Legislative Gun News

MoonHowler

virflagberretta

It looks like Virginians will have to stick with buying only one hand gun a month in the Old Dominion. 

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee killed House Bill 49 which would have lifted the 16 year old restriction on the number of handguns a person can buy.  The purpose of the law that was enacted in 1993 was to prevent gun running.  Crooks bought guns by the case in Virginia and resold them in the North East where gun pruchase was more restricted.  Tracing the guns used  felonies were traced back to Virginia in greater number than any other state.  Governor Douglas Wilder was a strong supporter of the one hand gun a month legislation.

Many moderates feel comfortable with things the way they are.  Others will not be happy with the fact that this bill got stalled in committee.  Our neighbors to the north, however, are probably very glad that we wont be back to being the gun running state.

Maddow: Whose Afraid of Virginia?

MoonHowler

So far the new Republican regime is off to a rocky start. It seems that  the Moderate McDonnell was really a cultural warrior.  I wish that hadn’t happen.  I was trying to support him.

Unfortunately, Marshall-gate has captured national attention.  He has tried to explain his words but having failed at that, he is now blaming  Capital News Service for misinterpreting his comments.

According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:

After first blaming himself, Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, now is accusing a student-run media service of misinterpreting comments he made last week that suggested that disabled children were a form of punishment for women who had abortions.

In a floor speech today, the General Assembly’s most prominent abortion foe said he used a poor choice of words but never made the comment the Capital News Service said he made.

CNS is run by students at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Urging a prohibition against state funding of the pro-choice Planned Parenthood, Marshall told a news conference last week that “the number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children.”

He continued: “In the Old Testament the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”

In its opening paragraph, CNS reported Marshall “says disabled children are God’s punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.”

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Bob Marshall’s Ill-spoken Words

MoonHowler

Another article people have to read for themselves appears below, therefore it is posted in its entirety.  We are not going to comment from the post.  All 3 moderators do not agree on the topic of abortion.  Therefore, we will not comment from the post. 

UPDATE:  Thread titled changed.  I just found that too offensive to have sitting there on this blog. 

From The Gainesville Times:

Lawmaker: Disabled kids are god’s punishment

 

February 22, 2010 – 11:27am

RICHMOND – Western Prince William Del. Bob Marshall, R-13th, says disabled children are God’s punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.

He made that statement last Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.

“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican.

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An Issue of Fairness

MoonHowler

Last year, pro life groups petitioned the State of Virginia for a pro-life license plate.  It passed, and the governor signed the bill into law.  $15 of the yearly fee goes to Heartbeat International. 

This year pro-choice groups, spearheaded by Virginia Planned Parenthood, are attempting to have a pro-choice license plate.  The plate will say: “Trust Women/Respect Choice”.

$15 of the annual fee after the first thousand was to go to Planned Parenthood for prevention, health screening, HPV vaccine, etc.  NO MONEY WAS TO GO TOWARDS ABORTION. 

Yesterday, HB 1108 was amended to divert the money to the Virginia Pregnant Womens Support Fund.  This fund, according to Richmond Sunshine, supports  the following:

Pregnant Women Support Act.As a routine component of prenatal care, every licensed practitioner who renders prenatal care shall provide information and support services to patients receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down Syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions. This bill also creates the Virginia Pregnant Women Support Fund as a special nonreverting fund to be administered by the Board of Health to support women and families who are facing an unplanned pregnancy.

According to Lake Wylie Pilot:

Opponents, including the state’s attorney general and governor, say they oppose diverting money from plate fees to Planned Parenthood offices – not necessarily the plates themselves.

A state Senate committee heard testimony on the bill Thursday and could vote on it this week. The full legislature’s approval and the governor’s signature are needed for the plates to be sold.

Last year, Virginia became the 23rd state to approve the “Choose Life” plate. 

The money should go to Planned Parenthood as the bill’s sponsor intended. How dare Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15) attempt to funnel pro-choice money to any cause other than the one intended? This move is just another attempt to control what Virginians think. No one is being forced to buy that plate. The money comes from the person buying the plate, not tax payer money. That’s the rub.

Those who truly oppose abortion should know that preventing the need for it in the first place is the best way to do away with it.  Shame on those who divert money away from Planned Parenthood.  

This legislative  end run appears to be a left handed way of inhibiting free speech. If one group gets to have a license plate with part of its funds designated as they choose, shouldn’t the other group have equal choice?

Dick Cheney Nixes Palin’s Suggestion of War Against Iran

MoonHowler

Who says leopards can’t change their spots. Dick Cheney stepped up to the plate and rebuked Sarah Palin’s idea of Obama declaring war against Iran to show the world and others that he is tough. To Cheney’s credit, he told ‘This Week’ on ABC News that Palin’s logic was faulty:

“I don’t think a president can make a judgment like that on the basis of politics,” Cheney said. “The stakes are too high, the consequences too significant to be treating those as simple political calculations.”

For perhaps the first time ever, I agree with Dick Cheney. He obviously has some concerns over the direction our country is going also.

Is going to war with any country a show of strength? What would be the impact of declaring war on Iran? Is it dangerous for a figure such as Palin to go around making war noises at foreign countries? How would someone even describe Palin? A future presidential candidate? An ex- VP candidate? An ex-governor? i would like her to declare her intentions before she makes such wreckless remarks publically.

HB 53 Too Many Xfile Episodes?

MoonHowler

 

Several friends sent me a copy of the daily koz article on Virginia HB 53 accompanied by peals of laughter.  I am fairly skeptical about Koz and immediately looked for another source.  I mean this bill looked like the Xfiles joined Armageddon.  Unfortunately, the Washington Post pretty much reported the same story. 

The Virginia House of Delegates voted Wednesday on HB 53.  It is a bill that makes it illegal for anyone to put a microchip in your body without your permission.  The bill passed the House of Delegates.  The bill is mainly aimed at employers, insurance companies and government. To most people, having a bill that sounds like the Xfiles is a bit unusual:

According to the Washington Post, quoting from the bill’s sponsor:

Del. Mark L. Cole (R-Fredericksburg), the bill’s sponsor, said that privacy issues are the chief concern behind his attempt to criminalize the involuntary implantation of microchips. But he also said he shared concerns that the devices could someday be used as the “mark of the beast” described in the Book of Revelation.

“My understanding — I’m not a theologian — but there’s a prophecy in the Bible that says you’ll have to receive a mark, or you can neither buy nor sell things in end times,” Cole said. “Some people think these computer chips might be that mark.”

Cole said that the growing use of microchips could allow employers, insurers or the government to track people against their will and that implanting a foreign object into a human being could also have adverse health effects.

“I just think you should have the right to control your own body,” Cole said.

The religious overtones have cast the debate into a realm that has made even some supporters uneasy and caused opponents to mock the bill for legislating the apocalypse.

In the interest of respecting diversity, I am not coming to comment other than to ask, why is our House of Delegates dealing with  this type of legislation?  Have there been threats of  body snatching?   Aare we going to make it illegal to do the alien abduction thing?   If it is religious, doesn’t that belong in church?  Is our state legislature losing it or what? 

Mulder and Scully, here I come!

I will respect diversity…I will respect diversity….I will respect diversity…..

12 Hand Guns a Year Limit in Danger of Repeal

MoonHowler

Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge) has introduced a bill that would repeal the 1 handgun a month law that has been in effect in Virginia since the days of Governor Doug Wilder.  HB 49 has made it out of committee and stands a good chance of being passed.  The Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee voted 15-6 Friday to advance Del. Scott Lingamfelter’s bill.

Why do we have such a law limiting the number of handguns we can purchase?  In a nut shell, Virginia was a gun running state.  Prior to 1993, when the 1 hand gun a month law went into effect, Virginia was the  # 1  gun-running  state.  Scofflaws would come to Virginia, buy up a load of guns, and return home to sell them illegally.  New York had a particular problem with Virginia guns.  Since the law was passed, Virginia has been #6 in gun running. 

According to CBOnline:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia’s ban on buying more than one handgun a month would be repealed under a bill that passed a House committee on Friday.

The Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee voted 15-6 to advance Del. Scott Lingamfelter’s bill to a vote in the GOP-controlled House, where it is likely to pass.

Supporters say lawmakers have carved so many exemptions into the law that it was no longer effective. Since the legislation was passed in 1993, legislators have exempted the state’s 214,000 concealed carry permit holders, all law enforcement and corrections workers, those whose guns were stolen within a month of purchase and other groups from the ban. It does not apply to rifles or shotguns.

“It may have had a purpose in 1993 when it was passed, but if did, the rationale for this statute has been neutered by all the exemptions that now exist,” Lingamfelter said.

Opponents argued the prohibition had helped move Virginia from being the nation’s No. 1 supplier of guns used in the commission of crimes to No. 6. Repealing it, they said, would make it easier for criminals to get guns through so-called straw purchases. In a straw purchase, someone who can pass the required federal background check buys the gun for someone who is a felon, mentally ill or for some other reason is barred from buying guns.

“If a person can walk out with a box full of Glocks, they’re going to walk out to the street and sell them,” said Andrew Goddard, who has lobbied against gun rights bills since his son was shot four times at Virginia Tech in 2007 but survived.

There seems to be room for compromise here.  Many of us who are gun owners don’t mind being limited to buying 1 a month.  Perhaps changing the law to 2 hand guns a month might help.  If a person needs to buy more guns than currently are allowed, there are many ways around the problem.  Virginians need to be looking carefully at how to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, especially after the massacre at Virginia Tech, rather than repealing all laws.  We are going to wrong direction.  

It appears that the legislators in this Northern Virginian region  all support the wild west mentality of buying as many guns as one wants.  Hopefully down-state realizes that this law in Virginia not only protects Virginians but also the rest of the country.  Being #6 isn’t great but it beats being #1.

Ending Codified Discrimination in Virginia Once and for All

MoonHowler

From the Washington Times:

By Bob Lewis ASSOCIATED PRESS

RICHMOND — Virginia’s Senate has passed a bill that would write into law executive orders by the past two governors that ban bias in the state work force based on sexual orientation.

Sen. Don McEachin’s bill advanced from the Democratic-controlled Senate on a nearly party line vote of 23-17. One Republican, Sen. Fred Quayle, joined the Democratic majority.

Democratic Govs. Tim Kaine and his predecessor, Mark Warner, issued executive orders during their tenure banning discrimination in state government hiring and workplace protection.

Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has not reissued such an order but says Mr. Kaine’s is still in effect while he studies whether such orders are legal.

The measure faces a tougher fight in the Republican-dominated House.

Now wait a minute.  Are we to understand that Democrats are opposed to discrimination and Republicans are in favor of discrimination?   When is discrimination ever acceptable?  In what ways does the State discriminate against gays when the ban isn’t in effect?  How can Virginians have this kind of vacillation based on who is governor?  I am embarrassed for my own state unless this issue is corrected.

Washington Post Editorial: Governor McDonnell

MoonHowler

Today’s Washington Post Editorial pointed out many positive attributes of Governor McDonnell, who was sworn in today at noon in Richmond at the State Capitol. It is a worthwhile read so therefore will be reprinted in its entirety.

GOV. ROBERT F. MCDONNELL — he sheds the hyphenated “-elect” at noon Saturday — has struck many of the right chords in the run-up to his inauguration as Virginia’s 71st governor. His performance during the transition, at once wary of partisan triumphalism and mindful of the state’s grave challenges, has been as focused, disciplined and effective as his successful electoral campaign last fall. That has set the stage for him to lead a state that, despite solid past management and a wealth of natural advantages, is reeling from a national economic downturn.

A key to Mr. McDonnell’s success in setting a constructive tone so far has been his cabinet appointments. In electing to retain Rick Brown, who has been Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s finance secretary, the incoming governor has opted for stability and continuity in the area of state government that needs it most. And in tapping former Prince William County Board chairman Sean Connaughton as his transportation secretary, he has picked a proven, able and pragmatic administrator to focus on Virginia’s most urgent problem: its badly overwhelmed transportation network. It remains to be seen whether Mr. McDonnell, who pledged to address the transportation crisis in his first year in office, will, in fact, deliver a critically needed plan to generate fresh and dependable new funding to build roads and bridges.

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Dave Marsden Wins Special Election to Replace Cuccinelli

MoonHowler

Democrat Dave Marsden has  won the special election in the 37 state senate district to replace newly elected Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  He narrowly edged out Steve Hunt, the favorite son of some Republicans in this area. 

Marsden’s opponent Steve Hunt attempted to convince voters that he was was not an ideologue, but apparently he wasn’t too convincing.   Anti-bvbl published  a postregarding Hunt’s involvement with a crisis pregnancy center that handed out erroneouos information to women in December.  37th district, which runs from Springfield to Centreville and includes Burke, Fair Oaks, and Chantilly.  The voters in this area are not right wing extremists and apparently rejected this type of candidate.   Usually ideologues come out in droves for special elections but it didn’t work this time. 

It is good to know that a main-stream candidates now represents the 37th–finally!  Currently the Virginia Senate is narrowly under Democratic control.  Congratulations to Dave Marsden.

McDonnell Inauguration Set for 1/16/10

MoonHowler

Governor Elect Bob McDonnell will be sworn in as Virginia’s 71st governor on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the State Capitol Building.  Click here for a  list of events and the Inauguration Website.

 

What hopes do you have for the Commonwealth of Virginia under this new governor?  We alr4eady know there will be a very tight budget.  Will our state income tax go up by a point?  Does it matter if it does?  Would you rather have a larger sales tax or larger income tax?  Can Governor-elect McDonnell run the state without increasing taxes?  Was his no new tax campaign promise realistic? Does anyone plan on attending the festivities? Will the party faithful from Prince William County be attending?

Ax the Tax Reruns?

MoonHowler

Governor Tim Kaine will unveil his budget proposal that he hands off to Governor-Elect McDonnell on Friday.  Virginia faces a $3.5  Billion  shortfall over the next 2 years.  One place this money can be made up in part is to repeal the car tax.  Currently, Virginia is picking up the tab for  about a billion dollars of this money because it reimburses localities for the difference so there is no local shortfall.

Few Republicans  are  happy with the car tax.  They  want it eliminated completely.  Democrats supposedly want it reinstated because of the funds it robs from the state.  Most people are just glad to be paying a couple hundred dollars tax rather than close to a thousand dollars per year per car. 

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Senator Byrd Achieves Senate Milestone

MoonHowler

On Wednesday, the Senate honored Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) for being the longest serving member of Congress. Byrd was elected to Congress in 1952 and 6 years later, was elected to the Senate.

Byrd made the following remarks about his long tenure:

“I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days,” Sen. Robert Byrd said in a statement marking the occasion. His only regret, Byrd said, was that his late wife, Erma, was not there with him.

“I know that she is looking down from the heavens smiling at me and saying congratulations, my dear Robert — but don’t let it go to your head,” Byrd said.

The 92 year old senator is known for his earmarks–he has brought home millions to his state, West Virginia, which has a long history of economic depression.

Senator Byrd was quite upset over the illness of Senator Ted Kennedy and his subsequent death. He was part of the large group who waited on the Capitol steps for the hearse bearing Kennedy’s casket to stop for a moment, so that staffers and other friends of the Lion of the Senate, could pay their respects. It was a warm afternoon and Senator Byrd had to be taken inside. He is not in good health himself.

Imagine, serving in Congress for almost 57 years.

Today’s the Big Day November 3, 2009

MoonHowler

Today’s the big day. This is where all the efforts since the last election are finally realized. Some of us take it much more seriously than others. Some of us vote every time there is an election, regardless of issue. Others of us have to be dragged out, screaming and kicking, to exercise the most basic of American rights, while people in far away lands risk their very lives to do what some of us take for granted.

Poor Richard will be happy to be rid of the robo calls. I can’t say I disagree. I expect I have had over 10 a day for the past month. Many will be glad they no longer have to hear endlessly about the Virginia and New Jersey elections, before those 2 states settle back in to semi-obscurity, joining their other 48 sister states.

How is election day special to you? Is it just like any other day, where you squeeze in the polls just like another errand on the way home? Or is it a high holy day of Americana? Are you one of those who live and die for elections and politics?

Tell us your poll experiences? Uneventful? Full of seeing old friends and neighbors? Did you work the polls or did you do other work for your candidate of choice? Were the ‘dreaded union people’ out at your polling place?

Rally Round the Blue Virginians –October 30

MoonHowler

5:45 PM IN MANASSAS – GET OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN EVENT. Sen. Deeds will join supporters and voters for a campaign event in Manassas. Sen. Creigh Deeds will speak to supporters about the importance of getting out the vote on November 3.

When: 5:45 PM

Where: City Tavern (upstairs)
9405 Main Street
Manassas, VA

Senators Mark Warner, Jim Webb, and Governor Tim Kaine will join Creigh Deeds, along with Jody Wagner and Steve Shannon. Supporters are asked to be there by 5:30-5:45.