U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- A controversial gun ban bill, HB 961, has been defeated in the Virginia Senate Judicial Committee. The defeat comes in the form of a decision to postpone the bill to 2021. The committee also voted to send a letter to the crime commission, asking them to study the bill. The parliamentary maneuvers amount to killing the bill. From wric.com:
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Senate Judiciary Committee continued HB961, also known as the assault weapons ban, to the 2021 session.
The bill will be much harder to pass in 2021. Virginia has its state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. In 2021, all 100 of the House of Delegates offices will be up for re-election. The House of Delegates is currently controlled by the Democrat Party, with 55 members. The Republicans are represented in the House with 45 members.
The NRA attributes the victory for the Second Amendment supporter to the intense opposition to the bill voiced by tens of thousands of activists. Over 22,000 activists showed up in January, at the Capitol, on Lobby day, to show intense and widespread opposition to infringements on the right to keep and bear arms. From the nraila.org:
Thanks to Second Amendment supporters around the Commonwealth ceaselessly voicing their opposition to a sweeping gun ban, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-5 to reject House Bill 961 on February 17th. Bloomberg’s House majority in the General Assembly is not going to deliver their most coveted agenda item to their billionaire master.
91 of 95 counties in Virginia have declared themselves to be Second Amendment sanctuaries.
The bill was highly controversial, banning many of the most popular rifles in the United States, as well as significant numbers of shotguns, pistols, and accessories. If passed it would have certainly been challenged in the courts. Both the Virginia State Constitution, and the United States Constitution contain strong protections for keeping and bearing arms. From the Virginia Constitution:
Section 13. Militia; standing armies; military subordinate to civil power
That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
The amendment was altered in 1970 to include the phrase “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”, which echoes the wording in the Second Amendment. As the Second Amendment has been upheld as an individual right, It is difficult to believe the Virginia amendment would not be.
A new Governor and a new legislature will be elected in 2021. Both elections will test the resolve of Second Amendment supporters to oppose more infringements on the rights to keep and bear arms. Election of a pro-Constitution Governor would prevent most infringements from passing in Virginia.
There are several other bills in the legislative hopper. The legislature in Virginia meets for a limited time. It becomes ever more difficult to pass legislation as the end of the session nears.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
It is obvious that the decision was to table the bill until protests die down. They are counting on public scrutiny dropping off so that they can pass it next year without the same impact on their own power.
Finnky, One of two things happened to cause you to make that comment. (1) you did not thoroughly read and comprehend the article, (2) you are a Democrat Troll and comment in an effort to simply create negative feelings. GO BACK and READ the article SLOWLY and let the facts outlined in the article sink in.
greengiant, I guess I must be missing something also. Finnky’s comment seems like a likely appraisal of the situation, especially since the Governor won’t be up for re-election, that was a mistake. I’m sure that the Dems are hoping to reintroduce next year with what they hope is a plurality in both house and a Dem Governor, still. The other possibility is that Northam will have the Bill re-introduced this year, as is within his power. If we’re missing something, please tell us what it is.
Once the 2020 election is over and they have been re-elected, it will be ban, ban, ban.
Remember that when you go to the polls.
In so many words that is what the article says. QUOTE: “In 2021, all 100 of the House of Delegates offices will be up for re-election. The House of Delegates is currently controlled by the Democrat Party, with 55 members. The Republicans are represented in the House with 45 members.” Had it been sent to the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates this year it would have passed. Pro-Gun Citizens of VA MUST get out next election and VOTE for CONSERVATIVE, PRO-GUN, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES and do so in great numbers. That is if you want to keep your Gun-Rights!
greengiant, HB 961 WAS passed by the House, that’s why the name is HB not SB. It was killed in the Senate because 4 Democrats voted with the Republicans. That’s why it is likely to be brought up again next year if the Senate numbers change and both houses go blue. The Governor could have it brought back up, although given the way it was shot down and the tenor of the population, that is questionable. I totally agree, ALL pro-2A voters need to get off their dead a$$e$ and vote.
Virginians, stay vigilant. These crooked politicians and bureaucrats will not cease until they win or ousted. Their strategy has always been to kick the can down the road and pick up where they left off.
Really? The NRA is still quote-worthy? The NRA has done nothing to help, but they get quoted?
Well, on a positive note, the NRA rep did not attribute the massive turnout and support to any of their actions, of which they were not a part. The statement only references the massive support for our rights, which was due mostly to the VCDL with help from GOA, who also get the word out. VCDL membership has more than tripled since the November elections, from about 7,000 members to over 25,000 members, the last I have heard. That and the massive turnout has helped the VCDL in becoming an even more powerful lobby for our state government. As everyone… Read more »
hang those fagshitturds from the tree on the courthouse square!
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Just like Dean says; WE ARE THE MALITIA the 2A was mandating.. These people have no intention of allowing the free American citizen to be armed. They can’t. They can’t because they KNOW that as long as America is armed socialism, communism, tyranny and terrorism can not flourish. They KNOW as soon as the public sees for themselves the evils of socialism, communism, terrorism and tyrants we will fight back. It’s that simple. Gun control is people control and it’s an insurance policy against us and… Read more »
Hey Deplorable. It’s MILITIA. Your Ma is no longer a part of it. When I was in the Army in the mid 1960’s, terrorists were pretty insignificant, the U.S. supported a lot of dictatorships (including Muslim countries with secular dictators), and the only real enemy we talked about was communism. Also at that time, the majority of Americans did not have (or need, really) health insurance; there was no Medicare; the “poor” went to “charity hospitals”, and virtually all hospitals were nonprofits. Medicare and Medicaid created a new cash machine and spawned the investor-owned hospital industry starting up America’s still-going… Read more »
Browserb 46, you are correct it is militia. Don’t know how I missed it 2x. Don’t you remember all the bombings in the 60’s and 70’s? Patty Hurst? The F L A? The weather underground? (two of those guys are/were in office), the bombing of the senate? Yes Sir you are correct there was no Medicare back then. How did all of this mess come about? You might want to look up Kruchev’s speech at the U.N. in the 60’s. The basic idea was for government to take over the job of the CHURCH and throw anything BIBLICALLY based down… Read more »
Join the discussion…U.S.A. I’m glad i am not the only one who knows or remembers that. These people are evil and they want nothing good for America and the rest of the world.
Arm up, carry on.
Maybe some democrats get it….MAYBE
Virginia Dem who joined GOP to reject gun control bill says 2nd Amendment activists made a difference | Fox News
https://www.foxnews.com/media/va-democrat-joins-gop-in-voting-against-gun-control
Thank God!
“Election of a pro-Constitution Governor would prevent most infringements from passing in Virginia.”
Virginia State Senator Amanda Chase (R) has declared he candidacy for governor. Yes, that gun toting Amanda Chase!
TRUE: However, he will need a major majority of Conservative, Republican, Pro-Gun House of Delegates to succeed! GET OUT THE VOTE AND VOTE STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN!!! Or, just sit back and LOSE YOUR GUNS!
“A new Governor will be elected in 2020”
Not sure where you’re getting that…2020. His term is up in 2022. Governor’s election will be in 2021.
You are correct. I misread the ballotpedia article. There is a dash for the governor’s race, instead of a check. My mistake.
Baldwin, It was wishful thinking. Maybe Northam, Fairfax and Herring can all go out some night to grab burgers and a meteor can fall on their car. Nothing big, say 15 tons or so. It could happen if there was a merciful God.
@wjd – 15 tons would take out the entire city – it’s like a nuke! Let’s hope that doesn’t happen – though it certainly should put gun control concerns on the back burner. Say “should” instead off “would” because those who wish to grab guns, would probably think this even justifies martial law and would fear looters armed with firearms. As if any grabbing would disarm the looters and armed ‘law abiding’ citizens wouldn’t provide the best chance of maintaining order. Louisiana panicked and took advantage of post Katrina chaos to implement gun grabs, why would I put it past… Read more »
Finnky and Will, Yeah I was just screwin’ around, but if they are in Richmond, then the odds are good that most of the underlings are as well. I like omelets.
@DiF – Always good to self censor. Don’t want to post anything which will lead computer driven algorithms determine that you are a terrorist. I occasionally have to fly and would hate to be placed on the double-secret suspected-terrorist no-fly list. Aren’t you glad we live in the land of the free where you only have to worry a little bit about the secret police monitoring your conversation? Like being a little bit pregnant, but growing much slower.
Finnky, I appreciate the thought, and if I was even a squidge serious I wouldn’t mention it. Even the people who monitor stuff like this can tell BS from serious. Sure, carnivore will pick it up, they’ll look at it and figure out that I have little control over meteors. No sense of humor needed. ‘Sides, I figure that I’ve been watched for one reason or another for years. You don’t have this many people in the family having something to do with some Gov or NGO group without your name coming up in several security checks. I just don’t… Read more »
Will, yes, Fate is not a terrorist. Neither is a wrathful god. Meanwhile the rest of us, Atheists included, will be thanking God for his wisdom and his pity upon us. 🙂
Vote that S.O.B. and his ilk out of office and/or arrest them, try them in the courts for the tyrants and treasonous vermin they are. Once sentence is passed on a few of them the rest might start acting as and for American, free Americans, again.
Arm up, carry on.