Posted on 01/13/2003 7:41:37 PM PST by gieriscm
Okay folks, This is "It"!!!
VAHV had several Board members lobbying the Senate Courts of Justice committee today to determine if SB698, (designed to close the gun show loophole in Virginia) really had any kind of real chance. They have just reported back that if we can flood the offices of the committee members tomorrow with phone calls and faxed letters, then the bill does in fact have a real chance.
YOU ARE NEEDED!!!
Please take a moment and make a phone call and or send a fax. Simply say that you hope that you can count on your legislative representative to support SB698. Check the list below and call your Senator on Tuesday, January 14, 2003. One short, quick phone call might be the difference.
1)Call,email or fax your representatives to let them know you support SB 698. It is most important to contact members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee before the hearing on January 15. These include:
Kenneth Stolle, (Chairman), (804) 698-7508
Ken Cuccinelli, (804) 698-7537
Janet Howell, (804) 698-7532
John Edwards, (804) 698-7521
Bill Mims, (804) 698-7450
Linda "Toddy" Puller, (804) 698-7536
Dick Saslaw, (804) 698-7535
Harry Blevins, (804) 698-7514
Frederick Quayle, (804) 698-7513
Thomas Norment, (804) 698-7503
Louise Lucas, (804) 698-7518
William Roscoe Reynolds, (804) 698-7520
Nick Rerras, (804) 698-7506
Bo Trumbo, (804) 698-7522
If you need to find out who your reps are or would like to see the text of the legislation, go to: www.legis.state.va.us
If anyone can, BE THERE!!
2) Attend a hearing of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, Wednesday, January 15, 2:00 PM in Senate Room A at the General Assembly Building in Richmond (next to the Capitol). The bill MUST be voted out of this committee as a first step. Opponents will be there to testify against the bill. It is important to show that we want sensible gun legislation. Senate Room A is just to the left inside the GAB. Please allow time to clear security into the building.
After the 15th, YOU CAN STILL HELP!!
3) Attend our Lobby Day on the morning of Monday, January 20th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day). Visit with our respective representatives to let them know we support this bill and oppose any attempts to weaken existing gun laws. We will have a short training/briefing before we actually go lobby. For more information, contact Gail Horne of VAHV at 757-423-8801.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires that federally licensed dealers must perform background checks, but not unlicensed sellers, who make up 22-35% of the vendors at gun shows in VA. Last year there were 74 gun shows in VA where more than 16,000 guns were sold. Nationwide, gun shows have been cited as the second largest source of crime guns. This loophole allows criminals convicted of felonies and domestic violence as well as other prohibited people to buy a firearm at a gun show with no questions asked. This bill would NOT hurt business at gun shows; 18 states have already acted to require criminal background checks for all sales at gun shows. Three of the five states with the highest number of gun shows, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California, passed this legislation years ago and their gun shows continue and prosper. Furthermore, this bill is NOT about the Second Amendment or restrictive gun laws, but simply applying the law requiring criminal background checks in a common-sense way to all gun sales at gun shows.
Thank you for all that you do to support this effort to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Gail C. Horne, VAHV, Inc.
I will be in Richmond on the 20th to do my own lobbying.
I remember anti-gunners complaining that less than half of the sellers at a gun show had FFL's. What they neglected was that less than half of the sellers were actually selling guns (most were selling books, magazines, knives, clothing, optics, camping gear, food, or non-gun items).
What lies. The county I live in passed an ordinance outlawing gun shows at our county fairgrounds and their hasn't been a gun show there since. I have to travel sixty miles plus to attend a gun show.
district33@sov.state.va.us,district20@sov.state.va.us,district03@sov.state.va.us,district13@sov.state.va.us,district06@sov.state.va.us,district15@sov.state.va.us,
district18@sov.state.va.us,district35@sov.state.va.us,vasen08@aol.com,district22@sov.state.va.us,district16@sov.state.va.us,district01@sov.state.va.us,
district32@sov.state.va.us,district21@sov.state.va.us
If you want off (or on) the VA PING! list, please FReepmail me.
Any defenders of the Second Ammendment in Virginia need to get in touch with the folks in the State Senate to let their voices be heard.
SB 698, Senator Marsh's gun show "loophole" bill is being promoted not only by Virginians Against Handgun Violence, but now by the Brady Campaign. VAHV thinks that they can get the bill out of committee if they have enough phone calls.
WELL - LET'S SHOW THEM HOW GRASSROOTS REALLY WORKS!
This is urgent, so please do this as soon as possible. The committee meets on Wednesday at 2 PM, so time is short.
To make this easy, VCDL has a reflector setup. You send your e-mail to one address (below) and it will automatically get sent to every important member of the Senate Courts of Justice committee for you! Since your one e-mail is going to multiple people, the greeting needs to be generic (Dear Senator) and NOT specific (Dear Senator Trumbo).
Here is the magic e-mail address:
scoj@vcdl.org (or if you wish to type in the address: scoj@vcdl.org)
Suggested e-mail:
Dear Senator,
As a law abiding gun owner, I urge you to vote AGAINST SB 698, Senator Marsh's bill to close the imaginary "gun show loophole." This bill would destroy gun shows by putting a huge and unreasonable burden on gun owners and gun show management, while doing nothing to stop criminals. According to a recent U.S. Department of Justice report, only .7 percent (much less that one percent) of guns used in crimes are obtained from gun shows! This bill is not about public safety. It is about shutting down gun shows and creating an unconstitutional gun registration.
I am counting on you to protect the rights of Virginia's gun owners.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone
Related threads:
Keep guns out of state parks
Guns in Virginia state parks (Million Brain-Dead Moms Alert)
Heh heh heh... Warner didn't sign legislation. He was forced to enforce an opinion issued by Attorney General Kilgore (hopefully our next Governor) who, at the request of Delegate Dick Black (R-32), asked the AG for a legal opinion of carry in state parks based on current law. Kilgore happily obliged, and Warner is forced to go along...
Black and Kilgore really twisted not only Warner's tail, but the anti's as well, on this issue. :)
He signed something and I can't remember what it is! The article claimed he 'signed it quietly' and now I can't find the article. I know I'm not losing my mind... :^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.