VA-ALERT: More pro-gun/anti-gun bills

[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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Breaking Election results as of 10 PM:

Senate District 37 - Marsden 11,943, Hunt 11,626
Senate District 8 - McWaters 8,051, Fleming 2,184

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A whole bunch of bills have hit - the vast majority are pro-gun.
There will probably be more coming over the next week or so and you
will be updated as they are introduced.

***A detailed alert on Lobby Day, with information for those attending
will be coming out very shortly.***


VCDL STRONGLY SUPPORTS

HB 236, Delegate Janis (R - Henrico), allows hunting within one-half
mile of any subdivision or other area of such municipal
incorporation. However, such hunting cannot be done if a reckless
manner as to endanger persons or property. Among other things, this
bill allows a hunter shooting down toward the ground from a blind in a
tree, as the bullet will go into the earth and not endanger others at
that angle. It would also allow a hunter whose blind is facing away
from such subdivision to be able to hunt.

HB 251, Delegate Merricks (R - Chatham), prevents a person who has to
use justifiable deadly force to protect innocent life, from being sued
civilly. Such lawsuits can financially destroy the life of someone
who has done nothing wrong.

HB 475, Delegate Carrico (R - Galax), allows concealed handgun permit
holders to carry a concealed handgun in the parking lots of K-12
schools. It also allows the concealed handgun permit holder to carry
into parts of a K-12 school building that are not being used for any
school-related functions or extracurricular activities, such as night
adult education classes or square dancing classes, etc. This bill was
put in for VCDL.

HB 489, Delegate Lingamfelter (R - Woodbridge), totally rewrites the
concealed carry code (18.2-308) to make it easier to navigate. This
bill does not change any currently law, just reorganizes it.

HB 490, Delegate Lingamfelter (R - Woodbridge), requires the Virginia
State Police to develop a plan so that concealed handgun permits can
be issued for a lifetime.

HB 505, Delegate Gilbert (R - Woodstock), repeals the ban on concealed
handgun permit holders carrying a concealed handgun in a restaurant.
It has a caveat that the permit holder does not consume alcohol in the
restaurant while carrying concealed. VCDL prefers Delegate Cole's
bill HB 106, which simply repeals the ban in its entirety.


VCDL STRONGLY OPPOSES

SB 269, Senator Whipple (D - Arlington), allows local government to
ban guns on property owned by that locality. This destroys preemption
and would create a web of complicated gun laws that would do nothing
to deter criminals, but would make it much harder for a law-abiding
citizen to be able to carry a handgun for self-defense.

HB 520, Delegate Morrissey (R - RIchmond), requires that anyone who
sells three or more guns at a gun show be a Federal Firearms
Licensee. This puts a huge, unnecessary, and arbitrary barrier to
anyone who wishes to sell part of a gun collection.



VCDL IS NEUTRAL (but watching the first 3 bills VERY carefully)

SB 84, Senator Howell (D - Reston), deals with involuntary mental-
health commitment. Amongst other things, the bill allows a person to
voluntarily admit himself or herself for treatment if a temporary
detention order has been issued, but not yet served. Such person is
to be notified that they will lose their right to own firearms. The
bill needs to be changed to make such notification in writing.

SB 86, Senator Howell (D - Reston), deals with involuntary mental-
health commitment. Amongst other things, the bill allows a person to
voluntarily admit himself or herself for treatment if a temporary
detention order has been issued, but not yet served. Such person is
to be notified that they will lose their right to own firearms. The
bill needs to be changed to make such notification in writing.

HB 305, Delegate O'Bannon (R - Richmond), deals with involuntary
mental-health commitment. Amongst other things, the bill allows a
person to voluntarily admit himself or herself for treatment if a
temporary detention order has been issued, but not yet served. Such
person is to be notified that they will lose their right to own
firearms. The bill needs to be changed to make such notification in
writing.

HB 637, Delegate Armstrong (D - Martinsville), exempts boarding team
members or boarding officers of the Coast Guard from having to pay for
their concealed handgun permits. VCDL does not see a need to keep
adding to the list of special interest groups who don't have to pay
the $50 fee for a concealed handgun permit.



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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/]