VA-ALERT: YES!!!! Gun in UNLOCKED compartment passes!!!

[OakRidgeStars]

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VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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The House and Senate both just adopted Governor McDonnell's change to HB 885, so that starting July 1 a non-CHP holder can have a loaded handgun in an UNLOCKED compartment or container in a private motor vehicle or vessel!!!

Three Senators - Marsden, Saslaw, and Marsh - spoke against the change, wanting to require the compartment or container be locked, while Senator Vogel spoke in favor of the change.

The vote was 20 to 19 in the Senate, a squeaker, but we won!

Also, the Governor's changes to HB 1217, which makes only NRA gun safety curriculum something that elementary schools can use to teach gun safety, passed by a large margin.

Those emails you sent last week were critical! Good work, VCDL!!!



***************************************************************************
VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]

[TheGearGuy]

I'm not sure I'm crazy about this new law. I mean, does a holster count as a compartment/container? What happens when you leave the handgun in the car loaded and unlocked? Any "smash and grab" thief will make off with it. What happens to all the road ragers?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

On the otherside, too bad it wasn't "loaded firearm." It would bring back the meaning to "riding shotgun."

[WRW]

I'm not sure I'm crazy about this new law. I mean, does a holster count as a compartment/container? What happens when you leave the handgun in the car loaded and unlocked? Any "smash and grab" thief will make off with it. What happens to all the road ragers?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

On the otherside, too bad it wasn't "loaded firearm." It would bring back the meaning to "riding shotgun."

I don't think this law is meant to address guns left unattended in cars. As for road ragers, if they display a weapon and get caught, shame on them.

[TheGearGuy]

I was talking more about side effects.

[WRW]

I was talking more about side effects.

Sorry, I must be dense.

[OakRidgeStars]

The main purpose of this bill was to remove the necessity for the driver to possess a concealed handgun permit just to have a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

Governor McDonnell sent the original bill back to have the wording changed so that the handgun only needs to be "secured" instead of "locked". A handgun in the glovebox or console is "secured" because it cannot fall out, and is out of sight of anyone looking into the vehicle.

Just like restaurant carry, this becomes law on July 1.

[gunderwood]

The main purpose of this bill was to remove the necessity for the driver to possess a concealed handgun permit just to have a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

Governor McDonnell sent the original bill back to have the wording changed so that the handgun only needs to be "secured" instead of "locked". A handgun in the glovebox or console is "secured" because it cannot fall out, and is out of sight of anyone looking into the vehicle.

Just like restaurant carry, this becomes law on July 1.

Exactly. It removes the legal grey area between legally OC and illegally CCing while travelling in a vehicle if you don't have a CHP. If the gun can be seen it is OC, if it can't your still covered as long as it is secured.

[VAGentlemen]

Regardless of how the "damage" from the recent spat of passed gun laws are perceived by us, it's really driving the "antis" completely nuts.

I was just talking to a friend of mine in MD who hangs out on the Huffington Post to terrorize liberals. She was just telling me that the Huff Po's crowd is telling everyone how hated Gov. McDonnell is by Virginians and that we all have buyers remorse. Hmmmm.... not in my circle of friends he isn't.

I honestly cannot believe how "vexed" the antis are by the recent pro gun movement across the nation.

[OakRidgeStars]

I smell desperation. I wonder if Febreze has a scent called "November"

[Student12]

The main purpose of this bill was to remove the necessity for the driver to possess a concealed handgun permit just to have a loaded handgun in the vehicle.

Governor McDonnell sent the original bill back to have the wording changed so that the handgun only needs to be "secured" instead of "locked". A handgun in the glovebox or console is "secured" because it cannot fall out, and is out of sight of anyone looking into the vehicle.

Just like restaurant carry, this becomes law on July 1.

Exactly. It removes the legal grey area between legally OC and illegally CCing while travelling in a vehicle if you don't have a CHP. If the gun can be seen it is OC, if it can't your still covered as long as it is secured.

Isn't this already included in the Castle Law?
Also, I wonder how it applies to motorcycles. Having a weapon in a saddle bag but locked when away from the bike. Seems like it should apply the same.

[Palladin]

I smell desperation. I wonder if Febreze has a scent called "November"

[zephyp]

Isn't this already included in the Castle Law?

What Castle Law? Virginia hasnt advanced to that stage of civilization yet...we have too many low brow liberals running things...or trying to.

[gatorbait]

Which of us really, really cares about that locked/secured distinction. It does have a difference, but it's almost entirely almost a matter of convenience.

The big thing is OUR SIDE WON!!! And if we keep doing that, the momentum will help us immeasurably.

[zephyp]

Which of us really, really cares about that locked/secured distinction. It does have a difference, but it's almost entirely almost a matter of convenience.

The big thing is OUR SIDE WON!!! And if we keep doing that, the momentum will help us immeasurably.

I hate to rain on your parade but I'm in a grumpy mood...

EDIT: changed my mind...I feel better now...but we only won a battle not the war...too many examples in history to cite where winning battles doesnt always lead you to victory...

[firstcavapache64]

The real battle is with State Senator Marsh who created the joke of a sub-committee to review firearms related bills and then staffed it with rabid anti gun liberal idiots. What he did was most likely against the VA constitution but so far no one has called him on it. He is a big reason many pro second amendment bills died in the state senate. We need to get this moron out of office. I think he is from the Richmond area. If he is running in your district do everything you can to mobilize people to vote him out of office. We need people in the Senate that respect the state and federal constitution.

[LFS]

Other states have laws like this. Georgia is one example. And they passed it back in the 90's when the counties in the Atlanta metro area started experiencing a rash of carjackings. The problem went away shortly after law abiding citizens were allowed to defend themselves. Imagine that.

[gunderwood]

The real battle is with State Senator Marsh who created the joke of a sub-committee to review firearms related bills and then staffed it with rabid anti gun liberal idiots. What he did was most likely against the VA constitution but so far no one has called him on it. He is a big reason many pro second amendment bills died in the state senate. We need to get this moron out of office. I think he is from the Richmond area. If he is running in your district do everything you can to mobilize people to vote him out of office. We need people in the Senate that respect the state and federal constitution.

Perhaps we need to mobilize even if we aren't in his district. Marsh need to go period. Nothing says the rest of us can't help.

[zephyp]

@gunderwood - if a district is full of liberal socialists and they keep voting the same into office there is not much that can be done...unless you want to count heads and convince enough conservatives to move there and vote them out....

[Taggure]

@gunderwood - if a district is full of liberal socialists and they keep voting the same into office there is not much that can be done...unless you want to count heads and convince enough conservatives to move there and vote them out....

Just watch what happens up here in the 11th District when we work real hard to see that Connely is voted out this November.

And we are in the heart of Libby Land. If we all work together we can get them voted out no matter where they are located just look at Brown in Mass. That was a national effort and proved that elections are not just local anymore.

Vern

[zephyp]

@Vern -- vote out connolly... ...up here in Fairfax county...

Yeah right....so the other guy now has at least 2 votes...me and you...how we gonna do that again....

I dont know where you live but almost every person I see on the street over here is hispanic...and there are alot of obama bumper stickers....vote out connolly...

Yeah right....