Gun Rights Activist: Withholding Guns From Domestic Abusers Is ‘Silly’

[muriel_volestrangler]

Philip VanCleave, the president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), argued before a state Senate committee Monday that stalkers and domestic abusers convicted of misdemeanors should not lose their gun rights, as such a punishment would be “silly.”

VanCleave, who heads one of the state’s most prominent and vocal gun-rights organizations, was testifying before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, in opposition to Senate Bill 510. The bill would prohibit “any person who is convicted of stalking, sexual battery, or assault and battery of a family member involving the use of force from possessing, transporting, or carrying a firearm or any other weapon for a period of five years following his conviction.” His organization “strongly opposes” the measure because it believes misdemeanors “are not meant to take away someone’s civil rights because, by definition, they are minor crimes.” While it is generally illegal for convicted felons to purchase or possess guns, many people convicted of stalking, domestic assault, or other similar misdemeanors currently have no such restrictions.
...
SASLAW: So you think that, if you go out and you slap your wife around and all it is a misdemeanor, you shouldn’t lose your weapon after that. Is that what you’re telling me?

VANCLEAVE: Correct. If she slaps me, I wouldn’t expect her to lose her gun rights either. … for (people to) lose their rights, that’s silly.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/29/3222701/vcdl-domestic-abuse/

There is no bottom to the barrel of gun rights activist stupidity.

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. ask all the dead women who died at the hands of their spouses....

Oh right!

My ex held a sawwed off to my forehead while he had his boot in my chest on the floor...he was later charged and found guilty of assault against me for an incident after that...leading to his loss of gun rights...and I am damn happy for it.

(he tried to buy another gun shortly thereafter, but they, had his old phone number and I took the call to inform him that he failed his background check due to criminal domestic violence.....I giggled and couldn't wait to let him know).

He still has access to guns...his new wife puts them in her name....but if he is ever caught with one again...its back to jail he goes! And I for one am happy about that fact.

This guy and the whole NRA can go pound sand!

[gejohnston]

5. report them to the ATF

he can't be in the same house with a gun under the Gun Control Act. unless she has them in a safe and he doesn't have the combo, he is in possession. That is a mandatory min of five years for him. buying for him, or giving him access knowing he is a prohibited person is also violating the 1968 Gun Control Act. Unless there is a corresponding state law, local cops probably don't have jurisdiction and won't bother.
http://www.atf.gov/content/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unlicensed-persons#gca-unlicensed-transfer
Does he still have the sawed off? If so, is it registered? If not, be sure to mention that you suspect he has an unregistered NFA weapon.
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/nfa/index.html

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. Interesting...its been too long now though to carry through. Wish I had known that at the time

but this is worth discussing openly because I didn't know I had recourse. I know about it because his brother informed me that he still had guns but they are in her name.

[gejohnston]

7. I found that

most non gun people are not aware of current laws. That's too bad, because I have talked to some gun control advocates that want what is already law. FWIW, I think the proposed VA law is reasonable.

[Warpy]

2. Giving them back is potentially lethal.

I'll take silly over lethal any day.

[upaloopa]

3. The name Citizens Defense League is silly.

Why do gunners come up with stuff like that. What are they going to do run around with their pistols and semi autos and fight off some invading army. They all live in fantasy land and shouldn't be given any respect because of that IMHO.

[gejohnston]

4. their source is a 40 second video

taken by a gun control group. I would like to see the whole thing, or a official transcript of the hearing. Like every other gun control group, their You Tube comments are disabled. That said, I agree with the bill. Violence can snowball from bad to worse over time,

[shenmue]

8. I can't with these people

I just can't.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Hopefully, all of DU understands that this group of fucks doesn't represent anybody we know.

All too often, people who defend the general principles of the Second Amendment are associated with the freaks like this group, or assholes who take AR15s into malls to make statements.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

A violent act is a clue, and five years of prevention from access to weapons is a slap on the wrist, IMO.

Stupid asses.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. FINE.

Let's make DV a felony. First offense.

Fix his fucking wagon.