year-old Liquarry Jefferson was shot and killed by his 7-year-old cousin in Dorchester, Massachusetts. After the incident, Boston Mayor Tom Menino said the incident was the fault of the NRA, because it opposed tougher gun control laws. Never mind that the two boys and Liquarry’s 2-year-old half-sister were upstairs playing with a pistol - unattended - at 11 p.m.
The city ended up charging Liquarry’s mom, Lakeisha Gadson, of recklessly causing the death of her 8-year-old son, by letting an older son stash a loaded gun in their apartment. A jury acquitted her this week of every charge except of misleading the police after the fact, by lying about the circumstances of the shooting.
Graham writes:
Yes, it’s true that Gadson suffered a tragic loss in the death of her son. It’s also true that his death would never have happened without her negligent - in my opinion, criminally negligent - behavior. Justice demands that she be held accountable.
Menino and his best bud Michael Bloomberg are always calling for more gun control laws but the truth is, Menino can't enforce the laws he has. The gun used in this tragic incident was illegally brought into the home by a teen who already had a charge for illegal possession of a firearm.
Here is the story. Three years ago, 8-year-old Liquarry Jefferson was shot and killed by his 7-year-old cousin in Dorchester, Massachusetts. After the incident, Boston Mayor Tom Menino said the incident was the fault of the NRA, because it opposed tougher gun control laws. Never mind that the two boys and Liquarry’s 2-year-old half-sister were upstairs playing with a pistol - unattended - at 11 p.m.
The city ended up charging Liquarry’s mom, Lakeisha Gadson, of recklessly causing the death of her 8-year-old son, by letting an older son stash a loaded gun in their apartment. A jury acquitted her this week of every charge except of misleading the police after the fact, by lying about the circumstances of the shooting.
Graham writes:
Yes, it’s true that Gadson suffered a tragic loss in the death of her son. It’s also true that his death would never have happened without her negligent - in my opinion, criminally negligent - behavior. Justice demands that she be held accountable.
Menino and his best bud Michael Bloomberg are always calling for more gun control laws but the truth is, Menino can't enforce the laws he has. The gun used in this tragic incident was illegally brought into the home by a teen who already had a charge for illegal possession of a firearm.
Rick Waugh and Eric Cantor on the Second Amendment
7th District Democratic Congressional Candidate Rick Waugh appears to be trying to have it both ways on the right to keep and bear arms. He says he believes the Second Amendment protects an individual right but states and cities should be able to pass laws that fit their situation. I wonder if this means Waugh does not support Virginia's preemption statute that forbids cities from passing gun control statutes?
On his campaign web site, Waugh had this reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonald vs. Chicago:
My reaction to McDonald v. Chicago: As an outdoorsman from a military family I understand the importance of responsible gun ownership. Like the President, I believe that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to bear arms. It is important that states, cities, and counties retain some ability to pass commonsense laws that make sense for each individual community. Justice Alito spoke to this concern and some of the law-enforcement communities' concerns in his opinion, but I believe some additional concerns remain
First, gun owners should be suspicious of anyone who starts out with "Like the President" to describe their views on the Second Amendment when the President happens to be Barack Obama. It is well documented that Obama is no friend of gun owners or the 2nd Amendment. In fact, he did not even have his solicitor general submit a brief in McDonald vs. Chicago, a case where an African American was suing the City of Chicago for the right to self defense in his home. Second, Waugh almost repeats word for word the talking points from the Brady Campaign about how local governments need the ability to "pass commonsense laws."
The 7th District has been represented for nine years by Representative Eric Cantor. Cantor has a long history of supporting the right to keep and bear arms, going all the way back to his days in the Virginia General Assembly. He signed the congressional amicus brief in both the Heller vs. DC and McDonald vs. Chicago cases. He set up a web site during the Heller case urging visitors to sign the petition to Save the Second Amendment, and he has an "A" rating from the NRA in each of his elections. Cantor is a candidate gun owners can trust.
Waugh on the other hand has never held office so we can only go by what he says. He uses the language of the antis to describe his views on the Second Amendment. Simply having your picture taken with people wearing "Guns Save Lives" stickers and posting them on your web site does not equate with supporting the Second Amendment. Gun owners should not be fooled and should support the only candidate in the 7th District with a proven track record on the right to keep and bear arms - Eric Cantor.
On his campaign web site, Waugh had this reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonald vs. Chicago:
My reaction to McDonald v. Chicago: As an outdoorsman from a military family I understand the importance of responsible gun ownership. Like the President, I believe that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to bear arms. It is important that states, cities, and counties retain some ability to pass commonsense laws that make sense for each individual community. Justice Alito spoke to this concern and some of the law-enforcement communities' concerns in his opinion, but I believe some additional concerns remain
First, gun owners should be suspicious of anyone who starts out with "Like the President" to describe their views on the Second Amendment when the President happens to be Barack Obama. It is well documented that Obama is no friend of gun owners or the 2nd Amendment. In fact, he did not even have his solicitor general submit a brief in McDonald vs. Chicago, a case where an African American was suing the City of Chicago for the right to self defense in his home. Second, Waugh almost repeats word for word the talking points from the Brady Campaign about how local governments need the ability to "pass commonsense laws."
The 7th District has been represented for nine years by Representative Eric Cantor. Cantor has a long history of supporting the right to keep and bear arms, going all the way back to his days in the Virginia General Assembly. He signed the congressional amicus brief in both the Heller vs. DC and McDonald vs. Chicago cases. He set up a web site during the Heller case urging visitors to sign the petition to Save the Second Amendment, and he has an "A" rating from the NRA in each of his elections. Cantor is a candidate gun owners can trust.
Waugh on the other hand has never held office so we can only go by what he says. He uses the language of the antis to describe his views on the Second Amendment. Simply having your picture taken with people wearing "Guns Save Lives" stickers and posting them on your web site does not equate with supporting the Second Amendment. Gun owners should not be fooled and should support the only candidate in the 7th District with a proven track record on the right to keep and bear arms - Eric Cantor.
Roanoke Area Middle Schooler Starts Airsoft Club
This is really neat story from the Roanoke Times.
For years, Tyler has been longing for somewhere to play with his airsoft guns. So, with the help of his father, Roger, the young Vinton teen is now an entrepreneur.
He started the Star City Airsoft Club last winter so fellow airsoft gun players could have a place to play. The club's first game day was July 21, and 10 boys came and went during the five games played. As of now, Tyler said, the club doesn't have a schedule for games, but he posts updates of when they're playing on the business' Facebook page.
The article also has a minute long video interview with the father and son.
For years, Tyler has been longing for somewhere to play with his airsoft guns. So, with the help of his father, Roger, the young Vinton teen is now an entrepreneur.
He started the Star City Airsoft Club last winter so fellow airsoft gun players could have a place to play. The club's first game day was July 21, and 10 boys came and went during the five games played. As of now, Tyler said, the club doesn't have a schedule for games, but he posts updates of when they're playing on the business' Facebook page.
The article also has a minute long video interview with the father and son.
Virginia Shooters Score at The American Legion's Junior Air Rifle National Championship
VSSA affiliated Lafayette Gun Club can be proud of two of their junior shooters who participated in the American Legion Junior Air Rifle National Championships this past weekend.
Hanna Black of Yorktown, VA, claimed the 2010 sporter champion title after firing a 2312.0 out of 2509.
"I had a fun time with the competition, and it was nice making friends with the other competitors to help ease my nerves," Black said. "Winning the sporter category is a great accomplishment for me."
In the Precision category, Danielle Foster, also with Lafayette Gun Club, shot a 2446.9 to claim a third place finish.
Congratulations to Hanna and Danielle on their great shooting.
Hanna Black of Yorktown, VA, claimed the 2010 sporter champion title after firing a 2312.0 out of 2509.
"I had a fun time with the competition, and it was nice making friends with the other competitors to help ease my nerves," Black said. "Winning the sporter category is a great accomplishment for me."
In the Precision category, Danielle Foster, also with Lafayette Gun Club, shot a 2446.9 to claim a third place finish.
Congratulations to Hanna and Danielle on their great shooting.
Are the Antis Trying to Divide and Conquer
ABC News has a story on their web site and a related video from the August 3rd Nightline titled "Guns - The Open Carry Controversy." But the story line is two fold - open carry, and what Dennis Hennigan of the Brady Campaign termed a new challenge not only to gun control efforts but to the NRA. That new challenge being the state groups that have gained a higher profile since the Heller decision in 2008 and how they are supposedly leaving the NRA behind in pushing for increased gun rights. One such group profiled was a Maine Open Carry Association. Nightline also included a clip of a Virginia group, VCDL. Hennigan referred to the state groups as "extremists" who take the "NRA rhetoric" to the next level.
If we were to believe Hennigan, there is this big rift in the gun rights movement with the NRA on one side, and all of the local groups on the other, fighting each other as much as they are fighting the antis. And, that may be exactly what the antis want.
There is no doubt that a number of state groups have their differences with the NRA. But, that is bound to happen because the NRA has a larger mission and it acts in what it believes is in the best interest of advancing that mission. Many of the state groups are narrowly focused (this does not include NRA state associations like VSSA, which have much of the same mission as the NRA - to advance the shooting sports and protect the rights of individual gun owners). For instance, VCDL was originally a more regional organization (Northern Virginia Citizens Defense League) that was formed to push for concealed carry reform. They later changed their name to reflect a statewide interest. While they, like VSSA, lobby on all gun related bills before the General Assembly, there is no question their main focus is the expansion of concealed and open carry.
Gun owners need to make sure we don't fall into a trap of infighting. The antis know that they have a better chance of winning if they can divide the forces aligned against them. We don't have to always agree, but we must not have open warfare with groups that have common interests - the advancement of our firearms freedoms.
If we were to believe Hennigan, there is this big rift in the gun rights movement with the NRA on one side, and all of the local groups on the other, fighting each other as much as they are fighting the antis. And, that may be exactly what the antis want.
There is no doubt that a number of state groups have their differences with the NRA. But, that is bound to happen because the NRA has a larger mission and it acts in what it believes is in the best interest of advancing that mission. Many of the state groups are narrowly focused (this does not include NRA state associations like VSSA, which have much of the same mission as the NRA - to advance the shooting sports and protect the rights of individual gun owners). For instance, VCDL was originally a more regional organization (Northern Virginia Citizens Defense League) that was formed to push for concealed carry reform. They later changed their name to reflect a statewide interest. While they, like VSSA, lobby on all gun related bills before the General Assembly, there is no question their main focus is the expansion of concealed and open carry.
Gun owners need to make sure we don't fall into a trap of infighting. The antis know that they have a better chance of winning if they can divide the forces aligned against them. We don't have to always agree, but we must not have open warfare with groups that have common interests - the advancement of our firearms freedoms.
NY Times Slams Appleseed Project - Appleseed Responds
That the New York Times Magazine did a hatchet job on the Appleseed Project does not surprise me. Reading the article, it doesn't take long to see the political bent of the author:
While Dailey has said Appleseed should be apolitical, the talk at this Appleseed boot camp and at several others I attended across the country over the course of a year contained pieces of a conversation that has unfolded behind the motley carnivals of the Tea Party movement: a serious deliberation on the right about the nature of the American founding and the limits of incivility.Notice reference to the Tea Party movement as a "motley carnival." The angle to the article is that Appleseed is teaching armed resistance. This was all the Violence Policy Center needed to see to link to the article on their Twitter feed.
NYT on "Appleseed Project"--Mere Marksmen or More Militia Members?One group the article's author (I refrain from calling him a reporter) spoke with stated the group "indoctrinates" participants. But when you view the accompanying video on the Time's web site, it seems to me the only indoctrination is teaching the American History that today's public schools fail to teach.
For their part, the Appleseed project has sent a Letter to the Editor and posted the rebuttal on their web site.
...we opened ourselves up and said our piece in trust that it would be conveyed by the press to its readers.
Sadly, today's article is not about us. It is not about the Appleseed Project. It is about militias and about anecdotal gun owners who are not members of our program. The constant focus on the militia movement, the Tea Party, and Mr. Faire are at the center of this article and as a result this article is not about us, since those things are not, and never have been the Appleseed Project.
...In its rush to cover the desired story, that is, scary militia groups, the NYT simply misses what is really important. Therein lies its disservice to both its readers and our program. The Appleseed Project held in Chesterfield County here in Virginia several years ago and some of the folks hosting the clinic were also active in a local Friends of NRA Committee. VSSA helped promote the clinic on the VSSA web site. A quick look at the organization's web site demonstrates that Appleseed is particularly proud of their outreach to young shooters.
Just one more mainstream media take down on the shooting community.
While Dailey has said Appleseed should be apolitical, the talk at this Appleseed boot camp and at several others I attended across the country over the course of a year contained pieces of a conversation that has unfolded behind the motley carnivals of the Tea Party movement: a serious deliberation on the right about the nature of the American founding and the limits of incivility.Notice reference to the Tea Party movement as a "motley carnival." The angle to the article is that Appleseed is teaching armed resistance. This was all the Violence Policy Center needed to see to link to the article on their Twitter feed.
NYT on "Appleseed Project"--Mere Marksmen or More Militia Members?One group the article's author (I refrain from calling him a reporter) spoke with stated the group "indoctrinates" participants. But when you view the accompanying video on the Time's web site, it seems to me the only indoctrination is teaching the American History that today's public schools fail to teach.
For their part, the Appleseed project has sent a Letter to the Editor and posted the rebuttal on their web site.
...we opened ourselves up and said our piece in trust that it would be conveyed by the press to its readers.
Sadly, today's article is not about us. It is not about the Appleseed Project. It is about militias and about anecdotal gun owners who are not members of our program. The constant focus on the militia movement, the Tea Party, and Mr. Faire are at the center of this article and as a result this article is not about us, since those things are not, and never have been the Appleseed Project.
...In its rush to cover the desired story, that is, scary militia groups, the NYT simply misses what is really important. Therein lies its disservice to both its readers and our program. The Appleseed Project held in Chesterfield County here in Virginia several years ago and some of the folks hosting the clinic were also active in a local Friends of NRA Committee. VSSA helped promote the clinic on the VSSA web site. A quick look at the organization's web site demonstrates that Appleseed is particularly proud of their outreach to young shooters.
Just one more mainstream media take down on the shooting community.
Griffith Has Some Work to Do
Last week WDBJ7 in Roanoke released the results of a Survey USA Poll showing incumbent congressman Tom Perriello trailing his challenger, State Senator Robert Hurt by 23 points in Virginia's 5th District. The next day, WDBJ released the results of a Survey USA Poll in the 9th District race between incumbent Rick Boucher and challenger Morgan Griffith. The results are reversed with Boucher holding a 13 point lead over Griffith.
Most observers knew this was going to be an uphill battle for Griffith. Boucher's lead is not insurmountable but Griffith has a lot of work to do between now and Election Day to make this a race.
Most observers knew this was going to be an uphill battle for Griffith. Boucher's lead is not insurmountable but Griffith has a lot of work to do between now and Election Day to make this a race.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity List App for IPhone
For those who have an IPhone, IPad or IPod Touch, you may already be aware of this but just in case, Blackleaf Software LLC, has an application called Concealed Handgun License State Reciprocity List, that will give you the information you need to know if your concealed carry permit is recognized where you may travel.
These are some of the features gun owners will have with this app:
- The latest state reciprocity changes as of June, 2010 for all 50 states
- Easy to use onscreen controls
- Easy to read, color coded maps
- Reverse reciprocity look up
- Internet buttons to learn about handgun laws within each state
- Read the second amendment right in the app
- Supports portrait and landscape
Now if they only made the app for the Driod.
Complete Details on 2010 VSSA Annual Meeting
Details about the 2010 VSSA Annual Meeting are now posted on the web site. Enjoy an afternoon of shooting, learn a new shooting discipline, or simply get some range time with your family. You will also get a chance to see some of the trophies that the VSSA Highpower Rifle Team won at the first Eastern Armed Forces Memorial Match over Memorial Day Weekend. We are still working on a great dinner speaker that you won't want to miss. Following dinner and guest speaker, VSSA President Dave Myers will give a report on what VSSA has been doing for our members since the last annual meeting. Check out the VSSA web site for all of the details.
Tactical Twist to Favorite Deer Hunting Rifle
The North American Hunting Club had this article about a classic deer hunting load for the growing class of hunters using AR style rifles.
A lever-action .30-30 Winchester is an all-time classic deer rifle. But wouldn't it be cool if it shot farther, hit harder (without anymore recoil) and came as a semiautomatic? If you answered yes, then check out the .30 Remington AR. It's one of the first big-game cartridges specifically designed for AR-style rifles.Hornady refined the .30-30 cartridge with their LEVERevolution® ammo several years ago and now Remington has gone to the next level.
A lever-action .30-30 Winchester is an all-time classic deer rifle. But wouldn't it be cool if it shot farther, hit harder (without anymore recoil) and came as a semiautomatic? If you answered yes, then check out the .30 Remington AR. It's one of the first big-game cartridges specifically designed for AR-style rifles.Hornady refined the .30-30 cartridge with their LEVERevolution® ammo several years ago and now Remington has gone to the next level.
Locality Sees Decline in Gun Sales and Carry Permits
The Virginia Gazette ran this story over the weekend about firearms sales levels and applications for concealed handgun permits (CHPs) leveling off somewhat in the Williamsburg area. The Sheriff and Circuit Court clerks office noted that in 2007 they processed 356 permits. Last year that number almost doubled, to 615. This year is trending more to just a little more than 500. The Sheriff noted that renewals are down this year too.
A local gun shop owner said it's not because the desire is not there:
But according to George Christy, who runs G&L Arms on Mooretown Road, the desire for guns and concealed carry permits hasn’t waned. “The fears are not gone, but the money is,” he said in an interview Friday.
He said gun rights advocates still believe the Obama administration wants to impose
additional gun laws, despite making no attempt to do that so far.
Christy also noted that as supplies have caught up to demand on sporting rifles, the prices have come back down to earth.
My sense is there is probably a little bit of what both the sheriff and Christy mentioned playing into current sales and CHP application numbers. Those that wanted them now have them (CHPs), and the economy is probably finally catching up to the firearms industry. At any rate, while sales may have come back down to a more "normal" number, normal is probably going to be defined by a higher number than in the past.
A local gun shop owner said it's not because the desire is not there:
But according to George Christy, who runs G&L Arms on Mooretown Road, the desire for guns and concealed carry permits hasn’t waned. “The fears are not gone, but the money is,” he said in an interview Friday.
He said gun rights advocates still believe the Obama administration wants to impose
additional gun laws, despite making no attempt to do that so far.
Christy also noted that as supplies have caught up to demand on sporting rifles, the prices have come back down to earth.
My sense is there is probably a little bit of what both the sheriff and Christy mentioned playing into current sales and CHP application numbers. Those that wanted them now have them (CHPs), and the economy is probably finally catching up to the firearms industry. At any rate, while sales may have come back down to a more "normal" number, normal is probably going to be defined by a higher number than in the past.
Democrats Look to Gun Owners to Keep Hold on Majority
A number of Democratic congressmen and senators will be looking to gun owners to help them keep their congressional majority this fall.
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
Will it work, or will gun voters look to other issues to help them make a final decision in those races when both candidates have equally good records on Second Amendment Issues?
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
Will it work, or will gun voters look to other issues to help them make a final decision in those races when both candidates have equally good records on Second Amendment Issues?
Griffith, Hurt Make Underfunded 20 List
Over on National Review's web site, Jim Geraghty runs down 20 GOP challengers who are running in districts that Bush and McCain won but that are currently held by Democratic congressmen.
Rob Hurt, Virginia’s 5th district: A recent Survey USA poll offered the jaw-dropping result that Hurt is ahead of first-term Democrat Tom Perriello, 58 percent to 35 percent. But incumbency has its privileges and advantages, and Perriello is sitting on more than $1.7 million. Hurt’s most recent filing shows him with a bit over $215,000. In terms of advertising cost, this district is in the middle of the pack.
Morgan Griffith, Virginia’s 9th district: One would expect the majority leader in the Virginia house of delegates to have a solid fundraising base, and Griffith has raised a quite respectable $402,000. But he has only $297,000 left, and his opponent, incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher, has been stockpiling a massive fund to help in a tough year — he has more than $2 million on hand. Boucher is already running ads, and he’s represented the district since 1982.As Geraghty notes, in 2006, a number of Democrats that took out incumbent GOP members were significantly underfunded, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that Hurt and Griffith can win. In fact, Hurt is positioned very well in his race, even if you don't believe the 23% spread that Survey USA gives him. Griffith's route to victory is a little trickier and he will need a significant infusion of cash to define himself and to avoid letting Boucher provide the narrative.
Rob Hurt, Virginia’s 5th district: A recent Survey USA poll offered the jaw-dropping result that Hurt is ahead of first-term Democrat Tom Perriello, 58 percent to 35 percent. But incumbency has its privileges and advantages, and Perriello is sitting on more than $1.7 million. Hurt’s most recent filing shows him with a bit over $215,000. In terms of advertising cost, this district is in the middle of the pack.
Morgan Griffith, Virginia’s 9th district: One would expect the majority leader in the Virginia house of delegates to have a solid fundraising base, and Griffith has raised a quite respectable $402,000. But he has only $297,000 left, and his opponent, incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher, has been stockpiling a massive fund to help in a tough year — he has more than $2 million on hand. Boucher is already running ads, and he’s represented the district since 1982.As Geraghty notes, in 2006, a number of Democrats that took out incumbent GOP members were significantly underfunded, so it is not out of the realm of possibility that Hurt and Griffith can win. In fact, Hurt is positioned very well in his race, even if you don't believe the 23% spread that Survey USA gives him. Griffith's route to victory is a little trickier and he will need a significant infusion of cash to define himself and to avoid letting Boucher provide the narrative.
Disclose Act Resurrected?
It appears that the Disclose Act may be resurrected in the Senate. You can find the story here.
The "NRA Exemption" will be preserved, but it appears that the exemption for the unions (tucked in the bill by he House) is gone, which means they won't be happy.
As I've always said, it's not over until the gavel adjourning the session drops. Will RINOs Snowe or Collins be the vote that gets it to 60 to overcome the promised filibuster?
Hat tip to Sebastian.
The "NRA Exemption" will be preserved, but it appears that the exemption for the unions (tucked in the bill by he House) is gone, which means they won't be happy.
As I've always said, it's not over until the gavel adjourning the session drops. Will RINOs Snowe or Collins be the vote that gets it to 60 to overcome the promised filibuster?
Hat tip to Sebastian.
Obama's Numbers Continue to Tank
Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt email this morning discusses John Fund's Wall Street Journal article entitled Obama Girl is No Where to be Found. Geraghty's daily email is a light hearted look at the morning's headlines, or at least items that would likely be of interest to conservatives. The poll numbers indicate that Obama is losing support for every component of his job and Fund could not have provided a better lead in for Geraghty:
"Democrats will be gulping this morning at the Quinnipiac Poll's latest results. For the first time in the survey's history, Americans believe by a 48% to 40% margin that President Obama doesn't deserve re-election. Almost as stinging, a plurality believe the country would have been better off if John McCain had beaten Mr. Obama in 2008. The Quinnipiac Poll is pored over by political observers because it has a good predictive record and because its large sample size of nearly 2200 people implies a much smaller margin of error than most surveys -- around 2 percentage points."Look at all of the things that Obama has wrought on this nation in the last 18 months (and it is quite a bit) and one can only come to the conclusion that Geraghty suggests, that the last era of totally liberal control (the early 90's) were the good ole days.
Another clip from Fund's break down of the Quinnipiac Poll:
Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, says the warning signs for Mr. Obama include the fact that voters now turn thumbs-down on him on all major aspects of his presidency. Only 39% rate him positively for his handling of the economy, only 43% on foreign policy, a mere 30% on his illegal immigration stance and only 41% like his Gulf oil spill policy. Even his pick of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court is approved by voters by only 46% to 34%.
Obama knows what he is doing. He has said he would rather accomplish his agenda and be a one term president than get re-elected, and he knew that he would likely have only two years to do it. That is why the push for Obamacare the first year. He knows that once things like Obamacare and crap and tax are enacted that repealing them will be significantly difficult. That is what makes this year's election so important.
You can subscribe to Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt here.
"Democrats will be gulping this morning at the Quinnipiac Poll's latest results. For the first time in the survey's history, Americans believe by a 48% to 40% margin that President Obama doesn't deserve re-election. Almost as stinging, a plurality believe the country would have been better off if John McCain had beaten Mr. Obama in 2008. The Quinnipiac Poll is pored over by political observers because it has a good predictive record and because its large sample size of nearly 2200 people implies a much smaller margin of error than most surveys -- around 2 percentage points."Look at all of the things that Obama has wrought on this nation in the last 18 months (and it is quite a bit) and one can only come to the conclusion that Geraghty suggests, that the last era of totally liberal control (the early 90's) were the good ole days.
Another clip from Fund's break down of the Quinnipiac Poll:
Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, says the warning signs for Mr. Obama include the fact that voters now turn thumbs-down on him on all major aspects of his presidency. Only 39% rate him positively for his handling of the economy, only 43% on foreign policy, a mere 30% on his illegal immigration stance and only 41% like his Gulf oil spill policy. Even his pick of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court is approved by voters by only 46% to 34%.
Obama knows what he is doing. He has said he would rather accomplish his agenda and be a one term president than get re-elected, and he knew that he would likely have only two years to do it. That is why the push for Obamacare the first year. He knows that once things like Obamacare and crap and tax are enacted that repealing them will be significantly difficult. That is what makes this year's election so important.
You can subscribe to Jim Geraghty's Morning Jolt here.
Cantor and the Tea Party Caucus
Virginia 7th District Rep. Eric Cantor has declined Congressman Michelle Bachmann's invitation to join the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.
"Part of what is so inspiring about the tea-party movement is that it is not structured like a political party and, instead, is a truly organic, grass-roots effort," Cantor said. "The movement was born outside of Washington and includes people of all political stripes -- Republicans, independents and Democrats -- who have come together out of frustration with their government in an effort to force it to change."
As expected, liberal pundits are charging that Cantor's decision shows while he voices support for tea party activists, he doesn't want to be politically associated with them because that brings political risks.
Cantor's reasoning makes sense. The last thing the Tea Party movement needs is to be taken over by a bunch of politicians. While the caucus is an opportunity for legislators to show they have common interests with the grassroots, a better indication is their voting record. There is little doubt, based on his long time legislative record, that Cantor will continue to fight for the principles articulated by the Tea Party activists.
"Part of what is so inspiring about the tea-party movement is that it is not structured like a political party and, instead, is a truly organic, grass-roots effort," Cantor said. "The movement was born outside of Washington and includes people of all political stripes -- Republicans, independents and Democrats -- who have come together out of frustration with their government in an effort to force it to change."
As expected, liberal pundits are charging that Cantor's decision shows while he voices support for tea party activists, he doesn't want to be politically associated with them because that brings political risks.
Cantor's reasoning makes sense. The last thing the Tea Party movement needs is to be taken over by a bunch of politicians. While the caucus is an opportunity for legislators to show they have common interests with the grassroots, a better indication is their voting record. There is little doubt, based on his long time legislative record, that Cantor will continue to fight for the principles articulated by the Tea Party activists.
York County Repeals Firearm Discharge Restrictions
After 21 speakers shared their views on the subject for almost two hours, a split board voted 3-2 to repeal the county's restrictions on discharging firearms in some 60 neighborhoods but decided to retain a restriction against discharging rifles larger than .22 caliber except for hunting or self defense, or target shooting on firing ranges.
According to the Daily Press, six residents spoke in favor of keeping the gun control rules, nine county residents spoke in favor of the proposal to repeal the discharge ordinance, and the remaining speakers were gun rights advocates who had traveled from around the Commonwealth to urge the repeal of the county's discharge ordinance. The Daily Press made sure to note that the non-county residents openly carried firearms.
There were two 3-2 votes that brought about the final result. In the first, supervisors Thomas Shepperd, Walt Zaremba and Sheila Noll succeeded in protecting the discharge restriction on all guns larger than .22 caliber from the original proposal. Then, in a second vote, supervisors Shepperd, George Hrichak and Don Wiggins voted to throw out the county's ordinance that restricted discharging a firearm in the designated neighborhoods.
A special thanks goes to York-Poquoson Sheriff Danny Diggs County Sheriff who told the board repeatedly that the county restrictions were redundant,unnecessary and hadn't been used.
A copy of the final proposal as passed will be posted as soon as it is available.
According to the Daily Press, six residents spoke in favor of keeping the gun control rules, nine county residents spoke in favor of the proposal to repeal the discharge ordinance, and the remaining speakers were gun rights advocates who had traveled from around the Commonwealth to urge the repeal of the county's discharge ordinance. The Daily Press made sure to note that the non-county residents openly carried firearms.
There were two 3-2 votes that brought about the final result. In the first, supervisors Thomas Shepperd, Walt Zaremba and Sheila Noll succeeded in protecting the discharge restriction on all guns larger than .22 caliber from the original proposal. Then, in a second vote, supervisors Shepperd, George Hrichak and Don Wiggins voted to throw out the county's ordinance that restricted discharging a firearm in the designated neighborhoods.
A special thanks goes to York-Poquoson Sheriff Danny Diggs County Sheriff who told the board repeatedly that the county restrictions were redundant,unnecessary and hadn't been used.
A copy of the final proposal as passed will be posted as soon as it is available.