AntiBVBL

Sen. Emmett W. Hanger said the law kept citizens from enjoying such restaurants as Red Lobster. Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple responded she never felt threatened at Red Lobster.

From the Richmond Times Dispatch: (by Jim Nolan)

The Virginia Senate today cleared the way for Virginians to be allowed to carry concealed guns in cars and bars.

In a 22-18 vote, senators approved Senate Bill 334, which would allow people with concealed gun permits to carry their firearms into restaurants that serve alcohol.

Six Democrats joined 16 Republicans to pass the legislation, which had passed the General assembly last year but was vetoed by then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

Senators also passed legislation that would allow Virginians who do not hold concealed gun carry permits to transport their handguns in a locked glove compartment or container in their car. The vote on Senate Bill 408 was 24-16, with six Democrats joining 18 Republicans to support the bill.

Both bills now head to the House of Delegates, which is likely to pass them. If the measures clear the House, Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bills into law.

The legislation allowing concealed guns in bars prohibits any concealed gun carrier from drinking alcohol while armed.

Currently gun owners may bring their weapons into restaurants, provided the guns are clearly visible. They can also carry concealed weapons into restaurants that do not serve alcohol. Restaurant owners, however, have the right to exclude guns or weapons of any kind from their establishments.

All of us can think of reasons why drunks and alcohol don’t mix. However, is that what this is really about? What are the compelling reasons for people to carry concealed in a bar? Should those people be forbidden to consume alcohol also?

From the Washington Times:

By Bob Lewis ASSOCIATED PRESS

RICHMOND — Virginia’s Senate has passed a bill that would write into law executive orders by the past two governors that ban bias in the state work force based on sexual orientation.

Sen. Don McEachin’s bill advanced from the Democratic-controlled Senate on a nearly party line vote of 23-17. One Republican, Sen. Fred Quayle, joined the Democratic majority.

Democratic Govs. Tim Kaine and his predecessor, Mark Warner, issued executive orders during their tenure banning discrimination in state government hiring and workplace protection.

Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has not reissued such an order but says Mr. Kaine’s is still in effect while he studies whether such orders are legal.

The measure faces a tougher fight in the Republican-dominated House.

Now wait a minute.  Are we to understand that Democrats are opposed to discrimination and Republicans are in favor of discrimination?   When is discrimination ever acceptable?  In what ways does the State discriminate against gays when the ban isn’t in effect?  How can Virginians have this kind of vacillation based on who is governor?  I am embarrassed for my own state unless this issue is corrected.

Democrat Dave Marsden has  won the special election in the 37 state senate district to replace newly elected Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  He narrowly edged out Steve Hunt, the favorite son of some Republicans in this area. 

Marsden’s opponent Steve Hunt attempted to convince voters that he was was not an ideologue, but apparently he wasn’t too convincing.   Anti-bvbl published  a postregarding Hunt’s involvement with a crisis pregnancy center that handed out erroneouos information to women in December.  37th district, which runs from Springfield to Centreville and includes Burke, Fair Oaks, and Chantilly.  The voters in this area are not right wing extremists and apparently rejected this type of candidate.   Usually ideologues come out in droves for special elections but it didn’t work this time. 

It is good to know that a main-stream candidates now represents the 37th–finally!  Currently the Virginia Senate is narrowly under Democratic control.  Congratulations to Dave Marsden.

Republican Steve Hunt  is complaining that he is being painted as an ideologue.  Well, I just wonder why that is.  It seems that he is a former president of one of the  church affliliated “crisis pregnancy centers’ in Fairfax.  According to the Washington Post:

Hunt served as president of the center’s board of directors from 2001 to 2006. In the volunteer position, Hunt said, he provided guidance on issues including fiscal oversight and outreach. The center is a 20-year-old, faith-based nonprofit group that provides free parenting classes and childbirth counseling to women, one of dozens in Virginia that abortion rights groups accuse of giving wrong information about the potential dangers of abortion.

The problem is, some of these ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ have their own agenda and have been known to give out inaccurate  information to women at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives,  Such is the case with the establishment Hunt was connected with.  The Post cites the following evidence:

One brochure boldly states that condoms fail one-third of the time — by flaws, breaking or deterioration. A nearby diagram of a broken condom shows a small “HIV Virus” particle looming near the spot where the latex ripped. Another flier claims that the “most preventable cause of breast cancer” is abortions.

 

Most people would like to see fewer abortions. Removing ethical and moral questions, abortion is frightning, sad, invasive, and expensive. However, most Americans would like to see the need for them removed, rather than anti-abortion groups handing out junk science as a reason not to have an abortion. Accurate information that helps women avoid unwanted pregancy seems to be the best way to eliminate abortion, not handing out literature that is bogus science at best.  Both pro-choice and pro-life groups can agree that removing the need for abortion is the best prevention.

Abortion rights and antiabortion groups agree that the information in the fliers is misleading and outdated. Jane P. Fuller, executive director of the Assist Pregnancy Center on Backlick Road, said the pamphlets have been removed

A special election will be held on January 12 for those living in the 37 th state senate district.    Del. David W. Marsden, D-Fairfax will run as the Democrate while  Steve Hunt will run as the Republican.  Meanwhile this information leaves Steve Hunt in his upcoming bid for Ken Cuccinelli’s old state senate seat somewhat vulnerable. If he lied to Virginians about condoms and causes of breast cancer, how can he be trusted as an elected official?  It seems Mr. Hunt is not only an ideologue, he is also an extremist. Virginia doesn’t need another Luv Canal Mini-Marshall. 

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I have had several folks on me about endorsing Terry McAuliffe. Actually, I haven’t. I don’t even have an opinion on the 3 gubernatorial candidates. I want to apologize for appearing to have a favorite. I believe I was bowled over by McAuliffe’s announcement and I do know that in politics, money talks. If fund raising is going to win Virginia, it seems that McAuliffe has an edge.

So, to dispel all rumors, here is our final Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia, Creigh Deeds. PWC, Alanna is going to do a blurb on McDonnell. Gently remind us if you don’t see something in the near future.

Senator Deeds is from Bath County but is currently serving as the Senator from Charlottesville. That gives him an edge with me. The text will be from his website:

Meet Senator Deeds

Senator Deeds has spent the last two decades serving constituents from all walks of life–from his start as Bath County prosecutor to his current position as a State Senator representing the City of Charlottesville and a district that stretches to the West Virginia border. Whether he was working to clean up one of Virginia’s largest Superfund sites, fighting for economic development, or writing some of the toughest legislation to keep our families safe and secure, Deeds has built his career as a consensus builder who delivers results.

Read more…

Today begins Senator John Warner’s first day as a civilian in many a year. Graduate of Washington and Lee University, Senator Warner’s connections run far and wide. The 81 year old senator is a former fraternity brother of Virginia’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction, Governor Lynwood Holton. Holton’s daughter is married to VA Governor Tim Kaine.

Confused yet? Senator Warner served as Navy Secretary under Richard Nixon. He and Lynwood Holton remained friends when they both competed in the Republican Senate primary in 1978. Senator Warner was married briefly to Hollywood movie star Elizabeth Taylor who just didn’t take too well to Virginia political life.

Senator John Warner has been a US Senator for 30 years. He is known for being bi-partisan and putting country and state before party politics. He refused to endorse Ollie North in his bid U.S. Senate because he felt he was unfit for office. He opposed the Iraq War after a trip from the Middle East. He said the war was adrift.
Read more…

Are we having a senate race for Senator John Warner’s soon to be vacant seat? I have seen very few Warner or Gilmore commercials and even fewer signs. Whats’ going on? Is it a foregone conclusion that Mark Warner is going to win?

Is anyone else seeing something different?

According to the Inside Nova, Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, R-11th, who once hoped to be the Republican nominee for Senate, will not attend this weekends nominating convention in Richmond. From the chatter on the local conservative blogs it appears that Marshall has a lock on the nomination. Apparently, Gilmore’s more centrist stance which would actually help win him the election has been shunned. Of course, this approach will backfire in November and Mark Warner will win the Senate seat but the Republican Party will maintain their ‘principles.’

So anyways, it will be interesting to see what transpires today at the Convention.

SB 441 (Senator Howell, Reston) was reported out of the House Courts Committee this afternoon on a vote of 11-10.

SB 441 is the bill that makes it state policy that law enforcement officers will not routinely ask crime victims and witnesses questions about their immigration status.

The close vote in Committee means that we have much to do between now and Tuesday when this bill will be debated and voted on in the full House of Delegates. One thing that we need you to do and ask all your friends to do is to let your member of the House of Delegates know NOW that you support SB 441 and want him/her to vote YES when the bill is considered on the floor of the House of Delegates this week.

This bill is a public safety bill. We will all be safer if the bill passes because members of immigrant communities in the Commonwealth will be more willing to report crimes to police and to cooperate with prosecutors. Most people who are not lawfully present in Virginia are not guilty of criminal violations of immigration laws. They are people who entered the US legally and overstayed their visas or are otherwise out of status. Nonetheless, because of their fear of deportation if identified, persons who are not documented (and members of their families some of whom may be citizens or otherwise lawfully present) are reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of crime.

To find out who your member of the House of Delegates is go to http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform Then, use the contact information to send the member an email or call him/her at his/her office. Or, call the constituent viewpoint line to make your views known: (800) 889-0229 (outside Richmond) or 698-1990 (Richmond area).