Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Bloomberg gun-safety group has a new target: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe
Bloomberg gun-safety group has a new target: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) suddenly knows what it’s like to be on the other end of a Michael Bloomberg advertising campaign.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a group bankrolled by the former New York mayor, poured $2 million into TV ads last fall in a failed bid to help McAuliffe’s party take back the state Senate.
On Wednesday, Everytown launched a social media campaign against McAuliffe, who last week stunned gun-safety advocates by announcing that he had struck a gun deal with Republican legislators and the National Rifle Association. It shows side-by-side photos of McAuliffe and the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre.
“What do VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe and NRA head Wayne LaPierre have in common?” one version reads. “Both Gov McAuliffe and NRA Head Wayne LaPierre support allowing dangerous people to carry hidden loaded weapons in Virginia.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/bloomberg-gun-safety-group-has-a-new-target-terry-mcauliffe/2016/02/03/3aa6533c-cad8-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_story.html
RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) suddenly knows what it’s like to be on the other end of a Michael Bloomberg advertising campaign.
Everytown for Gun Safety, a group bankrolled by the former New York mayor, poured $2 million into TV ads last fall in a failed bid to help McAuliffe’s party take back the state Senate.
On Wednesday, Everytown launched a social media campaign against McAuliffe, who last week stunned gun-safety advocates by announcing that he had struck a gun deal with Republican legislators and the National Rifle Association. It shows side-by-side photos of McAuliffe and the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre.
“What do VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe and NRA head Wayne LaPierre have in common?” one version reads. “Both Gov McAuliffe and NRA Head Wayne LaPierre support allowing dangerous people to carry hidden loaded weapons in Virginia.”
Again targeting a Democrat in office; but we keep hearing how Bloomie is a Dem supporter. How come we don't see headlines about his group(s) targeting Repubs...
The funny thing is, gun control gets more out of this deal. CCW reciprocity stays essentially the same but now they will get state law prohibiting abusers from ever owning firearms and the option for back ground checks is expanded. Seems a good deal to me.
11 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Google cut and paste poster missed this one 
The funny thing is, gun control gets more out of this deal. CCW reciprocity stays essentially the same but now they will get state law prohibiting abusers from ever owning firearms and the option for back ground checks is expanded. Seems a good deal to me.
Abusers were already "federally prohibited" from possession of a firearm, so they made it "doubly illegal". That is one odd thing about gun control advocates, they seem to demand laws to make, things that already already illegal, illegal again, that sort of advocacy simply proves how little they know about the subject at hand.
In truth, in all it was a WIN for gun rights advocates. We are not just back at status quo, but now Virginia will automatically enter into CCW reciprocity agreements with other states, the Attorney General, just lost any say in the matter. Because of this Virginia permits will soon be honored by Georgia, Colorado and another state (I can't remember right off hand)
As for the State Trooper at the gun show? I think it's a great idea, they will be doing background checks correctly, simply running the purchaser, and telling the seller the result, they WILL NOT, and I REPEAT will NOT, be filing federal form 4473's, nor taking down any gun information in the transaction, it is only a "he passed" or "he failed" transaction . IMHO this is the way these transactions should go down. And they will not be mandated.
What really has transpired is all the "gun control" lip service that the governor has been putting out since before last November's election, one in which he made gun control a central theme if you remember, with several millions of Bloomberg's money, crowing about how he was going to win and pass gun control.
Just a reminder: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/did-gun-control-cost-mcauliffe-and-democrats-the-virginia-election/2015/11/04/fa5dfdfa-830d-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_story.html
When Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his fellow Democrats study what went wrong for them in Tuesday’s crucial legislative elections, one possible mistake stands out: Their aggressive advocacy of gun control in a pivotal Senate race in the Richmond area may have backfired by producing a pro-Republican backlash.
McAuliffe had to pay back his Billionaire master so he does everything he can after his election losses. He just did not count on several things happening, when he pulled reciprocity:
1. It became a HUGE issue in the state, and NEIGHBORING states as well, with letters coming from other capitals demanding to know "what changed", and "why does not Virginia honor its agreements". Pressure was brought to bear not only in Richmond, but other state capitals as well, I was told that this caused lots of "uncomfortable" phone calls and letters flying back and forth.
2. On lobby day in Richmond a couple of weeks ago, almost 1,500 gun rights advocates packed the halls of the Virginia legislature, demanding answers, and promising support. I see in the news that Bloomberg's group just delivered 3,000 signatures on a piece of paper...LOL!!!!
3. This was rapidly becoming "THE" Issue in Virginia, it was completely sucking up all his political capital.
4. There was bipartisan agreements, legislation was being introduced, and most importantly a veto proof coalition forming up to undo it all, and also give Virginia permitless CCW. (this was the real reason for him completely caving, he saw the writing starting to go up on the wall, and saw many Democratic defections away from him on this issue.) He was going to be known as the governor that "poked the bear, only to lose it all too the bear". Just the other day their was "ONE" defection in the Virginia legislature that killed permitless CCW... If I were a betting man, I would bet money that this was part of the "deal" struck.
This is what really went down, and most of the in's and out's of the agreement.... In the end, it is a pro gun agreement.... We really lost nothing (made things double illegal, if you get your permit pulled in VA, no other state is going to give you one anyway), gained something (automatic honoring of any state's CCW), people that get restraining orders can use it as a defacto CCW permit(provided that they can legally possess the gun themselves) and caused McAuliffe too eat his bloomberg money.
O, I almost forgot, enraged Bloomberg, and his minions too the point of silliness! That is ALWAYS a good thing!
I wonder if the party elites watched anything of this complete "gun control" debacle? I wonder what effect this will have for the presidential election?
I'm a big fan of your posts, and I have to say you really outdid yourself on this one. 
I think having a VSP trooper at gun shows running optional background checks for private transfers for a small fee and WITHOUT a 4473 is also still part of the deal. Additionally, anyone who uses the inexpensive VSP service is subject to safe harbor provisions of some sort.
In any event, this is a total win. I have to take my hat off for the men and women of VCDL. Even though I'm not a VA resident, I'm a proud son of the Commonwealth and a proud member of the VCDL. VGA members were tripping over each other trying to outdo one another with pro-rights legislation. Now that's how you do it. VCDL had the buses out running at 4am on lobbying day. 
Thank you.