The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia's largest gun rights group and the state's professional firefighters organization took opposite sides Monday in this year's governor's race.
Four years after the National Rifle Association endorsed Democrat Creigh Deeds in his failed bid for attorney general, the gun rights group switched its allegiance to Republican Bob McDonnell.
The NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, praised McDonnell for his support of gun rights during his time as attorney general and criticized Deeds for backing legislation that would close the so-called gun-show loophole, which allows firearms purchasers to avoid background checks if they buy weapons from private sellers at gun shows.
"A lot has changed," Cox said. "Bob McDonnell is an effective leader for Virginia hunters and gun owners. His opinions and actions as an attorney general have protected and enhanced the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians."
McDonnell acknowledged he has switched his position on a 1993 law change that limits gun sales in Virginia to one a month. He had voted for the limit while a
legislator but vowed Monday to support its repeal if elected governor.
Deeds opposed the one-gun-a-month law, but in the wake of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings, he supported closing the gun-show loophole. The Tech shooter's two handguns were not purchased at a gun show.
"I've worked with Virginia Tech families over the last year or so to try to find compromise with that legislation that would close the loophole," Deeds said. "So many families that lost children put their grief into that effort. I felt the need to respond to that grief as a father and as a human being."
In 2005, Deeds called the NRA's endorsement "very, very important." On Monday, he dismissed the group as "basically a Republican organization."
Cox said the group will urge its 120,000 dues-paying members in Virginia to back McDonnell and will devote financial resources to help him.
A few minutes before the NRA's announcement, the Virginia Professional Firefighters, which represents 6,500 members, endorsed Deeds during a break in a firefighter training conference in Virginia Beach.
Abbey Meacham, a five-year veteran of the Lynchburg department, told about 50 firefighters at the announcement that she took personal offense at some of McDonnell's past comments, particularly his 1989 graduate thesis that criticized women working outside the home.
"I'm a firefighter and paramedic. Simple as that. My gender shouldn't have anything to do with it," she said. "We cannot support a candidate for governor who votes against equal pay for women and calls working women selfish."
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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it's called the constitution
Some have expressed concern that for some gun rights are more important than health care, education or transportation. Scared, I believe was the sentiment. Personally, I am indeed more concerned with a right affirmed by the US Constitution than expensive federal programs which are very probibly unconstitutional. Perhaps a perusal of the 10th Amendment would be enlightening. There is no provision for the federal government to run health care or education.
8th Amendment
If you read the 8th Amendment, you will find the expensive federal programs are constitutional.
You have to read all of it not just selective parts...
US Constitution - 8th Amendment
The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments.
Now how exactly does this relate to expensive federal programs?
I Think..
The writer you responded to was referring to Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution. But he is correct in his overall statement that the Constitution does not say what Congress can spend or on what it spends. The Supreme courts have always understood that it is congress that holds the purse strings and it is congress that decides what is of the "public good" or "general welfare". The judicial is not in place to question and decide what is in the best interest of the public, it only decides if through the spending process rights were violated-usually under the 11th Ammendment. There are two opposing views of congressional spending: Madison's and Hamilton's and they both have valid points, but in the end the views are supported by those whose ideology favors one or the other's interpretation. It is the will of the people, congress, that determines how tax dollars are spent.
Women's group endorses McDonnell
Woman's Group Backs McDonnell in Virginia's Gubernatorial Race
AP
Monday, September 15, 2009
The Association of Non-Detrimental Non-Working Woman of America has endorsed Bob McDonnell for "whatever office he cares to run for", a spokesman for the group confirmed today. "We agree with Mr. McDonnell's position that the use of birthcontrol by fornicators is illogical. Likewise, the Gay community and other evil doers need to be made less gay and consequently less evil. With properly implemented government policies -- as Mr. McDonnell previously endorsed -- which effectively 'restrain, punish and deter' the gay community from their gayness, life for non-gays will be way better". Added AONDNWWOA spokeswomen Sue Bishop, "If I see another gay actor in yet another primetime Hollywood Limousine Liberal TV show, I am going to die." A September Rasmussen poll shows Republican McDonnell maintaining an eight point lead over his Democrat challenger Creigh Deeds.
"i am going to die"
No loss there!
Gun Control Issues
1. "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson
2. "Those who trade liberty for security have neither.' ~John Adams
3. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
4. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
5. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
6. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
7. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
8. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
9. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
10. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
11. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
12. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
13. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
14. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you NOT understand?
15. Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.
16. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
17. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
Wow, they must cover your
Wow, they must cover your entire bumper!
campaigns
I know exactly what McDonnell stands for.
Not so with Deeds. He wants us to believe that this is a race bewteen W and Mark Warner. He'd rather discuss a 20 year old thesis than discuss today's issues. His website is full of pie-in-the-sky promises that are short on substance and even shorter on details.
My only decision is whether to vote for McDonnell because I support him or because Deeds doesn't deserve my vote. Creigh Deeds hasn't provided one substantive reason for me to vote for him. "I'm not a republican" is not enough.
Anyone Know why?
How come deeds is touting his relationship with mark warner, but seems to ignore kaine?
Does he not want to be associated with kaine?