VA Alert! Contact your legislators!!

[jr45]

Looks like Northam is putting together a special session in Aug to finish off his rights ban! See action item from VCDL.

Action item: Have you contacted your legislators about no gun-control during the Special Session of the General Assembly in August?

I am repeating yesterday's action item on the email campaign to tell legislators that we don't want any gun control passed at the August Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly. I am doing so because we added over 1,200 new VA-ALERT subscribers yesterday (!) (now at over 52,000 subscribers) and they did not see that important alert.

If you haven't done so, click Here to go to the VCDL main page to send that important email to your legislators. The action item is at the top. Also, you can see how many gun owners have sent those emails to their legislators at the bottom of that action item. The counter is in a black box. As of this alert going out, 6,907 gun owners have sent the email in 24 hours and legislators have been commenting on that influx! Let's keep it going! Spread the link to vcdl.org far and wide!

 

[748]

Governor blackface is trying to sneak in more anti gun BS?
No one is surprised, I'm sure they will try to get what didn't pass last time.

 

[AlexanderA]

Has the legislative math changed since January / February? Are the holdout senators going to flip and vote for an AWB now?

I would say the answer is no. The critical phase will come after the next state election (2021).

Letter writing, calls, etc. -- especially to those holdout Democratic senators -- would be good right now. What would not be good would be armed demonstrations in Richmond. That would be seen by the general public as bullying in the midst of a pandemic, and would set the 2A cause back, perhaps fatally. Don't try for a rerun of January 20 -- it would be a PR disaster.

 

[HighRoadRover]

I'm not sure why Gov. Northam is going back to the legislature now to try and get more gun control measures -- the "assault weapon" ban, ban on over 10 round magazines, 10% tax on firearms and ammo, closing of all indoor ranges, etc. -- unless he knows something has changed since the last bunch of gun control measures went through. What could be different? Perhaps the few moderate Democrats who did not vote for the more severe gun control measures last year have been told they need to toe-the-Party-line. Perhaps there is a realization by the Governor that pro-2A demonstrations and rallies are difficult to conduct during a Pandemic, or maybe legislators are less susceptible to public sentiment when they can vote remotely in "virtual" sessions.

Whatever is going on, now is a good time to write to all legislators in Virginia about the upcoming special session and let them know what the Governor and the Radical Left want is not about stopping crime, but is about crushing law-abiding citizens.

 

[AlexanderA]

I'm not sure why Gov. Northam is going back to the legislature now to try and get more gun control measures

If nothing else, it's to keep gun control in the public eye, with a view to the 2021 legislative session. I doubt if the actual result this August will be any different than the result last spring. The antigunners already got their "low hanging fruit."

The moderate Democrats (my senator, Chap Petersen, is one of them) voted against the AWB because of its draconian implementation. They would probably vote for it if a grandfather scheme could be worked out. But a grandfather scheme would make it "toothless," in the view of the proponents. That's the impasse where we are right now. The antigunners' insistence on "purity" is the only thing that's preventing them from winning.

Whatever is going on, now is a good time to write to all legislators in Virginia about the upcoming special session and let them know what the Governor and the Radical Left want is not about stopping crime, but is about crushing law-abiding citizens.

I can tell you that that argument is not going to resonate at all with legislators from northern Virginia, or with Democrats in general. First of all, they don't consider themselves to be "radical leftists." They represent suburban Soccer Moms ("Karens") and their constituents don't like people toting guns. It's pretty simple actually.

ETA: The only self-described "leftist radical" that I can think of in the Virginia legislature is Del. Lee Carter (D-Manassas), and he's pro-gun.

 

[jr45]

The legislators from Alexandria, Lorton, Fairfax, Richmond, parts of Prince William, etc. are far left and have an absolute distain for the rest of the state. During the recent Alexandria’s board meeting, their contempt was in full display as they flaunted their “new powers” during the discussions which in the end, they passed the ban of firearms at all public buildings, parks, streets near protests, etc...

Get busy and contacting your legislators!!!

 

[AlexanderA]

The legislators from Alexandria, Lorton, Fairfax, Richmond, parts of Prince William, etc. are far left and have an absolute disdain for the rest of the state.

So, what you're saying is that whatever you write to them will fall on deaf ears. What exactly, then, is the purpose of writing them?

Actually, they are "far left" only when seen from a "far right" perspective. What they are, is perfectly reflective of their constituents. As I've written elsewhere, their constituents are hoplophobic Soccer Moms and their federal-employee husbands. The only successful long-term strategy for gun rights is to go around the legislators and convince the constituents that having a gun -- even an AR-15 -- is more useful to them than not having a gun. If you get a majority in northern Virginia open to gun ownership, that will turn the whole state around. Northern Virginia is not New York. Thanks to the federal government, it's strictly middle class.

Regarding the vote on the Alexandria board, the ban (which is really a nothing burger) was a direct result of the brandishing of weapons at the Lobby Day demonstration in Richmond. We're going to see a lot more of such "bans" in other jurisdictions. Going armed to Richmond, as I've said all along, was a terrible mistake. It was OK as far as "preaching to the choir" -- revving up the morale of the converted -- but as far as everybody else was concerned, it was horrible PR. People don't like bullies, and that's what the gun-brandishers came off as.

 

[Ernie Bass]

The legislators from Alexandria, Lorton, Fairfax, Richmond, parts of Prince William, etc. are far left and have an absolute distain for the rest of the state. During the recent Alexandria’s board meeting, their contempt was in full display as they flaunted their “new powers” during the discussions which in the end, they passed the ban of firearms at all public buildings, parks, streets near protests, etc...

Get busy and contacting your legislators!!!

Totally agree with you. It is more than just the Northern part of the State. The only area's now are Rural. The rest of the state is going to hell in a basket quick.

 

[jr45]

So, what you're saying is that whatever you write to them will fall on deaf ears. What exactly, then, is the purpose of writing them?

Actually, they are "far left" only when seen from a "far right" perspective. What they are, is perfectly reflective of their constituents. As I've written elsewhere, their constituents are hoplophobic Soccer Moms and their federal-employee husbands. The only successful long-term strategy for gun rights is to go around the legislators and convince the constituents that having a gun -- even an AR-15 -- is more useful to them than not having a gun. If you get a majority in northern Virginia open to gun ownership, that will turn the whole state around. Northern Virginia is not New York. Thanks to the federal government, it's strictly middle class.

Hope your kidding about why witting them...they want to be re-elected! and a few are in vulnerable seats that are held by a thread.

Only seen as far left by far right? lol. I agree that unfortunately many of these legislators are a reflection of their constituents; why do you think we have this problem?...see my previous post. We unfortunately live this dream everyday.

Folks, Northam feels emboldened by recent events and his recent gun control bill that came into effect. Contact your legislators, especially those on the fence or in vulnerable seats. Remind them that any vote contrary to our rights, will not be tolerated.

 

[jr45]

Regarding the vote on the Alexandria board, the ban (which is really a nothing burger) was a direct result of the brandishing of weapons at the Lobby Day demonstration in Richmond. We're going to see a lot more of such "bans" in other jurisdictions. Going armed to Richmond, as I've said all along, was a terrible mistake. It was OK as far as "preaching to the choir" -- revving up the morale of the converted -- but as far as everybody else was concerned, it was horrible PR. People don't like bullies, and that's what the gun-brandishers came off as.

Bull! These localities have been drooling in anticipation to enact bans long before our rally day. Big nothing burger? They banned firearms in all gov building, parks, and streets near riots/protests. May not be big deal for sheep and the plants saying is ok but it’s a big deal for those who carry and gets caught up in this mess. As for bullies, people of Alexandria like them as they elected them. Also for bullies, what do you call Northam, Filler-Corn, Saslaw, Herring, and the likes?

We have been very polite, (currently remain to do so) during all the meetings, correspondence, rallies, and pleas for them not to disregard the bill of rights. Unfortunately, few of them continue to ignore. What are we to do but to continue to remind them that our rights are not for restricting...any other ideas?

Please keep contacting your legislators and spread this action request far and wide. Many of these legislators need constant reminders who they work for.

 

[AlexanderA]

Many of these legislators need constant reminders who they work for.

These legislators are well aware of who they work for, and it isn't gun owners. I've lived in northern Virginia for the last 50 years, and in that time public attitudes about guns have changed. The overwhelming majority of my neighbors now are against guns. The politicians are antigun because the people that vote for them are antigun. (They actually tout "F" ratings from the NRA as badges of honor, some kind of reverse endorsement.) Change public attitudes, and the politicians' attitudes will also change. That's why efforts to influence politicians directly are misplaced. You have to influence the public first. That's why public relations are so important. Parading with guns in Richmond is terrible public relations. It's guaranteed to turn the fence-sitters against you.

 

[FFGColorado]

any other ideas?

Don't allow uncontested elections to occur..toothpaste is out of the tube in VA.

That's why efforts to influence politicians directly are misplaced. You have to influence the public first. That's why public relations are so important. Parading with guns in Richmond is terrible public relations. It's guaranteed to turn the fence-sitters against you.

What he said.