Fucking bastard:

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/02/01/hangers-role-key-defeating-concealed-carry-bill/79658280/

RICHMOND - Just days after Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) struck a gun deal with Republican leaders, the Virginia Senate reverted to its mostly partisan habits on the issue.

On the floor was a bill from Sen. Richard H. Black (R-Loudoun), which would have largely done away with the need to obtain a permit before carrying a concealed weapon.

He referred to the measure as “constitutional carry.”

“It’s based on the idea that the Second Amendment is a constitutional right and that citizens have a right to carry firearms without permission of the government,” Black explained recently. “It’s analogous to the First Amendment, where you don’t need a government permit to tell you what you can say and what you can’t.”

The argument did not carry the day in the Senate, which the GOP controls by a 21-19 margin. Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), a moderate known for crossing party lines on some hot-button issues, joined with Democrats to vote against the bill, leading to a 20-20 tie. “It was an easy vote for me,” Hanger said.

“I was surprised that I was the only Republican voting against the bill, this would have gutted the whole process of how concealed carry works,” Hanger told The News Leader. “For me it was an easy vote.”

Well, at least he understands the point.

I always thought Hanger was one of the good guys.  He showed his colors with this one.  Admittedly a meaningless vote because McAsshat would veto it but I suspect the citizens of Augusta County would expect better from him.

It's a shame this happened now and not last year when he would have had to face the electorate.  Shocking how that always seems to happen.

I'm getting ready to move to Reva and it looks like this asshat will be my new state senator, I look forward to voting against him next time around.

Isn't Augusta County semi liberal? Maybe he made a smart choice? The bill would never ever pass into law as the current governor would veto it. Without enough votes to over ride the veto, this whole bill was just a fun exercise.

Not everything is black and white. He may have pissed off a few gun people by voting no on a bill that would never pass, he may have kept enough votes from non gun people to keep him in office longer. I would rather have this republican stay in office then get another demarcate voted in.

I think gun control is going to start being a major issue in coming elections and people are going to start voting for people on this one issue alone. The amount of money these anti gun groups are starting to spend in local elections is getting scary.

I could be wrong but a quick internet search makes it look like he supported the Affordable Care Act as well.

If he votes with the Liberals on these important issues then it doesn't really matter what party he belongs to, does it?

County typically goes 75% republican or better.  The cities within generally go democrat 51/49 of late.

To be fair, it was a bill that was never going anywhere so I'm not ready to crucify him for a single shitty vote.  Definitely something to keep in mind in 2019, though.  Of course, he'll probably retire anyway.  He'll be in his 70s by then.

Then why piss on your own party and spend political capital by making such a vote and public statement? Just vote correctly and shut up with the understanding that it won't matter.

He sounds like another Tommy Norment. A RINO who is more concerned with his image than anything else.

In my own POV, I think getting constitutional carry to pass will never happen. I think people are "satisfied" with the permit process. (I am not saying I agree with it).

I think the best we can get it is opening up where we can carry, etc.

Bloviating about why he voted against it certainly isn't helping him.

We had actually made good progress with that until McAwful decided to just unilaterally put "No Guns" signs on every DMV and ABC store.

I will NEVER stop pushing for constitutional carry.

.Gov should have NO say in the matter. Full stop.

It took us several years to overturn the Restaurant Ban.

We have to play the long game.

Looks like I'm going to be writing a letter expressing my disappointment with my representation.

Why is it every time I make a typo someone quotes it?  Oy vey.

Hanger has been a squish on guns for years.

I recall he voted against a pro-gun bill once because he claimed Alexandria Republicans would have a hard time getting elected....

In no way am I saying it isn't a fight worth fighting :)

He's had good conservative primary opponents in several of the last elections. He's a good ole boy that the locals love, and he crosses the isle so lot's of the local Democrats support him. With the current primary system in place, the only realistic way to replace him before he dies of old age, would be to elect a Democrat for one term, then try to get them out later.