VCDL-Lobby day and gun bills

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Ladies and gentlemen,

The 2018 General Assembly session starts on January 10, with VCDL Lobby Day on January 15. As of right now there are 19 anti-gun bills and 4 pro-gun bills. Both numbers will be increasing until the session starts, with a few more trickling in for a week or two after that.


THE BAD/HORRIBLE (and more coming)

Let's take a look at what the anti-gunners (all Democrats so far) want to shove down your throats at this point. And no, nothing has happened in Virginia to justify any of these infringements:

* Complete gutting for Virginia's firearms preemption laws. Local government, based on the vote of typically 5 to 9 people on a City Council or a Board of Supervisors, can pass virtually unlimited gun control!

* Bans on guns at parades, demonstrations, marches, protests, rallies, or similar events. Even VCDL rallies and protests could be affected by this law!

* Bans on guns in public libraries and local government buildings - both of which would also affect VCDL meetings.

* Firearm restraining orders that can strip you of all your guns based on a mere, uncontested statement of someone, without any due process or notification until the police show up at your door and point guns at you!

* Bans on anything, such as a bump stock, that can make a semi-automatic firearm fire faster than it can be fired by an "unaided person." This bill reaches way beyond just bump stocks.

* Pre-school and child day care centers would become "gun-free zones," just like K-12 schools! And what would happen to gun rights at churches that have pre-school or child day care facilities on their property?

* Universal Background Checks. VCDL has been pushing gun owners to educate everyone on the evils and failures of that system. Here is a flyer to read and/or handout: http://vcdl.org/resources/Documents/VCDL_Titanic_Flyer.jpg

* Making open carriers subject to extra scrutiny by police using the low and nebulous standard of "under the influence" if the police suspect the gun owner of having consumed even the tiniest amount of alcohol. A person with a low-alcohol level driving a vehicle would be considered to be OK, as courts tend to use a standard of "too impaired to drive safely," while an open carrier could be charged, as the proposed law requires no proof that the person was actually impaired in any way. "Under the influence" is such a vague standard that any change whatsoever, from glassy eyes (to which some people are genetically disposed) to flushed skin or sweating, could be enough for you to be considered "under the influence!"

* Penalizing gun owners if they don't report a stolen gun fast enough. As if the gun owner hasn't been penalized enough by the loss of his gun(s).

* Prohibit online training to get a CHP. What about someone who has found themselves under a serious threat and needs to get a CHP ASAP? Where is there a problem with CHP holders who have had online training?

* A civil fine of $50 would take away your gun rights for years! This is based around making possession of an ounce of marijuana a mere civil offense and not a crime. VCDL takes no position on marijuana legalization, but we do take a position on yet another way to strip a person of their gun rights - in this case for a mere civil penalty!

* A gun owner is held liable for any crimes committed by a person he sells a gun to if that sale isn't run through a dealer.

* A parent must prove they gave specific permission for their child to possess a handgun or a semi-automatic rifle in their OWN home. Talk about Big Brother looking over your shoulder.


THE GOOD (and more coming)

* Constitutional concealed carry.

* Tax break for purchase of a gun safe.

* State Police prohibited from sharing CHP information with any state that does not honor Virginia CHPs.

* Circuit Court to provide a mailed notice of approaching expiration of a CHP if email notice was not given.


LOBBY DAY SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED!

Lobby Day is Monday, January 15th at 8:00 AM at the General Assembly Building in Richmond. It's a holiday, so street parking is free that day. You will be lobbying in teams (not a problem if you've never lobbied before, you will be part of a team and won't necessarily even have to speak).

The rally starts at 11 am at the Bell Tower in Capitol Square (same spot as in all previous years). Here are the speakers we currently have lined up (photos of the speakers are on the VCDL.org main page if you scroll down a little):

* Dr. John Lott Jr - economist, political commentator, and gun-rights advocate

* Elizabeth Baran - survivor of a brutal murder attempt by her ex-spouse

* Senator Mark Peake

* Senator Dick Black

* Senator Bill Carrico

* Delegate Dave LaRock

* Delegate Brenda Pogge


WE NEED MORE TEAM LEADERS FOR LOBBY DAY

If you've been to Lobby Day before and can help as a team leader, please contact Executive Member Kenneth Van Wyk at: ken.vanwyk@vcdl.org

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I hope to see all of you at Lobby Day!

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VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
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THE BAD/HORRIBLE (and more coming)

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snallygaster said:

Anyone going to Lobby Day?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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snallygaster said:

Anyone going to Lobby Day?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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snallygaster said:

ACTION ITEMS FOR TODAY!
There are 38 gun bills going to be heard in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on MONDAY (27 are gun-control bills and 11 are pro-gun bills). I need you to do this TODAY if at all possible. If not, as soon as you can.
I'd rather that those of you who are coming to Lobby Day simply lobby in teams and attend the Rally at 11 am as we've already planned. Bob Sadtler and I will speak at the committee hearing, and all of you will have already flooded the Senators on the committee with your emails, below.
ACTION ITEMS (2)
1. Click here to send a *pre-written* email to your Senator to SUPPORT the pro-gun bills (the computer will figure out who your Senator is automatically based on your address):
https://tinyurl.com/y8dlpgwk
2. Click here to send a *pre-written* email to your Senator to OPPOSE the gun-control bills (the computer will figure out who your Senator is automatically based on your address):
https://tinyurl.com/y77x5rxp
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THE VCDL LEGISLATIVE TRACKING SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING!
Click here to see the status of all the gun bills (this is also available on the VCDL web site). The list will continue to be updated until the General Assembly session ends in March:
http://www2.vcdl.org/webapps/vcdl/2018leg.html

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VA-ALERT: 17 gun-control bills were vaporized today!

Overall it was an excellent day for gun owners! A large number of gun bills were heard in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and the antis didn't fare very well. They got one bill through and it is going to Senate Finance, which is not a good place to be:

* 2 pro-gun bills moved forward
* 1 pro-gun bill was carried over to next year
* 2 pro-gun bills were withdrawn by the patron
* 0 pro-gun bills were defeated by the committee

* 17 anti-gun bills were defeated by the committee
* 1 anti-gun bill moved forward (with 2 other identical bills rolled into it)

The two pro-gun bills that moved forward were: 1) Senator Black's SB 48, Constitutional Carry, and 2) Senator Chase's SB 715, which allows firefighters and EMS to carry concealed while on duty with a CHP. Both bills were sent to the Senate Finance Committee, where we will have to fight for them again.

All but one of the gun-control bills, including Universal Background Checks which was being pushed hard, went down in flames. A couple of those votes were uncomfortably close as Republican Senator Stuart unexpectedly voted with the Democrats on those two bills.

Except for the Fire/EMS concealed-carry bill, the Democrats, sadly, voted wrong on everything: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen.

The one anti-gun bill that passed out of committee, a bump-stock ban bill, was greatly narrowed and is headed to the Senate Finance Committee, where there will be another chance to kill it. We will be watching that bill closely.

The remaining Senate gun bills will be heard Wednesday, shortly after the Senate adjourns for the day. (Bob Sadtler and I will be there around 1 pm, but how long we might have to wait for the committee to meet is unknown.) If you wish to attend the hearing to show support, let me know.

The details of the bills heard today are below. Senator names in UPPER CASE crossed party-lines with their vote. For Republicans that means they voted incorrectly and for Democrats that means that they voted correctly.

If your Senator is on the committee and voted wrong on one or more bills, a *polite* telephone call or email to them is in order! You should also thank those that voted correctly.


PRO-GUN BILLS THAT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND WERE SENT TO FINANCE

SB 48, Black, Constitutional Carry was sent to the Senate Finance Committee by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

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SB 715, Chase, Fire/EMT concealed carry was improved with amendments and was sent to the Senate Finance Committee by a 12 to 3 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake, EDWARDS, DEEDS, PETERSEN
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas


PRO-GUN BILLS THAT WERE CARRIED OVER UNTIL NEXT YEAR

SB 215, Cosgrove, Circuit Court Clerk to send out CHP renewal notices by mail was to be carried over until next year


PRO-GUN BILLS THAT WERE PULLED FOR THIS YEAR BY THE PATRON (DEAD)

SB 565, Vogel, protective order is a 45-day CHP was stricken by the patron

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SB 566, Vogel, free firearms training for victims of domestic violence was stricken by the patron


ANTI-GUN BILLS THAT WERE DEFEATED AND ARE DEAD FOR THIS YEAR

SB 2, Ebbin, lowered the threshold for alcohol on carrying a gun to a ridiculous "under the influence" standard - DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

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SB 5, Ebbin, Universal background checks - DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

SB 145, Edwards, "licensed dealer" must do background checks was rolled into SB 5 and is now DEAD!

SB 412, Lucas, Universal background checks was rolled into SB 5 and is now DEAD!

SB 432, Wexton, "Gun Show Loophole" was rolled into SB 5 and is now DEAD!

SB 447, Surovell, Universal background checks was rolled into SB 5 and is now DEAD!

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SB 119, Favola, punishes gun owners who don't report a lost or stolen firearm fast enough was DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

SB 288, McClellan, punishes gun owners who don't report a lost or stolen firearm fast enough was rolled into SB 119 and is now DEAD!

SB 433, Wexton, punishes gun owners who don't report a lost or stolen firearm fast enough was rolled into SB 119 and is now DEAD!

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SB 276, Barker, allows gun confiscation, with due process, based solely on someone's word that a person is a "substantial risk" to themselves or other was DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

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SB 360, McClellan, bans guns at a "permitted event," such as a parade, rally, etc. was DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

SB 63, Favola, bans guns at a "permitted event," such as a parade, rally, etc. was rolled into SB 360 and is now DEAD!

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SB 665, Deeds, adds Charlottesville and Albemarle to where loaded guns with magazines over 20 rounds in them are not allowed without a CHP (18.2-287.4) was DEFEATED by a 8 to 7 vote
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen, STUART

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SB 668, Deeds, allows local government to ban guns in government buildings was DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 voter!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

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SB 732, Favola, strips away gun rights for certain MISDEMEANORS was DEFEATED by a 8 to 7 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen, STUART

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SB 794, Marsden, "kitchen sink" bill that bans certain magazines and "assault weapons," and also bans loaded long guns being carried if they have a magazine that will hold more than 10 rounds was DEFEATED by a 9 to 6 vote!
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, Norment, McDougle, Stuart, Stanley, Reeves, Chafin, Sturtevant, Peake
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen

SB 742, Spruill, "kitchen sink" bill rolled into SB 974 and is now DEAD!


ANTI-GUN BILLS THAT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND WERE SENT TO FINANCE

SB 1, Ebbin, bump-stock ban was modified to narrow the ban and was sent to the Senate Finance Committee by a 4 to 11 vote.
Voting PRO-RIGHTS: Obenshain, McDougle, Reeves, Chafin
Voting ANTI-RIGHTS: Saslaw, Howell, Lucas, Edwards, Deeds, Petersen, NORMENT, STUART, STANLEY, STURTEVANT, PEAKE

SB 113, Favola, bump-stock ban rolled into SB 1 and is headed to Senate Finance.

SB 676, Deeds, bump-stock ban rolled into SB 1 and is headed to Senate Finance.

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