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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Delegate Ken Plum speaking on the House floor.
February 24, 2010 |
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Commentary
Protecting Our Liberties
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
In the late 1980s Virginia became known as the "gun-running capital of the East." Handguns seized from crime scenes in New York City and the northeast were more often traced to Virginia than to any other state. A wide open marketplace in guns in the state became attractive to drug dealers and other criminal elements as well as to legitimate gun owners.
The reputation of the Commonwealth became so tarnished and business and community leaders were so repulsed at the names the state was being called that Governor L. Douglas Wilder was able to get a bill passed in the General Assembly in 1993 to limit handgun purchases to one gun per month. I voted for the bill that I thought was a modest and common-sense measure that could reduce crime. In retrospect, it was a bold step.
Last Tuesday the House of Delegates voted 61-37 to repeal the law. The headline in the Richmond Free Press newspaper in two-inch-high letters proclaimed, "Wild West Legislators." The news story went on to say, "General Assembly fanatically supports gun-toters..." I voted against repeal and spoke on the floor of the House of Delegates urging that the law be kept in place. I expressed concern that the state not return to its previous reputation for gun-running. All but two of the Democrats voted against the repeal. Only four of the 61 Republicans in the House voted against repealing the law. The Senate must still act on the measure. But the repeal of the one-handgun-a-month law was but one of more than a dozen bills passed that day to ease gun restrictions or expand liberty, depending on your point of view. Both the House and Senate have passed bills to allow concealed weapons in restaurants and bars, and the Governor is expected to sign them. I voted against them.
One bill combined the passion of the gun rights supporters and the tea party mania about the encroaching powers of the federal government. The bill provides that any gun made in Virginia and sold in Virginia is free from federal regulations. I voted against it.
The legislature has reached the point of "crossover" when each house has completed work on its own legislation and must now consider the bills passed by the other house. Any differences between the houses on particular bills will be worked out in conference committees on the last week of the session. The House Appropriations and the Senate Finance Committees will have announced their versions of the budget by the time you read this, and I will be writing on their proposals next week.
In the meantime, be confident that there are those here looking out for your liberties; sometimes maybe more than you would choose. Hopefully not at the expense of your safety! |
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"Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. - "Report from Richmond" with Delegate Ken Plum at the General Assembly Building
Online Viewing
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Members of 4H Clubs around the Commonwealth visited the Capitol and gave General Assembly members shamrock plants. Delegate Plum is shown with 4Hers from the Shenandoah Valley. |
Climate Change Citizen Action
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Start simple and adopt that old Great Depression fixture -- the draft snake, which you can easily make yourself. Just place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, or make a more attractive DIY draft snake with googly eyes, felt tongues and the like. You can use any scraps of fabric -- even neckties -- and fill with sand or kitty litter for heft. Make sure drafts aren't giving your thermostat a false reading too. |
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Announcements
Whether you are currently receiving Medicare benefits, or will soon be eligible for Medicare, or are helping your parents make decisions about their Medicare coverage, the Virginia Medigap Policies Premium Comparison Guide provides basic information you need to know about Medicare and private insurance plans designed to supplement Medicare. The State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance developed the Virginia Medigap Policies Premium Comparison Guide to facility comparison shopping for Medigap insurance (also called medicare Supplement insurance) products. This free publication contains the rates for more than 30 companies writing Medigap insurance in Virginia. It also includes the companies' telephone numbers, most of which are toll-free, and website addresses. Consumers can request free individual copies of the guide by calling the Bureau of Insurance toll-free at 1.877.310.6560 or visit the Bureau's website at www.scc.virginia.gov/boi.
The Fairfax County Dept. of Community and Recreation Services' Community Centers Division will host the Second Annual Technology Summit on Saturday, May 1, at James Lee Community Center, 2855-A annandale Road, Falls Church, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Technology Summit is an opportunity for individuals, groups, and corporations to set up and display their technology, science, and engineering endeavors for the public. Fairfax residents of all ages are invited to this fun event. You will be able to learn about the computer Clubhouses and Computer Learning Centers Partnerships and participate in everything from a computer building competition, robotics, GIS displays and educational stations, rocketry displays, to gaming booths, a Jeopardy technology game, displays from local companies, and much more including food and prizes. Contact Robert O'Quinn at 703.324.5588 to reserve your booth or for more information.
Fairfax County will host a Vendor Forum, a free trade show to improve business opportunities for small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses, on March 15. Attendees can benefit by presenting products and services directly to county buyers and representatives, networking with other companies with complementary products and services, and obtaining valuable insight into Fairfax County Government business needs. For more information about the 2010 Vendor Forum contact Michael Estelle, fairfax County Department of Purchasing and Supply Management, at 703.324.3104, TTY 711.
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Calendar of Events
As part of the Reston Master Plan Special Study, the public can offer input about the character of the area to the south of the future Herndon-Monroe Metro station at a community forum on Saturday, February 27, 9:00 a.m. at Langston Hughes Middle School cafeteria, 11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston.
The Fairfax County Human Rights Commission is accepting nominations for its 32nd Annual Human Rights Awards. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, February 26. The awards recognize individuals, nonprofits, and businesses that advanced human rights in Fairfax County last year. To get a nomination form, call 703.324.2953. Nominations may be submitted to e-mail to wyvetta.hill@fairfaxcounty.gov, by fax to 703.324.3570, or by mail to the Human Rights Commission, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 318, Fairfax, VA 22035-0093.
Remember great African American jazz musicians during Black History Month with an evening of great music at the Reston Museum & Shop on Saturday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. with special guests Beverly Cosham and Dingwall Fleary.
The next Electric Sunday Recycling Event will be held on February 28, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax.
The deadline for purchasing a Commemorative Brick to be installed in Reston's "Walk of Fame" is February 28. The bricks will be installed at the foot of the Bronze Bob statue at Lake Ann Village Center and will be dedicated on Founder's Day, Saturday, April 10. Orders must be received by Sunday, February 28, to be included for the 2010 installation. Order online at www.restonmuseum.org or in person at the Reston Museum, or call 703.709.7700.
The Fairfax Choral Society will present "Light Everlasting - Music of Faith, Hope, & Love," at 8:00 p.m. on March 20, 2010, in the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 North Beauregard Street, alexandria. For tickets or more information, contact 703.642.3277 or office@fairfaxchoralsociety.org.
"Generation Next: Reston Leadership Development" will be hosted and sponsored by the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods on Thursday, March 25, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. All are welcome to come to the RCC Community Room to share in an active dialog session on getting involved in leading our community. Those wishing to continue Reston's values in the work of civic and community organizations are urged to attend. Current and future leaders representing Arts, Culture, Education, Government, Human Services, Sports, and more will discuss concepts, leadership development, and getting involved. Refreshments will be provided by some of Reston's favorite eateries. RSVP to RCCContact@fairfaxcounty.gov. This event is free!
The Reston Community Orchestra will present "Spring Inflorescence - Ebony Vibrations" at a concert on Sunday, March 28, at 4:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. Music by Chopin, Rubenstein, Debussy, and Crusell will be featured.
The 21st Annual Environment Virginia symposium will take place April 7 and 8 in Lexington, Virginia. The theme of this year's symposium is "Optimizing Stewardship in a Challenging Environment." Join over 500 environmental decision-makers from all sectors and from across the Commonwealth to learn the latest about environmental challenges and solutions and to build partnerships to implement solutions to these challenges. For detailed information and registration, visit www.vmi.edu/environmentva.
Mark your calendars for Reston's Founder's Day on Saturday, April 10, in honor of the 96th birthday of Reston founder Robert E. Simon, Jr., presented by Reston Historic Trust, Reston Museum. This celebration will be held on the Plaza at Lake Anne. Call 703.709.7700 for more details.
The Alice Ferguson Foundaiton will again host this year's Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on Saturday, April 10, 9:00 a.m. until noon. Cleanup sites will be listed on their website, www.PotomacCleanup.org, starting in March so you can pick your perfect location. Contact Ginny Harris Crake at gharris@fergusonfoundation.org for more information.
Save the date - Saturday, April 17, 7:30 p.m. - for the Reston Community Orchestra's annual benefit gala, "Puttin' on the Ritz." Visit www.restoncommunityorchestra.org for more information.
The Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation will hold its "Dress Up with Grown-Ups Gala" on Saturday, April 17, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church. Ticket prices are: Family Ticket for $300 per family (includes up to 2 adults and 2 children); $100 per extra adult; and $75 per extra child. The cost of one family ticket, $300, is the cost for medical care for an entire year for one child in the MCCP program. Bring your kids or your grandkids, or just come by yourselves. This unique gala will reflect the fact that MCCP Foundation raises funds for the medical care of uninsured children right here in our community. This event includes a silent auction, sit-down dinner, dancing to a DJ, family photo-op, and fun activities for the kids. For more information, contact Margery Leveen Sher at mlsher@mccpfoundation.org.
GRACE's 19th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will be held May 15 and 16 at the Reston Town Center. Watch this section for more information about this year's Festival.
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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