Sen Mark Warner just got back to me, or at least his staff did.

[Tim01]

Thank you for contacting me about Senate Amendment (S. Amdt.) 1618 regarding concealed carry permits. I appreciate the benefit of your views on this amendment.



On July 16, 2009, Senator John Thune (R-SD) introduced S. Amdt. 1618 to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (S. 1390). The amendment would have allowed gun owners who have concealed carry permits from the state in which they reside to carry their firearms into other states, as long as they comply with the laws of that state and meet federal standards. I supported S. Amdt. 1618 because I believe it was consistent with the Second Amendment Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I also believe that federal law, combined with Virginia's strong permitting process and other restrictions, would have precluded this change from weakening the Commonwealth's current concealed carry law. In addition, Virginia already has a form of reciprocity regarding concealed carry permits with 25 other states.



With respect to gun control generally, I realize that there are very strong opinions on both sides of the debate around Second Amendment rights. I support public policies that ensure the responsible and appropriate use of guns, as well as efforts to reduce gun-related crimes through increased enforcement and background checks. I recently supported full funding of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the only national database that flags individuals who are precluded under current law from purchasing or possessing firearms.



Again, thank you for writing. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns.



Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

[autorank]

1. This guy is like having a Republican as Senator

I'm sick of this crap in Virginia. The Democrats here have not digested what the 2008 Democratic primary meant.

Turnout went from 2004 330,000 to 2008 960,000 (aprox.) Where did those 600,000 extra voting Democrats come
from in the primary? They came from a place called despair thinking that voting for Obama would give them a
chance for real change and a chance to vote for a real Democrat in Virginia, something we never get on a statewide
basis.

It's a deliberate bait and switch game here. The state is populist and pretty liberal as a whole but the Republicans
are right from Liberty and Regent University and the Democrats pretend that there's nothing to the left of Mark Warner.

Webb makes bold statements and is a real fighter in campaigns, quite something. But he voted for FISA b.s. and
doesn't really follow through.

The pros have set it up as a no spectrum state from DINO's to religious zealots on the right.

Jefferson weeps.

[pipoman]

2. I am not from VA

so the individuals and their beliefs I will have to yield to you.

Turnout went from 2004 330,000 to 2008 960,000 (aprox.) Where did those 600,000 extra voting Democrats come
from in the primary?

The mistake a winning party often makes is to convince themselves that all of the votes for their candidate represents a mandate for every policy which had previously been rejected by the majority of people. The additional voters are mostly swing/Independent voters and some newly energized voters. Most of them are voting against the opposition not necessarily for the policies of the party. As quickly as they arrived they can and will depart if they are crossed. Gun control isn't a democratic nor a progressive belief, it is mainly an urban/white collar vs. rural/blue collar issue. The urban/white collar/self proclaimed intellectual Democrats cannot win elections without the rural/blue collar Democrats. Gun control has proven over and over to be a huge looser for Dems, to start back down that road now is suicide for the party.

I just looked at VA election results here

http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Election_Information/Election_Results/Index.html

The site is seriously lacking, infact almost to the point of being unbelievable. The stats are there for both parties for the 2008 Presidential primaries, the 2004 presidential primaries are only showing the Democratic numbers for some reason?? Without the Republican numbers for 2004 it is impossible to determine the answer to your question. I suspect that the numbers would shed some light on the issue...keeping in mind that 2008 voter turnout across the country was better than for many years.

Bottom line..want to loose in the next cycle? Just revert back to the same loosing strategy used before, one of the biggest being gun control.

[virginia mountainman]

3. Well....He did vote correctly on that issue...

And as a Gov, he did sign much pro-gun legislation. He remains really popular here in VA.

[Tim01]

4. Must be a Virginia thing.

Pro 2nd amendment dems tend to be popular here.

[virginia mountainman]

5. If they wish to be elected, or keep their seats...YES..

Just ask Mary Sue Terry, what happened to her, when she came out in favor of the AW ban, just a few months before the state election for Governor..

In short...

She WAS, 30-points ahead in the polls, than she HAD to "talk about gun control" and ended up loosing badly, to George Allen.

A 30 point lead...GONE..

O well, you want to trample on the US Bill of Rights, so, no sympathy to her.. Even if, she lives just down the road from me...

In the current Governors race, both parties, have put forth a "Pro Gun" candidates, and the small anti gun contingent gets smaller and smaller...But somehow they get shriller and Shriller!!

So, on the state level, we have it made in Virgina, if your a gun rights advocate!!

[X_Digger]

6. Eventually..

.. they'll get so shrill only dogs and bats will hear them :)