Gun laws in the Va Senate

[peternap]

The session is winding down, and if anything, it's been interesting. A lot of new bills were introduced. Many I didn't like that gave permit holders, special privileges. That has started to split the gun lobby but as a whole, we held together and the bills were sailing through the General assembly.

The Senate Courts Committee is a stumbling block every year. Chaired by gun hater Marsh, it is hard to get bills out of. This year, we had enough votes to get many of the bills through and that scared and enraged Marsh and Saslaw.

As the bills neared that Committee, they pulled a rabbit out of their hat.

In an unprecedented and in Violation of Senate rules, Marsh created a death squad sub committee, just to deal with gun bills. Only anti gun members were assigned to the committee and they have in essence, killed most of the pro gun legislation for the year.

Concealed weapon holders will be able to carry concealed in establishments that serve alcohol and a couple of other bills that are of little consequence to me..have gone through and are headed to the Governors office to be signed....but overall, a very disappointing year.

When confronted about the Rules violation, Saslaw said "This isn't a court of law. There's nothing you can do about it".

[ChuckinVa]

Actually there is something that can be done about it. Vote them out of office. There used to be a guy by the name of Frank White who had a show on TV called the Southern Sportsman. He had a zebra striped plane and was way ahead of his time laying the ground work for many sportsman shows we have today. He used to sign off by saying. " Don't reelect anybody " I kind of agree with that sentiment.

[peternap]

Yes I remember Franc White well. Interesting fellow and an enjoyable show. He filmed it with an old Surplus 16mm camera.

If it were only so easy. I doubt either Saslaw or Marsh will be elected out. The areas they come from (Richmond and NOVA) like them.
On top of that, all gun owners won't vote as a block. Don P is a good example. He said point blank that if he were on a Jury, he'd ignore the law and vote to convict someone legally carrying a gun in National Parks.

For that matter, many gun owners won't vote.

There is a lot to do before next years election but some of the things I'll be working on are in other areas. VCDL will continue and will have some success but getting rid of those two just isn't going to happen IMO.

It looks like we'll be successful with the State Forest people and the National Parks is a done deal.

I can't say I'm sorry about some of the Bills that died in the sudden death committee but some like Made in Va, sold in Va, would have been a good start. The Restaurant bills made it and the locked container bill (Which I support but reluctantly) went through.

It's politics but disappointing.