Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

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Unbelievably, Virginia Beach Police Chief Jake Jacocks, Jr., speaking
for the state association of the chiefs of police, has asked Governor
McDonnell to veto SB 334, the restaurant ban repeal, because guns in
bars would be a "recipe for disaster."

Hmmm. The only people that the bill allows to mix guns and alcohol
are police officers (on duty, off duty, and retired) and Commonwealth
Attorneys and their deputies. So it sounds like Chief Jacocks is
afraid of his own officers carrying guns and being able to drink
responsibly. That's a sad commentary on his department and the other
departments that are backing this position. I wonder if these chiefs
prohibit their officers from driving cars to restaurants, too?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: a whole lot of chiefs of
police are nothing more than political hacks that did not work their
way up through the ranks and don't share the beliefs of their rank and
file officers on such matters.

Also, the Sheriff's Association did NOT share the bogus concerns of
the Chiefs.

I personally don't donate to the Fraternal Order of Police for their
past and current interference with our gun rights and I also have no
intention of contributing to anything from the Association of Chiefs
of Police, either, for the same reason. The Sheriffs Association
doesn't pull this kind of baloney.

The good news is that according to the article, the Governor is going
to stand strong and sign the bill:

"McDonnell will sign the bill, said Taylor Thornley, the governor's
spokeswoman. While McDonnell appreciates the work and comments of the
police chiefs, he will 'continue to protect and uphold the Second
Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,' Thornley said."

Here is the story:

http://hamptonroads.com/node/546409

State's police chiefs seek veto of guns-in-bars bill

By Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 17, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH

Calling guns in bars a "recipe for disaster," the state's police
chiefs have pleaded with Gov. Bob McDonnell to veto legislation that would ease
Virginia's concealed weapon laws.

Virginia Beach police Chief Jake Jacocks Jr. sent a letter to
McDonnell last week on behalf of the state association of chiefs comparing the
combination of firearms and alcohol with drinking and driving.

"We can fully expect that at some point in the future a disagreement
that today would likely end up in a verbal confrontation, or a bar fight,
will inevitably end with gunfire if you sign this legislation into law,"
Jacocks wrote.

SB334's requirement that anybody with a gun is prohibited from
drinking and could be charged with a misdemeanor is "absurd," Jacocks said, and
can't be enforced. [PVC: In that case, perhaps we need to just get rid of the
penalty altogether or make it a civil fine.]

On Tuesday, Jacocks got support from Virginia Beach Mayor Will
Sessoms, a McDonnell supporter and gun owner.

"Not only is it stupid," Sessoms said, "I think it could be a fatal
mistake."

But their efforts seem unlikely to sway McDonnell.

McDonnell will sign the bill, said Taylor Thornley, the governor's
spokeswoman. While McDonnell appreciates the work and comments of the
police chiefs, he will "continue to protect and uphold the Second Amendment
rights of law-abiding citizens," Thornley said.

The bill deals only with concealed weapons; in Virginia it's legal to
carry a gun openly without a permit.

SB334 and its House counterpart, along with legislation that allows
gun owners without concealed-carry permits to store firearms in locked vehicle
compartments, were among the gun-friendly bills approved by the General
Assembly this year. The Democratic-controlled Senate formed a special
subcommittee late in the session to kill several gun-rights bills,
including a repeal of the state's one-handgun-purchase-a-month limit.

The police chiefs association has opposed the guns in bars bill in the
past, but it also had a more sympathetic ear. Former Democratic Gov. Timothy
M. Kaine twice vetoed such bills.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police didn't come out strongly
against the bills during the session because it was spread too thin trying to
preserve state funding for police departments, said Dana Schrad, the
organization's executive director. [PVC: Life does have its priorities ]

"We didn't duck and cover on this one," Schrad said. "We had to
prioritize onbudget issues."

The Virginia Sheriffs' Association, the other large law-enforcement
lobby in the General Assembly, did not take a stand on the legislation, said John
Jones, the organization's executive director.

"No, we're not going down that road," Jones said.

But association members recently did vote on a resolution supporting
Second Amendment rights, Jones said.

Jacocks and Schrad did acknowledge that the letter was a last-ditch
effort.

"It was important to let him know directly how we felt about this
issue," Jacocks said.

If police across Virginia see an increase in gun violence at bars, the
association will come back and ask the General Assembly to reconsider
its decision, Schrad said. [PVC: Or course any such violence would have
to be unjustified and perpetrated by CHP holders, police, or
Commonwealth Attorneys. Even then, that is why we have laws - to
punish bad people, not to punish the good ones.]

Statistics on gun-related incidents at establishments with liquor
licenses were not available Tuesday. [PVC: Again, unless they deal with CHP
holders acting unlawfully, such statistics are irrelevant.]




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I know where there is lots of sand near Chief Jacocks and hammers are cheap. As a matter of fact I'll buy him a couple good ones...