Democratic Gun Rights Activists Seek Senate Power (VA)

Washington Post ^ | November 18, 2007 | Amy Gardner

[neverdem]

Contentious Issue Could Get More Play Than Under GOP

The Virginia General Assembly could become more friendly to gun rights advocates despite gains by Democrats in state elections this month, several lawmakers and advocates said.

But the specter of the April massacre at Virginia Tech could soften the effects of that change as relatives of victims prepare to push for greater restrictions on gun sales and possession, particularly on college campuses.

Democrats will control the state Senate with a 21 to 19 majority when lawmakers begin their new terms in January, but those who support stricter controls on gun possession and purchases will hold only a narrow majority in the Senate Democratic Caucus. Several Democratic proponents of gun rights are seeking seats on the committee that considers gun bills, and the possibility looms that the issue could get greater attention...

--snip--

But the dominance of rural sentiment is shifting. Urban Democrats, mostly from Northern Virginia, will now control most committees and the Senate Democratic Caucus. Democrat Richard L. Saslaw of Annandale, the likely new Senate majority leader, supports changing the law governing gun shows and also supports allowing colleges to ban guns on campus, even among permit holders. He sees no reason for more gun rights to come out of the Senate.

"What more do they need?" he asked. "They got everything. What more could you do? Require every home to come with a surface-to-air missile?"

Saslaw wouldn't say whether he feels strongly enough about the issue to try to block Democratic gun rights advocates from sitting on the crucial Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

Both Deeds and Sen.-elect J. Chapman Petersen, a Fairfax Democrat who defeated Republican gun control advocate Jeannemarie Devolites Davis on Nov. 6, are lawyers seeking such posts. Both have voted in favor of gun rights...

[Disambiguator]

"What more do they need?" he asked. "They got everything. What more could you do? Require every home to come with a surface-to-air missile?"

I love the smell of over-the-top rhetoric in the morning.

[goldstategop]

Pro gun Dems defeated a couple of anti-gun RINOs.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[dirtboy]

"What more do they need?" he asked. "They got everything. What more could you do? Require every home to come with a surface-to-air missile?"

How about allowing adult CC2 holders to carry on college campuses? You know, a change that would have actually done something to alleviate the death toll in the TV massacre.

[goldstategop]

He should be reminded being anti-gun costs ya in Virginia. If he wants to ape Mike Bloomberg, he can join the Yankee.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[wastedyears]

Not a surface to air missile, but I’d sure like a turret with a 30mm six-barrel beast on it.

[rabscuttle385]

...and also supports allowing colleges to ban guns on campus, even among permit holders.

Mr. Saslaw apparently does not know that the University of Virginia already bans guns on Grounds. Now, I dare ask, would he support disarming the police officers too? No ban will deter actual criminals from carrying guns onto Grounds to use in the commission of crimes.

[Tabi Katz]

relatives of victims prepare to push for greater restrictions on gun sales and possession

Great, even the formerly sane state of Virginia has its share of Carolyn Maloneys. :-(

[lowbridge]

Require every home to come with a surface-to-air missile?"

Well, now that you mention it.... :-)

[muawiyah]

The family members of those shot and/or killed at Virginia Tech would do better working up a tremendous lawsuit against the school administration and the Board of Visitors.

Not only did they not follow up on the crazy guy they allowed improper doors, which could be readily chained shut by the crazy guy, to continue to be installed many years past the time when such doors were no longer considered "to code".

VA Tech is an engineering design school so there's no excuse for anyone there to have been ignorant of such things.

There's a big coverup going on about the doors.

[paulcissa]

hyperbole

Main Entry: hy·per·bo·le

Pronunciation: \hī-ˈpər-bə-(ˌ)lē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil

Date: 15th century

: extravagant exaggeration (as “mile-high ice-cream cones”)

[padre35]

Conservative Democrats? Pro 2nd amendment Dhimmis replaced anti 2nd amendment RINO’s?

Geez, no wonder Conrwallis played “The world turned upside down” when he left VA...

[Argus]

greater restrictions on gun sales and possession, particularly on college campuses.

VA Tech was ALREADY a "gun free zone". That didn't stop the nut in question from gunning down everybody he could. We don't need more gun control. We need more NUT CONTROL.

[neverdem]

Blue/Yellow dogs gone wild about the Second Amendment is the last thing that the elite of their party want to hear about, IMHO. At the national level, I don't think the gun grabbers will be able to stifle themselves.

Rendell puts gun divide to the test

[Cobra64]

Not a surface to air missile, but I’d sure like a turret with a 30mm six-barrel beast on it.

How about this chain gun?

[wastedyears]

Just three separate turrets with one gun each. You know, leave no stone unturned and all.

:)

[stevie_d_64]

Gives me a headache anyway...

[jonascord]

A chain gun is a type of machine gun or automatic cannon that uses an external source of power, rather than diverting energy from the cartridge, to cycle the weapon, and does so via a continuous loop of chain similar to that used on a motor or bicycle. "Chain gun" is a registered trademark of Alliant Techsystems Inc.[1] for a chain-powered weapon.

It is a common misnomer to refer to Gatling guns (rotary cannons) as chain guns; even in some video games, such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, the player carries a minigun referred to as a chain gun. In fact, most Gatling-type guns—weapons such as the M61 Vulcan, the M197, the GShG-7.62, the M134, and the XM214—are externally-powered but are not chain guns.

They instead function by directing the power source (usually electricity) to a unit known as a rotor, which contains each of the multiple barrel-and-breech assemblies that make up the distinctive shape of a rotary gun and is free to rotate within a fixed outer sleeve. A cam projecting from each breech unit runs in a shaped, recessed track within the sleeve. To fire, power is applied to rotate the rotor which in turn causes each breech to cycle as its cam is forced to follow the recessed track. Each barrel therefore fires independently.

There is no one place on the face of this Earth than FR where you have to be REALLY careful about describing guns, and the nomenclature thereof...

[Cobra64]

It looked to me that this would have external power, and the three turrets rotated by a chain... So what exactly is the proper nomenclature for the gun I posted?

[javachip]

"What more do they need?" he asked."

Well Sen Saslaw, Virginia has only been able to make it to a 'C' rating on the last couple of Brady scorecards. We think that's totally unacceptable for the home of George Mason, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and so many of our nation's founding fathers. There is simply no excuse for not eliminating the last few hurdles that keep us from the cherished Brady F minus. Please get right on it. I won't hold my breath.