Does VA AG McDonnell deserve to beat VA Sen. Deeds for VA Governor?

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Time for OCDO members to post some comments - McDonnell needs to start bring home the bacon for gun owners in Virginia!
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http://blog.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2007/12/mcdonnell.html

McDonnell Eyes D.C. Gun Law

When Robert F. McDonnell ran for Attorney General in 2005, it was his Democratic opponent, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, who ended up getting the National Rifle Association endorsement. The NRA was upset that McDonnell voted in the state senate for the state's one-gun-a-month law, which Deeds opposed.

It almost cost McDonnell the election. He's been trying ever since to make amends with the nation's most influential gun rights organization.
Anita Kumar , Election 2009
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AG McDonnell is going to have a tough race against Sen. Deeds for VA Gov - so far AG McDonnell has stood by and refused to repudiate a very wishy washy AG opinion issued by the interim AG between Kilgore and McDonnell that appears to give state colleges some room to ban campus gun carry, even by concealed handgun permit holders. That wishy washy opinion was requested by Sen. Deeds, and Deeds was not expecting his question to be answered in manner actually implying that colleges had inherent gun banning power.

AG McDonnell needs to do more than file an amicus brief to impress gun owners - McDonnell needs to crack the whip and tell state colleges that they have no power to ban gun carry on campus.

Mike Stollenwerk
OpenCarry dot org


Posted by: Mike Stollenwerk | December 18, 2007 02:42 PM

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McDonnell better wake up! The tide is turing rapidly on the carry debate nationwide, and if he thinks supporting the increasingly discredited "gun free zone" concept is a winner, he may be in for an unpleasant surprise on election day!

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Done:

I agree with Mike; if AG McDonnell truly believes that the 2nd Amendment protects a "right of the people," he then needs to take real actions in Virginia in order to make sure that right is not infringed.

A few weeks ago George Mason University got their gun ban into the Virginia Administrative Code, a ban that is probably illegal because it exceeds the scope of GMU's authorized power. If my understanding of the process is correct, this ban had to be approved by the AG's office before it was allowed into the VAC. Where was McDonnell?

Universities cannot protect their students from a madman set on killing hundreds. We saw this at Virginia Tech. Students and staff with concealed handgun permits should be allowed to defend themselves while on campus just as they can almost everywhere else in the Commonwealth (just remember Jeanne Assam and the New Life Church in CO).

While an amicus brief might score points with the NRA, McDonnell needs to start taking action where he has the authority to make real changes.

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Here is the VA Admin Code that I was talking about:

Table of contents for GMU VAC Regulation:
http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC08035.HTM#C0060

Weapons ban itself:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+8VAC35-60-20

8VAC35-60-20. Possession of weapons prohibited.
Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except a police officer, is prohibited on university property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, student residence buildings, and while attending sporting, entertainment or educational events. Entry upon the aforementioned university property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden.

Statutory Authority
§23-91.29 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 1, eff. August 28, 2007.

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http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/METRO/37352554/1004

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TEX1N wrote:

Here is the VA Admin Code that I was talking about:

Table of contents for GMU VAC Regulation:
http://leg1.state.va.us/000/reg/TOC08035.HTM#C0060

Weapons ban itself:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+8VAC35-60-20

8VAC35-60-20. Possession of weapons prohibited.
Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except a police officer, is prohibited on university property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, student residence buildings, and while attending sporting, entertainment or educational events. Entry upon the aforementioned university property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden.

Statutory Authority
§23-91.29 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 1, eff. August 28, 2007.

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But what would you be charged with? Class 3 Misdemeanor? The VAC does not spell out the charge?

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nakedshoplifter wrote:

But what would you be charged with? Class 3 Misdemeanor? The VAC does not spell out the charge?

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Because it's in the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC) and not the Virginia Code, it's not law, just essentially "concrete" policy. Meaning that you could probably be charged with trespassing. (It's looks like trespassing is a class 1 misdemeanor: § 18.2-119)

As far as I know, because the VAC is not "law" but rather just policy, it cannot specify criminal punishments.

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Doug Huffman wrote:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/METRO/37352554/1004

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Good article. I really liked these quotes:

"The right to bear arms secured in the Bill of Rights is a right 'of the people.' We believe that our founders declared, in the Second Amendment, that American citizens have the personal right to bear arms as individuals," Mr. McDonnell said.
...
He ducked the question of whether overturning the ban would improve safety on D.C. streets, saying, "I will have to leave it up to experts whether a gun ban increases or decreases public safety."

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He is essentially saying that the 2nd Amendment supports an individual right, and that it shouldn't matter how that right affect crime rates! I find this to be a very respectable position. and one that not many politician take.

While we all know that more gun control normally fosters higher crime rates; it really shouldn't matter when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. If the reverse were true, like DC claims, it's still a right that should not be infringed, IMO.

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From BVBL.net:

The mayor of Charlottesville, VA for some strange reason took time out of his busy day to email me and tell me why he is supporting Creigh Deeds for Governor.

“…we’re pleased to have Senator Deeds carrying on [the late Emily Couric’s] progressive ideals in Richmond. He’s always protected a woman’s right to choose, and has a proven and deep commitment to education. And as we all grow more concerned about the environment and the global warming effects of greenhouse gases we can count on his leadership.”
​

I suppose I should be expecting an email soon from Walter Tejada telling me why he thinks Brian Moran is such a swell socialist, too. If the Democrats are supposedly the ones who “get” the internet, why are they getting folks who are really difficult to distinguish from Communists to tell me, of all people, who is the moonbattiest of the moonbats.

I checked. This isn’t Deeds’ opponent trying to make sure he shows up on my radar.

"Progressive" means "Left-wing" -- is that what we want?

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Bob McDonnell has another interview printed about his joining the States Amicus Brief, but in this one he says that Virginia's one gun a month restriction would not be affected by an Individual Right ruling.

"Gun controls already on the books in Virginia -- including a law limiting handgun purchases to one per month -- should not be affected if the Supreme Court rules against the gun ban, McDonnell said. But he cautioned that his office has not done "a thorough analysis" to assess the potential effect on existing state laws."


He and his crack staff must have missed the section that reads "shall not be infringed."

http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/143971

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McDonnell has already sipped the kool aid. From the article:

He ducked the question of whether overturning the ban would improve safety on D.C. streets, saying, "I will have to leave it up to experts whether a gun ban increases or decreases public safety."

I am the expert on my personal safety (and liberty).

I know my personal safety on D.C. streets will increase if I am allowed to open carry, and that really is what matters. As soon as we limit basic fredoms for safety or political correctness or majority opinion we have destroyed the basic foundation of our republic.

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Why does the poll ask for the best candidate when there are only two choices? We could vote on the better candidate, but we should compare the probable candidates from all political parties to vote for the best candidate. I pick none of the above from your list and write in any Libertarian except Gail the Rail.

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Thundar wrote:

McDonnell has already sipped the kool aid. From the article:

He ducked the question of whether overturning the ban would improve safety on D.C. streets, saying, "I will have to leave it up to experts whether a gun ban increases or decreases public safety."

I am the expert on my personal safety (and liberty).

I know my personal safety on D.C. streets will increase if I am allowed to open carry, and that really is what matters. As soon as we limit basic fredoms for safety or political correctness or majority opinion we have destroyed the basic foundation of our republic.

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I don't understand why this matters? Earlier in the article McDonnell said that he believes that the 2nd Amendment supports an individual right (see my earlier post). Why isn't that enough? Why does it matter if he knows crime states or not?

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Thundar wrote:

Why does the poll ask for the best candidate when there are only two choices?

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Because that is the choice presented by the the Wash Post article as two candidates who are vieing for gun owner votes.

Sure, we could add Lt. Gov. Bolling, who just dida mass mailer to his mailing liost touting trigger locks as his major policy priority, but . . .

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Didn't Deeds join with Lacey Putney , and Virgil Goode years ago (1995 I think??) to push the much improved concealed carry bill into law? Based on that, I'm more likely to support Deeds. I have all along.

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Here's the link to the 1995 VA CHP bill.

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I would not be fooled by a Dem who is just trying to pull the wool over our eyes in oder to get into office. The last two Dems who have run for Governor, Warner and Timmy Kaine both lied out of their back sides while campaigning. Look where that has gotten us.

Dems have realized in order to be elected to State wide office here in the Commonwealth, they have to appear to hold conservative values, appear to be gun friendly, etc. It simply is not true.

McDonnell is by far the better choice over Deeds over every issue.

Do you really think Deeds is going to turn his back on his liberal friends in Northern VA?

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Given Del. Moran's vote the other day FOR banning private sales at gun shows, and given Deed's promise (so far) to vote against the Senate version of this bill, Deeds stock appears to be rising

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Again, I think you need to keep in mind who he will be answering to if he gets elected to State wide office. Look at Timmy Kaine, and Warner. Do you really want to have another Governor who hob knobs with Hillary and Obama?

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rebfan wrote:

Again, I think you need to keep in mind who he will be answering to if he gets elected to State wide office. Look at Timmy Kaine, and Warner. Do you really want to have another Governor who hob knobs with Hillary and Obama?

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Tim Kaine has been an avowed anti-gunner since the beginning, and always known to be so.

Mark Warner was less anti-gun than Kaine, but did sign bills significantly strengthening preemption.

Craig Deeds was one of the original co-sponsors of the 1995 bill making Virginia shall-issue.

You're telling me that if you had a democratic candidate who was fiercely pro-gun, and an a waffler like Jerry Kilgore, you'd choose Kilgore?

Think of Deeds as a test: Would we as gun owners support a stronger pro-gun Democratic candidate versus a weaker though pro-gun Republican candidate?

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Lonnie Wilson wrote:

Tim Kaine has been an avowed anti-gunner since the beginning, and always known to be so.

Mark Warner was less anti-gun than Kaine, but did sign bills significantly strengthening preemption.

Craig Deeds was one of the original co-sponsors of the 1995 bill making Virginia shall-issue.

You're telling me that if you had a democratic candidate who was fiercely pro-gun, and an a waffler like Jerry Kilgore, you'd choose Kilgore?

Think of Deeds as a test: Would we as gun owners support a stronger pro-gun Democratic candidate versus a weaker though pro-gun Republican candidate?

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I like Deeds for hisconsistent support of pro-gun and pro-hunting issues. Years ago in 1995, Lacy Putney mentioned Deeds' association with the shall issue bill. I've never forgotton that, so I've been voting for Deeds all the while much to the dismay of my family who votes GOP no matter what weak canditate comes along.