VIRGINIA - The next step!

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I modify this email a little every day, and send it to every senator EVERY DAY. Here is the latest version:

The Glock 19 is one of, if not THE, most common self-defense firearm in America. It comes standard with 15-round magazines. And while it is currently popular to villainize the AR15 style of rifle, which is not any of the clichés such as a "weapon of war" or "military-style", it is the most popular centerfire rifle in America, and usually comes with a standard 30-round magazine. The Heller case determined that "arms in common use" are protected by the Second Amendment. California, which gave the model for much of the gun-control laws being proposed, has determined in their courts, and is expected to give a final ruling in April, that magazines are included in "arms", and are therefore protected, as well. HB961 defies these rulings, and is therefore unconstitutional.

It does nothing more than punish gun owners, who have done nothing wrong. I urge you to VOTE AGAINST HB961 in ANY version - there is NO COMPROMISE. I am a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League and Gun Owners of America. We are watching how you vote.
 
The Glock 19 is one of, if not THE, most common self-defense firearm in America. It comes standard with 15-round magazines.
Also point out that the Beretta 92, the Sig 320, and many other common pistols come with 15 round (or greater) capacity magazines. In addition, the smallest standard magazine for the classic M1 Carbine is 15 rounds. Anything less than 20 rounds is grossly out of line.

I expect the final version of the bill -- if it passes at all -- to have at least a 20-round mag limit going forward, plus unlimited grandfathering for magazines obtained prior to July 1st. That's the minimum amendment it will take to get the package passed.
 
The more onerous it is, the less likely that it will pass in ANY form.
That's one way of looking at it. But that's a gamble, because the most onerous version may pass in the end, and then we're truly screwed. The safer course is to support amendments that make it less onerous, and then still try to kill it overall. That's hedging one's bets. Burning all bridges, and hoping the worst version of the bill goes forward, could lead to complete victory but it could also lead to complete defeat. I'd rather play it a little safer.

ETA: Another thing to consider is that, if this bill is completely killed this year, you can bet that the antis will try again next year with better prospects. If it passes in watered down form, they can claim credit for it and they are unlikely to revisit the issue next year. This buys us time until after the next state election (November 2021) when we'll have a chance to retake the House of Delegates (lower House) and possibly the governorship.
 
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Unfortunately, IMHO, there is no saving it. If it passes, in any form, it will be unacceptable. Enough senators said they would not vote for a ban. The more it is watered down, the more likely we are to lose. I am not fighting to keep what I have. I am fighting for my children's and my right to exercise our freedom for as long as there is an America.
 
Agreed. There is no positive spin on this, or any of the other bills being push. Plus, they plan on re-introducing dozens of these bills, and new, at every turn. Add this with the redistricting and proposed rules changes for voting, I’m not sure how much hope we can have for Nov of 2021. Our best is to do what ever takes to stop these insane bills now before they become law. Our efforts also need to include stopping the upcoming gerrymandering, SB34 and HB19. These will have massive implications on voting efforts in the future thus negatively effecting our 2nd amendment rights...our fight is on many fronts.

From VCDL:

Turnout needed! Monday, February 17, at 8 am, the Senate Judiciary committee is going to hear HB 961, Delegate Mark Levine's "assault weapon"/higher-capacity magazine/suppressor/ bump stock ban!

Here's what the current version of HB 961 does:
  • Makes possession of a large number of semi-automatic guns, classified as an "assault weapon" by this bill, a felony. This includes many popular rifles, handguns, and shotguns! You can keep any "assault weapons" you currently have, but you can't buy any more. The wording is so poor that you probably won't be able to even fix a broken "assault weapon," as each part is classified as an "assault weapon"! Gun dealers in Virginia won't be able to sell an "assault weapon" or any parts for one to anybody, include to gun owners in other states. This will do severe financial harm to Virginia gun dealers.
  • Bans magazines that hold more than 12 rounds of ammunition. There is NO grandfathering! Possession of such a magazine (keeping it at home only) after January 1, 2021 will be a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, transporting such a magazine is a felony!
  • Bans suppressors, making possession of one a felony. You can keep any suppressors you currently have, but you cannot purchase any more and you won't be able to fix them if they break.
  • Bans bump stocks. Any that you have must be destroyed by January 1, 2021. Possession of one after that date is a felony.
 
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Forgive the rant, but
I withhold permission to birch and moan in this thread unless you are doing something for the cause, daily, not just once. CALL EMAIL and visit your delegates. Mobilize your friends, family, associates, acquaintances and contact list to do the same.
Then you can come here and rant, then it is back to work.
We outnumber them gentlemen we just at not as organized - yet! So please do your part, join VCDL, and then come here and brag, not complain!
GOD BLESS US ALL!
 
I figured after the turnout January 20th the state reps would have gotten the message.
 
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/va-action-needed-monday.863700/

Virginia needs to fill the rooms, phones, email, and offices with 2A supporters that can represent our side well. Civil in the face of the disgust shown for them, prepared to calmly counter the emotionalism and outright lies that will be told by the gun banners, able to break the stereotypes that the Antis use to marginalize them.

As said after the turnout at Lobby Day...the hard work has to be done.

"I oppose HB 961 and similar legislation. Not only will the supporters of HB 961 not receive my vote or the votes of friends and family, I will contribute to whoever runs against a politician voting for this bill and actively work to ensure supporters of bills like HB 961 never hold office. "
 
My rant...I have attempted contacted my delegate via phone, email (most ignored), and attempted face to face meetings but never got to speak with her directly nor offered a meeting with her. She has thus voted for every anti rights bill that went through the house. She, and most of the others, do not appear to be concerned about their constituents. In addition, when the house passed HB961 during a public hearing, we gun owners were kicked out of the meeting with threat of arrest for trespassing.

After attending the rally in Richmond during very frigid wind chills (it looked more than 22k that actually attended), attending numerous 2nd amendment sanctuary board meetings (also had very large turn outs), countless emails, phone calls, office visits requests, spreading the word, donating $, etc., many of us have done a hell of a lot more than rant. Most of us will still continue to contact them at every opportunity but I fear this is falling on deaf ears. For those who live in VA, you know what I’m saying. This legislation session has turned into a smash and grab and most of our legislators (delegates in particular) are ignoring our pleas for sanity. And to anyone to say outside money and Bloomberg did not have a big influence on this past elections, is wrong as we saw it in the summer thru Nov and presently. In addition, our left legislators, including our governor, attended a gala in Richmond with Bloomberg himself on Friday....rant over.
 
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Will the citizen attendees at tomorrow's senate committee session be allowed to speak, or will they be mere spectators?
 
Don't know, but my wrinkled, old self will be there - in a suit - with a tough polite, but firm, well written - calm statement if I am allowed to speak.
I have another that will be given to the media if we are not.
Spent the better part of Sunday at the computer writing and a thinking.
See you there.
 
SIDE NOTE INFO Delegate Eileen Filled-Corn is a leader in the house. Her vehement hatred of guns and gun owners come from the fact her brother was shot to death. What is left unsaid is the circumstances of why.

Delegate Creigh Deeds was wounded by his son, who then took his own life. The son had been struggling with mental issues his whole life and because the mental health system is broken Deeds is blaming the gun and us.
deepest sympathy to both, but what the propose is not the answer.
( My favorite analogy - Forks don't make you fat and banning them will not stop obesity)
 
Good news. They punted. The bill is dead for this session. Consideration of the bill is postponed until next year. The vote in the committee was 10-5 to table.

This means, at the least, that we have another year to stock up on "assault weapons" and magazines. The more that are owned, the more they are "in common use" and protected under the Heller case.
 
Yep, postponed for a year! The bad: the one handgun a month, universal background checks, red flag, and locality bills still active. In addition, with the upcoming redistricting, and huge changes to voting laws under bills SB34 and HB19, we may not have as much luck next year. I know I sound pessimistic, but I see many of these bills being rammed through...our fight continues now on multiple fronts.
 
Good news. They punted. The bill is dead for this session. Consideration of the bill is postponed until next year. The vote in the committee was 10-5 to table.

This means, at the least, that we have another year to stock up on "assault weapons" and magazines. The more that are owned, the more they are "in common use" and protected under the Heller case.

Those Democrats in safe seats near D.C. and in the southeast want to go hell bent to make as many gun owners as possible felons. Those like Creigh Deeds who have a better understanding of the situation in Virginia as a whole aren't so willing to risk the future of the party on the gamble this bill represented.

I had dinner with Creigh Deeds one night near the end of his losing bid for Governor. I've never supported him and won't. He's not on our side, but he's also a decent human being. When we take the state back, and we will, we need to remember that.

The U.S. Constitution, The Virginia Constitution, and the Second Amendment, perhaps in particular, places enormous faith and responsibility in the individual citizen, a concept that frightens too many long term politicians. We can't forget that just because they can't feel the faith in the individual that defines us that they're not automatically evil. Some of them of course are but it isn't universal. The hardest part for many in the American form of government is the recognition of the rights of the minority, but without that we have nothing, only mob rule.
 
Good news. They punted. The bill is dead for this session. Consideration of the bill is postponed until next year. The vote in the committee was 10-5 to table.

This means, at the least, that we have another year to stock up on "assault weapons" and magazines. The more that are owned, the more they are "in common use" and protected under the Heller case.

This means, at the least, that we have another year to get off your ass and work to get pro 2nd people in office, this time.
 
This means, at the least, that we have another year to get off your ass and work to get pro 2nd people in office, this time.
No intervening elections before next year's legislative session. We're going to be dealing with the same cast of characters.
 
No intervening elections before next year's legislative session. We're going to be dealing with the same cast of characters.

I thought there was an election year coming up in Va.? if so or if not, keep the fires lit under those that are against or on the fence with the 2nd Amendment.
 
Those Democrats in safe seats near D.C. and in the southeast want to go hell bent to make as many gun owners as possible felons.
My own state senator, Chap Petersen, was one of those who killed the AWB bill. He's a Democrat in a "safe seat" in northern Virginia. The vote to table the bill was not a straight party-line vote. This has proved that the Democratic Party is not an antigun monolith. There are members willing to listen to concerned citizens on both sides of the issue. We need to send a "thank you" to members like Petersen. We're going to need them again next time.
 
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