Date: February 7, 2000
To: Virginia Gun Rights Supporters

From: Paul Moog, President, Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.

Over a dozen gun rights activists took time to attend today’s Militia & Police Committee
meeting in Richmond. The good news is that the Republican Gun Control bills,
HB 350 & HB 351 were effectively killed for the year – hopefully for good!

No one spoke in favor of these awful bills that were riddled with anti-gun “catch-22s”!
We had many good speakers condemn the bills. Combined with the great grassroots
response from our e-mail alerts and mailings we managed to kill the bills (for now).

The bad news is that the good bills, HB 1479 and HB 1309 were also carried over.
Del. Griffith, who acted as the representative for the Republican pro-gun members
offered numerous excuses on why they needed to put off these needed reforms.

Del. Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr., the patron of pro-gun bill HB 1309 did a GREAT job in demanding
an vote on his bill (the Republicans voted to carry it over – i.e.: anti-gun ). I get the impression that
Del. Abbitt won’t let his bill die quietly at the hands of the “do-nothing” faction.

Lets thank the Delegates who weren’t afraid to stand up for gun rights!

Please send Del. Abbitt an email thanking him for patroning HB 1309 and demanding a vote on his bill!
Tell him that you appreciate his efforts!

[email protected]

Another Democrat who stood up for gun-rights in key Committee votes was Del. Albert Pollard Jr.
Del. Pollard is a freshman Delegate but he wasn’t shy in speaking up for gun rights!

Please take a moment to send Del. Pollard an email thanking him for his support!

[email protected]

My thanks to all of you who have been writing, faxing and emailing in response to these VA-alerts.

Your grassroots action is having a great effect in Richmond.

My special thanks to the folks who showed up for the hearing! You made a difference!

A refresher on the legislation in question:

The two very good bills that would improve our concealed carry law are:

HB 1479 Where person may carry concealed handguns.
Patron-William P. Robinson, Jr.

Summary: Removes the provision of the code that prohibits carrying a
concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club
for which a license to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for
on-premises consumption has been granted.
Full text: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB1479

HB 1309 Concealed weapon licenses issued out-of-state.
Patron-Watkins M. Abbitt, Jr.

Summary: The bill removes the requirement that a reciprocal agreement
be in place in order for Virginia to recognize such out-of-state concealed
weapon licenses as valid. The bill also requires that the State Police
pursue a reciprocal agreement with each other state that requires
such an agreement prior to its recognition of a Virginia concealed
handgun permit as valid, and that the State Police maintain an easily
accessible, updated list of reciprocal states on the Virginia state website.

Full text: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB1309

The worst of the anti-gun bills!

B 350 Possession of weapon in public building.
Patron-Robert G. Marshall

Summary: Makes the possession of a firearm in a public
building a Class 6 felony and possession of other weapons a Class 1
misdemeanor. In addition, there is a mandatory, minimum term of three
years if the person intends to use, attempts to use or displays the
firearm in a threatening manner.

Full text: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB350

HB 351 Possession of weapons in parks.
Patron-Robert G. Marshall

Summary: Makes the possession of a firearm in a public park
a Class 6 felony and possession of other weapons a Class 1
misdemeanor. In addition, there is a mandatory, minimum
term of three years if the person intends to use, attempts
to use or displays the firearm in a threatening manner.

Full text: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB351

Virginia Citizens Defense League membership information can be found at

http://www.vcdl.org

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 civil rights of all Virginians. The membership considers the right to keep and bear arms an essential civil right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org

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