New call for background checks in Virginia

MoonHowler

gunglock19

Washingtonpost.com:

Seven Northern Virginia delegates and two Democratic nominees to the House of Delegates joined the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence at a news conference in Arlington to urge that background checks cover all gun sales, including those at gun shows and online.

Virginia law does not require background checks for gun purchases from unlicensed dealers or private sellers. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) tried to change that, but his proposal was rejected by the Republican-controlled Virginia legislature.

The governor again mentioned closing the gun-show loophole, as it is commonly called, in the wake of the Roanoke shootings, drawing the ire of Republican lawmakers who noted that the gunman in that case purchased his weapon legally.

The fact that the Roanoke shooter bought his gun legally speaks volumes.  Rather than excusing Virginia gun laws, it should condemn them and make us want to shore up requirements.  This guy had a paper trail both hard copy and digitally behind him a mile long.  Flares should have been going off.

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McAuliffe pisses off Republicans

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe has rankled some Virginia Republicans by repeatedly calling for greater gun control after Wednesday’s deadly shootings in Southwest Virginia.

“Clearly that gentleman should not have owned a gun,” McAuliffe said of Vester L. Flanagan II, who killed a two-person news crew on live television early Wednesday. “That’s plain and simple. That was a tragedy. Now I have no idea if any new gun laws would have changed that, we don’t know, but my job as governor is to do everything I humanly possibly can do to make our communities safe.”

Several Republican legislators took to Twitter to blast McAuliffe for what one called his “shameless politicization of tragedy” — particularly because closing the gun show loophole, a gun control measure McAuliffe mentioned, wouldn’t have kept the gun out of Flanagan’s hands.

“I thought it was extremely unfortunate that while the family is still in shock at this news and while a manhunt is still actively underway, that the governor saw fit to try to advance his legislative agenda,” said Deputy House Majority Leader C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah). “The even more unfortunate thing is that the agenda that the governor cited apparently has nothing to do with the facts of this tragic case. . . . If we’re going to try to fix problems that are the ills of our society, we should focus on things that are actually relevant to these tragedies.”

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Gun violence: Let’s cut the crap

MoonHowler

There are weekly killings.  I don’t mean thug on thug violence.  That is another issue.  I am speaking of perfectly decent people, just going about their daily lives, being gunned down in cold blood.

As I watched the anchors on WDBJ grasp hands and have a tribute, then a moment of silence for their colleagues, it broke my heart.  It broke my heart to hear Allison’s father speak of his daughter.  These grandiose, senseless killings have to stop, regardless of what it takes.

After I watched the friends and family members of the slain, I listened to Donald Trump.  He advised us that we really have a broken mental health system and that guns aren’t the problem.  The Hell they aren’t!  The pro-gun community must start assuming some responsibility for something other than slogans and bumper sticker sound bites when these things happen.  They must start coming up with solutions to screen gun buyers to help ensure that psycho-paths don’t have their weapons of destruction.

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Armed gunman slays TV reporter and cameraman on live TV near Roanoke

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

A television reporter and a videographer for CBS affiliate WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Va., were shot and killed Wednesday morning as they were doing a live report. The incident was caught on camera and those at the station said they heard six to seven shots and then nothing as the camera fell.

The incident happened around 6:45 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza — a shopping and entertainment center on Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County — where the two were interviewing a woman with a local chamber group. Few details were immediately known, said officials with the WDBJ7.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said a suspect has been identified and is believed to be a disgruntled employee of the TV station. Federal law enforcement officials are aiding in the search for the gunman.
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VCDL raises stink over Louisa Park sign that reads “No Weapons”

MoonHowler

nunchuck

CentralVirginian.com:

Gun rights activists from the Virginia Citizens Defense League have taken issue with a sign located at Louisa Town Hall Community Park that reads, “No weapons.”

Philip Van Cleave, president of VCDL, wrote in an email to Louisa Town Manager Tom Filer that the sign posted in front of the playground is not in compliance with Virginia state law.

Van Cleave cites Code section 15.2-915 which states that no local governing body can make rules concerning guns.

The sign in front of the playground at the park, Van Cleave  said, is considered an administrative action and therefore illegal.

Van Cleave argues that even if the town were to change the sign to read, “no illegal weapons,” it would still be out of compliance.

“The town certainly supports people’s Second Amendment rights,” Filer said. “We’re just trying to create a safe park.”

While the town isn’t trying to restrict firearms, a concern over illegal weapons still exists.

“What they may have been thinking of is the list of banned concealed weapons,” Van Cleave said.

Virginia state law does ban some concealed weapons in public areas including throwing stars, nun chucks, metal knuckles and blackjacks.

The word “weapons” applies to firearms as well. Even adding the word “illegal” on the sign, the town would still be making regulations that refer to firearms, in contrast to state laws.

“The sign is illegal. That’s the bottom line,” Van Cleave said.

Van Cleave should just leave it alone.   Why must everything be an issue?  So Louisa County doesn’t want weapons in its parks.  Good for them.  Maybe there has been a problem in the past.  Maybe something has gotten thrown out of court when some kids were misbehaving with what they consider toys.

With Van Cleave on the loose, I am not going to worry about taking MY issue to far.  No one is threatening his rights.

Gun loophole that needs to be plugged

MoonHowler

 

Washingtonpost.com:

COLUMBUS, Ga. — The man who killed two women at a Louisiana movie theater last week was able to buy a firearm legally — despite a judge’s order sending him to a psychiatric hospital in 2008 — because he was never involuntarily committed for treatment, Georgia officials said Monday.

An involuntary commitment would have banned John Russell Houser from buying a firearm under the federal gun law that strengthened state reporting requirements after a mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. But Houser never reached the crucial stage of having a judge rule on his mental competence, a process called adjudication, which is required before someone can be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility, officials said.

“If he had been adjudicated in need of involuntary treatment, I would have reported that to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who would then send it to the FBI,” said Muscogee County Probate Judge Marc E. D’Antonio, who was chief clerk at the time in the county that would have handled the case. “I clearly would have known. That did not happen.”

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Yet another theater shooting rampage– 3 dead

MoonHowler

louisiana shooting

Washingtonpost.com:

A gunman opened fire on a movie theater in Lafayette, La. Thursday night, killing at least two people and injuring at least seven before killing himself, police said.

Police Chief Jim Craft said at a news conference around 11 p.m. that police received reports of a shooting at the Grand Theatre 16 around 7:30 p.m. Four officers entered the theater to confront the shooter and found him dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Two other people have been confirmed dead.

Police said there are at least seven other injured victims, with injuries ranging from minor to critical and life-threatening. Louisiana State Police Sgt. David Brooks told CNN that all injured victims have been taken to local hospitals.

The shooter has been described as white and 58 years old.  Police know his identity.

At what point do gun rights advocates start coming up with real solutions about what to do about these weekly occurences?  Too many Americans are dying from shooting rampages.

I think I am going to barf if I hear any more platitudes and slogans.  Too many guns are getting into the hands of those not competent or responsible to own them.  I want to know solutions.  Come on, A2 advocates, pony up some REAL solutions.  No bumper sticker slogans allowed.

At some point the American people are going to rebel and demand changes. It seems to me that strong 2A folks would guard their rights more by thinking up solutions for this epidemic rather than telling us why they have rights.

South Carolina lawmaker wants gun awareness day mandated in schools

MoonHowler

 

Huffingtonpost.com:

One South Carolina lawmaker believes there is an anti-Second Amendment movement taking place within the state, and that as a result, kids need to receive more education about their right to bear arms.

State representative Alan Clemmons (R) filed a bill in December with co-sponsors Richard Yow (R) and Garry Smith (R) that would create a “Second Amendment Awareness Day” on Dec. 15, the day after the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. For this day, schools would be asked to conduct essay and poster contests relating to the theme “The Right To Bear Arms; One American Right Protecting All Others.”

Additionally, the bill stipulates that students across the state should learn about the Second Amendment for three weeks, for one class period per day. Schools would teach these lessons using a curriculum developed or recommended by the National Rifle Association.

Finally, the bill notes that teachers should not punish “political, written, or artistic expression that includes references to guns or a militia” because of the First Amendment.

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McAuliffe attempts to beef up gun restrictions

MoonHowler

9mm

Dailypress.com:

Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced a package of proposed gun control measures Monday, saying Virginia should reinstate its one-handgun-a-month rule and tighten restrictions on who can carry a gun to target domestic abusers.

He also called for new background check requirements on private gun sales at gun shows.

The bulk of McAuliffe’s proposals are sure to bring criticism from gun advocates, and a spokesman for Speaker of the House William Howell criticized the governor’s proposals shortly after their announcement.

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Panera Bread doesn’t want guns in its restaurants

MoonHowler

panera

KDVR.com:

ST. Louis, Mo. — Panera Bread doesn’t want guns in its restaurants.

The sandwich-and-soup chain out of St. Louis, said it doesn’t want armed customers in its more than 1,800 stores in an effort to increase the comfort of its unarmed patrons, joining a growing list of other companies who have issued similar directives.

The news is another victory for gun safety group Moms Demand Action in its campaign to get guns out of America’s restaurants and retailers.

“We ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer,” the company said in a statement. “Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.”

The company first announced the decision during a CNBC interview with Panera CEO Ron Shaich. He said during the interview that the company would not post anti-gun signs in its stores or require employees to confront gun owners.

Reading between the lines, it appears that if the gun owners are respectful of other customers, no one will even know that individual is armed.  What I fail to comprehend is how the ordinary person is supposed to feel comfortable seeing some stranger prancing around with an AK-47 or any weapon, to be perfectly honest.

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James Brady, RIP

MoonHowler

James Brady, Sarah Brady

Washingtonpost.com:

By Jon Thurber August 4 at 5:24 PM

James S. Brady, the often-irreverent press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was shot in the head during an assassination attempt on his boss in 1981 and who became an enduring symbol of the fight against unfettered access to guns in American society, died Aug. 4 at a retirement community in Alexandria, Va. He was 73.

Gail Hoffman, a family spokeswoman, confirmed his death and said she did not know the immediate cause. Mr. Brady had long suffered from health problems resulting from the shooting.

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Open carriers target Target

MoonHowler

TargetInterior

Supposedly a real gun was found in the toy section of a Target store that had recently had open carry demonstrators parading through the place with all weapons “exposed.”

www.PRNewswire.com:

INDIANAPOLIS, June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Responding to new reports that a loaded gun was found in the toy aisle of a Target in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is today reiterating its call on Target Corp. CEO John Mulligan to prohibit the open carry of guns in its stores. Yesterday Read More

Stopping Mass Shootings

MoonHowler

These are common sense approaches to a serious problem.  Will it solve every mass shooting?  Of course not, but its a place to start.

I particularly like the notion of reforming the privacy laws.  Mr. Kelly was right.  NO one would tell him where his son was, because of privacy laws.  How ridiculous.

Every time some nut case goes on a rampage, I ask myself what laws could have stopped the killer.  In most cases a change in gun laws would have had little effect, other than keeping the seriously mentally ill from being able to get their hands on a gun.

Is this the common grown we have all been talking around?