Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Virginia Gun Owners Successful in 2010 - NRA-ILA Report http://nra-ila.org

By any measure, significant progress was made in the expansion and protection of Virginia’s Second Amendment rights during the 2010 session of the Virginia General Assembly, which adjourned March 14.

A wide range of bills were passed by both chambers and are now awaiting action by Governor McDonnell (R), such as, Senate Bill 334/House Bill 505, which would repeal the ban on concealed carry permit holders carrying in restaurants that serve alcohol, Senate Bill 3/House Bill 8, which would allow conceal carry permit holders to renew their permits by mail and House Bill 109, a measure that would repeal an arcane statute giving localities the power to require the sellers of pistols and revolvers to supply the Clerk of the Circuit Court with the name, address, number and make of the weapon.

In spite of the House of Delegates regard for the will of voters and passing around twenty pro-gun bills, Democratic leaders created a Special Sub-Committee in the waning weeks of session to kill a number of pro-gun bills, many of which passed in the House with strong bi-partisan support. Late last week, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) wrote a memo stating that Senate Rules were broken when the Special Sub-Committee killed the House bills, including, House Bill 49, the repeal of Virginia’s “One-Gun-A-Month” law. Senate Rules state that Sub-Committees do not have the authority to take action on a bill, that power is only reserved for full committees.

Again, 2010 was a great year for Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners compared to anti-gun advocates who were relegated to watching the session from the grandstands. In fact, for the first time in years, anti-gun advocates were unable to bring up the so called “gun-show loophole” bill for a vote in the State Senate Courts of Justice Committee dominated by anti-gun politicians.

The numerous bills and support offered by members in House of Delegates is a perfect example of what happens when voters elect candidates who not only pledge to stand up for our freedoms and heritage, but act upon those promises when they arrive in Richmond.

Below is the list of bills sent to Governor McDonnell (R) and are awaiting his signature. Please e-mail the Governor by clicking here and respectfully request he sign the following legislation:

House Bill 8, sponsored by Delegate Charles Carrico (R-5), would allow the renewal of resident concealed carry permits by mail.

House Bill 109, sponsored by Delegate Mark Cole (R-88), would repeal the statute which allows the governing body of any county to require the sellers of pistols and revolvers to furnish the Clerk of the Circuit Court with the name and address of the purchaser, date of purchase and the number, make, and caliber of the gun.

House Bill 505, sponsored by Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15), would allow a concealed carry permit holder to carry his or her firearm into a restaurant, provided he or she does not consume any alcohol. HB505 was conformed to SB334 by creating a Class 2 misdemeanor for consumption of alcohol while carrying concealed and stripping retired law enforcement officers of the ability to drink while carrying concealed.

House Bill 637, authored by Delegate Ward Armstrong (D-10), would exempt a boarding team member or boarding team officer in the United States Coast Guard from the concealed handgun permit issuance fee, provided they have completed 15 years of service or reached the age of 55.

House Bill 871, authored by Delegate Ben Cline (R-24), would clarify that a person who is applying for a concealed handgun permit for the first time has the same right to an ore tenus (verbal or oral statements) hearing if the permit is denied as a person who has previously held a concealed handgun permit.

House Bill 885, sponsored by Delegate Cliff Athey (R-18), would allow any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel to keep the firearm locked in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.

House Bill 1092, sponsored by Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-6), would give retired law-enforcement the ability to carry a concealed handgun without a permit.

House Bill 1191, sponsored by Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R-8), would allow a circuit court judge to authorize the Clerk of Court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application.

House Bill 1217, sponsored by Delegate Lynwood Lewis (D-100), would allow local school boards to offer firearm safety education programs in the elementary grades. To assist local school boards opting to provide such instruction, the Board of Education must establish a standardized program of firearm safety education for students in the elementary school grades to promote the protection and safety of children. The bill requires that the program objectives incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules of the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program. Local school boards offering the program must comply with Board curriculum guidelines and integrate the instruction in appropriate subject areas, if feasible, to ensure that every elementary school student receives instruction in firearm safety education.

House Bill 1256, sponsored by Delegate Paula Miller (D-87), would provide that certain law-enforcement officers with at least 20 years of service who resign from their position in good standing to accept a position covered by the Virginia Retirement System, shall be eligible to carry a concealed handgun if he or she has received written proof of consultation with and favorable review of the need to carry a concealed handgun, issued by the chief law-enforcement officer of the agency from which the officer resigned.

Senate Bill 3, sponsored by State Senator Ralph Smith (R-22), would allow the renewal of resident concealed carry permits by mail.

Senate Bill 334, sponsored by State Senator Emmett Hanger (R-24), would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense in restaurants that serve alcohol, provided they do not consume alcohol. Senator Hanger’s bill would make it a misdemeanor for a permit holder to consume alcohol while on the premises of the restaurant.

Senate Bill 408, sponsored by State Senator Jill Vogel (R-27), would allow any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel, to keep the firearm secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.

Please contact the State Senators and Delegates listed below and thank them for sponsoring legislation and working to defend our Second Amendment rights!


State Senators:

State Senator Ryan McDougle (R-4)
district04@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Ralph Smith (R-22)
district22@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Emmet Hanger, Jr. (R-24)
district24@senate.virginia.gov

State Senator Jill Vogel (R-27)
district27@senate.virginia.gov


Delegates:

Delegate Will Morefield (R-3)
DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Charles Carrico (R-5)
DelCCarrico@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark (R-6)
DelACrockett-Stark@house.virginia.gov

Delegate H. Morgan Griffith (R-8)
DelMGriffith@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Ward Armstrong (D-10)
DelWArmstrong@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-15)
DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Clay Athey (R-18)
DelCAthey@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Ben Cline (R-24)
DelBCline@house.virginia.gov

Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31)
DelSLingamfelter@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Bill Janis (R-56)
DelBJanis@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Tommy Wright (R-61)
DelTWright@house.virginia.gov

Delegate R. Lee Ware (R-65)
DelLWare@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Paula Miller (D-87)
DelPMiller@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Mark Cole (R-88)
DelMCole@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-96)
DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Lynwood Lewis (D-100)
DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov

When do all the passed bills become law (ie. when will the governor actually sign them?)

Bills signed by the governor usually go into effect on July 1st unless there is a specific provision within the bill that sets a different date.

I'm saddened that VA would play dirty politics with this death star committee but glad we got some decent bills through. Next time....

I too am extremely dissapointed that many bills went down due to dirty tactics of a few pushing a personal vendetta against gun owners,, Further I am angered by the fact that those tactics were allowed to stand without repercussion by the states highest ranking office holders. Bill for bill we did pretty well in getting some things passed. Sadly the high priority Castle Doctrine, no fingerprints required, The VA Firearms Act and a repeal of 1 gun a month went down in flames ,but at least the Gun show Loophole was silenced till next year.There were at least two negative gun laws passed depending on how you see them. SB501 - That allows an out of state DUI within 3 years of applying for a CHP to disqualify you from that CHP.. The old law was fine as it was.SB89- That allows for the Commonwealth Attorney to get involved and make comment on a persons petition to restore their gun rights. Both of these little jewels got unanimous votes in both houses. Our work is cut out for us next session and up until we can hopefully win back the Senate of VA.

"Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) wrote a memo stating that Senate Rules were broken when the Special Sub-Committee killed the House bills, including, House Bill 49, the repeal of Virginia’s “One-Gun-A-Month” law. Senate Rules state that Sub-Committees do not have the authority to take action on a bill, that power is only reserved for full committees. "

and so who gets to censor these people to be sure that it doesn;t happen again?
and when you break the rules, you get hit with a "memo"?

If i did something/anything that affected every citizen of the commonwealth, i can asssure you that i would get hit with more than a memo...

who determines law as it applies to the lawmakers? and why did the Uber 'donnell allow it to happen under his watch...? did he make a statement about it? did he condemn it? anything? Buheller? McFly? anyone? anyone?

ppfffttthhhhhhfftttt!!!!!

I wonder if they get to police themselves like congress. Hi I'm congress. I make laws. What? Ethics? Yeah we'll make our own ethics committee. It will be comprised of congressmen and women.

Yes they do!! Both Houses had an ethics type committee,recent bills were submitted to create a single panel from both Houses to police their own members. Some good came out of the Assembly such as once an investigation is started it has to be completed no matter what and be made public.. Other bills were shot down being called to broad and possibly open to abuse by political opponents. Their is a long history in our General Assembly of ethics not being a big item to pursue very fervently.I am waiting to see if I even get a response to the questions I asked the Governor , Lt Governor and AG about the Marsh/Saslaw thing... Something just doesn't add up there ....

Maybe some back room deals: we'll let you pass 7 pro gun bills if you lets us pass 4 liberal/socialist bills and make a big show of killing several pro gun bills...

That could very well be the truth of the matter.. There were a couple of bills that really stunk and both houses passed them unanimously,,,Suddenly there was some issue that came up with one and the thing got rewrote and died after being sent to the Senate,That rewrite due to it's language should kill at least one more before going to the Governor. I am watching it closely as it was a Dem Bill and was embraced by both houses and it is anti gun and it stinks, Lot of arm twisting I think.. Has anyone gotten a response from the Gov,Lt Gov,Or AG about the rules violation yet?? I have contacted all of them and not so much as a whisper. I don't think they liked being reminded just who supported them during the election and the fact that we know we got screwed by Marsh and Saslaw.