VA-ALERT: Governor Kaine vetoes a host of gun bills

––––-Original Message––––-
From: Philip Van Cleave
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 4:54 PM
Subject: VA-ALERT: Governor Kaine vetoes a host of gun bills

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VCDL's meeting schedule:  http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
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URGENT ACTION ITEM AT END, PLEASE DO YOUR PART - WE CAN FIX THIS!

Governor Kaine vetoed a host of guns bills, some for things that the  
bills don't even do!

He thought he knew what they did, but he clearly didn't bother to  
actually read them.

This would almost be comical if it didn't affect the safety of the  
public.

Here are the bills he vetoed and his, er, logic in doing so, and my  
comments:

SB 1035, Senator Hanger, repeals the restaurant ban.   Governor says,  
"Allowing concealed weapons into restaurants and bars that serve  
alcohol puts the public, the employees, and our public safety officers  
at risk. I take seriously the objections of law enforcement to this  
measure."  Baloney.  The Governor orders the police to tell him they  
think allowing permit holders to carry concealed in restaurants, even  
if they don't drink, endangers the public, then he uses their coerced  
statement to justify what he was going to do anyhow.

SB 877, Senator Martin, repeals the restaurant ban for retired  
police.  Governor Says, "While it makes sense for current law  
enforcement officers to be permitted to carry their firearms when in  
such establishments, there is no compelling reason for retired law  
enforcement officers to have weapons in locations where alcohol is  
served."  Well at least the Governor is consistent in his double-
standard, that allows untrained Commonwealth Attorneys and their  
deputies to carry concealed in restaurants and drink, while denying  
anybody not on the government payroll the same right to protect  
themselves, not matter how trustworthy they have proven themselves.

HB 1851, Delegate  Lingamfelter, exempts active duty military from One  
Handgun a Month.  Governor says, "The new exemption would apply to  
active duty service members, whether Virginia residents or not.  
Because holders of valid Virginia concealed weapons permits are  
already able to purchase more than one handgun per month, House Bill  
1851 only extends the ability to buy more than one handgun a month to  
nonresidents or those Virginians unable to obtain a concealed weapons  
permit."  What?!?  Unable to get a permit or CHOOSE not to, Governor?  
The Governor must be related to Marie Antoinette, with his "let them  
eat cake" attitude toward our military.  Shameful.

SB 1528, Senator Cuccinnelli, allows for Internet-based training for  
CHP applicants.  Governor says, "The state requires an applicant for a  
concealed weapons permit to take a written safety test to demonstrate  
that the individual understands how to use a weapon in a safe manner.  
Allowing the testing to be done online would weaken the ability of the  
Commonwealth to determine who is actually taking the test and open up  
opportunities for individuals to receive a permit under fraudulent  
circumstances with no guarantee that they can use a weapon safely."  
WHAT?!?  There is NO requirement in current law for a written SAFETY  
TEST!!!  Where did he come up with that?  So he vetoed this bill based  
on a law that he just made up out of thin air.  If there is any fraud  
going on, Governor, it is YOU swearing an oath to defend and protect  
the Constitution.

HB 2528, Delegate Cole, requires that localities pass an ordinance  
before doing gun buy-ups.  Governor says, "I veto House Bill 2528,  
which unnecessarily interferes with the operations of local  
governments. Specifically, the bill prohibits local law enforcement  
from choosing to conduct voluntary gun buyback programs and then  
destroying the weapons.  Some localities have found this program to be  
effective in reducing the number of illegal firearms in their  
communities. It is not a mandatory program, and law enforcement in  
each locality have made the decision whether such a program is  
desirable in their own county or city. There is no compelling reason  
for the General Assembly to take this decision out of the hands of  
local law enforcement."  WHAT?!?  It does NOT require that localities  
not destroy guns.  The final bill that passed made it an option for  
localities to be able to either do that or to sell the guns to a  
federally licensed gun dealer.  The Governor is NOT reading these  
bills and is vetoing them based on erroneous knowledge of what the  
bills do!  Harvard needs to get that diploma back ASAP.

I would sum up Governor Kaine's attitude as, "To hell with the will of  
the People as expressed through the Legislature.  I, King Kaine, know  
what all the People want and need and I have no interest in hearing  
their little voices and don't want to be confused with the facts."

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What now?

On April 8th the General Assembly meets to override the Governor's  
vetoes.  Unlike Governor Kaine, the General Assembly needs to show  
that  public safety is more important than blind anti-gun politics.

A quick look at the vetoed bills:

SB 1035, the restaurant ban repeal, needs 5 more votes to be  
overridden in the Senate and the VCDL "robo calls" are working that  
issue right now.  The House only needs 1 more vote to override the  
veto. (Senate 22 to 16, House 66 to 33)  SEE ACTION ITEM BELOW!

SB 877, the restaurant ban repeal for retired police, passed by a  
large veto proof margin. (Senate 40 to 0, House 84 to 15)

SB 1851, One Handgun A Month exemption for active duty military,  
passed by a large veto proof majority. (Senate 31 to 8, House 86 to 13)

SB 1528, internet training for CHPs, passed by  a large veto-proof  
majority. (Senate 29 to 10, House 99 to 0)

HB 2528, gun buy-up bill, passed by a large veto-proof majority.  
(Senate 28 to 12, House 85 to 11)


So only one bill is in any real jeopardy, SB 1035, the restaurant ban  
repeal for CHP holders.  The other bills have decent margin of votes  
to override the Governor's veto.

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ACTION ITEM

If YOUR Senator is one of the following:

Blevins, Colgan, Herring, Lucas, Norment, Northam, or Petersen

And/Or YOUR Delegate is one of the following:

Albo, Amundson, Caputo, Dance, Hamilton, Hargrove, Mathieson, May,  
Melvin, Paula Miller, Poisson, Rust, Shannon, Sickles, Tata, Tyler,  
Vanderhye, or Watts

You need to call them NOW and let them know that since they supported  
RETIRED police officers carrying concealed in restaurants, even if  
they are drinking alcohol, they NEED to change their vote and override  
the Governor's veto to SUPPORT concealed handgun permit holders  
carrying concealed in restaurants if they don't drink!

These legislators simply cannot justify what they have done by their  
contradictory votes.  We MUST call them and let them know we expect  
them to make it right by overriding the veto.

Here are their LOCAL phone numbers.  Remember - call them NOW if they  
represent you.  Have your family members and neighbors do the same.

We CAN do this if enough of you do your part.

Remember to hold their feet to the fire on this one!


Senators:

Harry Blevins, 757-546-2435

Chuck Colgan, 703-368-0300

Mark Herring, 703-729-3300

Louise Lucas, 757-397-8209

Thomas Norment, 757-259-7810

Ralph Northam, 757-818-5172

Chap Petersen, 703-349-3361


Delegates:

Dave Albo, 703-451-3555

Kristen Amundson, 703-619-0444

Chuck Caputo, 703-476-6944

Rosalyn Dance, 804-862-2922

Phillip Hamilton, 757-249-2480

Frank Hargrove, 804-550-2900

Bobby Mathieson, 757-470-3000

Joe May, 703-777-1191

Ken Melvin, 757-397-2800

Paula Miller, 757-587-8757

David Poisson, 703-421-6899

Thomas Rust, 703-437-9400

Stephen Shannon, 703-281-5200

Mark Sickles, 703-922-6440

Bob Tata, 757-340-3510

Roslyn Tyler, 434-336-1710

Margi Vanderhye, 703-448-8018

Vivian Watts, 703-978-2989


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(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.

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