WVCDL Condemns Arizona Massacre, Extends Condolences to Victims & Families

All of you have heard by now about the act of evil perpetrated Saturday morning in Tuscon, Arizona, in which apparently a lone assassin killed at least 6 people (including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl who was born on September 11, 2001) and seriously wounded dozens of others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

WVCDL joins in condemning this brazen act of evil and extends its deepest condolences to all the victims and their families. Unfortunately, while many families are still grieving over the dead, some of the injured are fighting for their lives, and an intense law-enforcement investigation continues, the vultures on the anti-gun side are already circling above, planning to use this awful crime to attempt to revive their anti-American, anti-gun agenda that will do little to prevent future violence but much to trample on our liberties.

Armed Citizen Helps Apprehend Alleged Assassin in Tuscon

While vultures like Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and the Brady Bunch exploit the tragedy in Tuscon to promote their anti-gun political program, one of the few solid facts that has emerged is that a legally-armed citizen helped apprehend the alleged assassin and prevent him from killing and injuring more people.

During recent appearances on CNN and Fox News, Tuscon resident Joe Zamudio discussed how, upon hearing the gunfire begin, he left the grocery store outside of which the shooting occurred and ran toward the alleged assassin and assisted two other people who were wrestling the alleged assassin to the ground.

Mr. Zamudio said he was legally carrying a concealed handgun (Arizona law does not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon in most places; Mr. Zamudio did not indicate whether he has a now-optional-in-Arizona concealed weapon permit) and that he did not have to draw his gun but was prepared to do so if it was necessary to stop the alleged assassin from shooting other people.

Mr. Zamudio said that the alleged assassin had several additional loaded magazines and was apprehended while he was attempting to reload after emptying a magazine.

WV CHL now honored in Iowa

On January 1, 2011, Iowa's new shall-issue permit ti carry law took effect.  As part of this law, Iowa now unilaterally honors all other states' permits to carry weapons.

Currently, West Virginia has reciprocity with 21 states, while an additional 7 states honor a West Virginia CHL without requiring us to honor their licenses. Alaska, Arizona, and Vermont do not require a license to carry a handgun, either openly or concealed; however, Alaska  and Arizona have shall-issue licensing systems for issuing licenses for reciprocity purposes and have reciprocity with West Virginia.

 

Although several states that unilaterally honor West Virginia licenses are eligible to establish full reciprocity with West Virginia, at this time, West Virginia has reached the end of the road in expanding the recognition of West Virginia licenses in other states without changes in West Virginia law by our Legislature or other states' legislatures changing their respective laws.

2011 Legislative Session Begins Wednesday--Challenges in Senate Loom

The 2011 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature begins this Wednesday, January 12, and lasts 60 days.  Unlike many states' legislatures, the West Virginia Legislature does not have a formal prefiling system to legislation and the first bills will not be introduced until after the session begins.

We caution everyone that this session is going to be a challenge for West Virginia gun owners.  As a result of the election of former Governor Joe Manchin to the U.S. Senate, the Governor's office is now vacant.  Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, is serving as Acting Governor pursuant to Article VII, § 16 of the state constitution.

When Senator Tomblin became Acting Governor, he made a political decision to not attend to his normal senatorial duties and preside over the Senate on a day-to-day basis.  Unfortunately, Tomblin lost a surprise vote in the Senate Democratic Caucus on the question of who would preside over the Senate while he is away.

Under current Senate rules, the Senate has a President pro tempore appointed by the Senate President who presides over the Senate in the President's absence.  Currently, that position is held by WVCDL-endorsed Senator Joe Minard, D-Harrison.

However, during a Senate Democratic Caucus on December 15, Democratic senators voted to change the Senate rules and elect Senator Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall and current Judiciary Committee Chairman, to preside over the Senate if Senator/Acting Governor Tomblin does not preside.

As a consequence of Senator Kessler becoming the acting Senate President, he has appointed anti-gun Senator Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, to chair the Senate judiciary Committee, which considers all gun-related legislation.

Kessler has also appointed Senator John Unger, D-Berkeley, to be the Senate Majority Leader.  Many of you may know Senator Unger returned a generally favorable response to the WVCDL 2010 Legislative Candidate Survey and spoke at a WVCDL meeting and candidate forum in Martinsburg on August 21, 2010.  However, based upon a variety of factors, including (1) the fact that, at the time, Unger was a backbencher in the Senate who held little power or influence, (2) our personal knowledge of Delegate Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and (3) the feedback we received from many of our members in Berkeley and Jefferson counties, WVCDL chose to endorse Craig Blair.  Upon hearing that news, Senator Unger became extremely angry, bitter, and vindictive.  He demanded to cancel his responses to WVCDL's candidate survey. Most insultingly, Senator Unger published a very inflammatory, false, defamatory, and malicious attack ad against Delegate Blair in the closing days of the election, which ran in a local newspaper and as a direct mail piece. In this ad, Unger lied about Delegate Blair's answers to the WVCDL legislative candidate survey, lied about what Delegate Blair said in his speech at the WVCDL August 21, 2010, Martinsburg meeting and candidate forum, and claimed to be the true pro-gun candidate in the race. Unger won by 318 votes out of 21,925 cast.  (In the interests of full disclosure: I also serve as an attorney for Craig Blair.  However, the preceding statements have been approved by WVCDL President Keith Morgan and represent WVCDL's official views concerning the described events.)

Despite the new challenges we face in the Senate, WVCDL intends to pursue a stronger gun rights agenda than ever this year.  However, we will need your help.  Please plan to attend WVCDL Lobby Day 2011 and, if you can attend, our upcoming meetings next week in Charleston and Martinsburg (see articles below).

WVCDL Lobby Day 2011 set

This year, WVCDL Lobby Day will be on President's Day, Monday, February 21, 2011, at the State Capitol.

Mark your calendars, plan to attend, and stay tuned for more details about WVCDL Lobby Day 2011.

If you are on Facebook, please RSVP here.

WVCDL meeting in Charleston, Monday, January 17

WVCDL will hold a membership and public meeting next Monday, January 17, 2010, at Ryan's at 103 RHL Boulevard in Charleston.

A buffet dinner begins at 6:30 PM and the meeting will begin at 7:30.  When you enter the restaurant, indicate to the host that you are attending the WVCDL meeting.  If you wish to have dinner, you will need to pay up front at that time.  However, if you do not plan to have dinner, please inform the host that you are attending the WVCDL meeting but will not be having dinner.

At this meeting, we will unveil WVCDL's 2011 legislative agenda, discuss Lobby Day, and make an important public announcement about upcoming activities to defend your right to keep and bear arms in the Kanawha Valley.

If you are on Facebook, please RSVP here.

WVCDL meeting in Martinsburg, Saturday, January 22

WVCDL will host a membership and public meeting at 2 PM, Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Hoss's Steak and Sea House, 195 Aikens Center, Martinsburg.

At this meeting, we will discuss WVCDL's 2011 legislative agenda, discuss Lobby Day, and make an important public announcement about Martinsburg's city building gun ban ordinance.

If you are on Facebook, please RSVP here.