Moms Demand Action meeting 2017-01-03

[SAvage410]

From the VCDL VA Alert:

I just learned that Moms Demand Action (MDA) is going to make a presentation to the West Springfield Citizen's Advisory Committee tomorrow, January 3 at 7:30 PM. It deals with a program called "BeSMART."

The program is about keeping children from getting access to unsecured firearms.

Sounds laudable on the surface, but MDA doesn't do anything unless it involves gun control.

How, when, and if a person secures their firearms is up to them.

While securing firearms that are not in use is generally a good idea, VCDL will not support any law that requires firearms to be secured. MDA, on the other hand, wants to make unsecured guns a criminal offense, even if the gun owner wasn't being reckless in doing so. I expect another such gun bill will be introduced in the General Assembly this year.

Who determines if a gun is "properly secured?" Circumstances vary and one size does NOT fit all. People with no children, only older children, or toddlers all have different considerations.

In the end, a gun must be accessible quickly to useful in an emergency.

Sometimes a child having access to a gun that they are familiar with has saved their life. Every year there are examples of this in the news. I remember one terrible case in California where a child familiar with her family's firearms did not have access to the those guns, per California law. During a home invasion when her parents weren't home, all she could do was watch helplessly as her siblings were murdered by a maniac with a pitchfork. Her attempts to get access to a gun were unsuccessful.

For older children, teaching them how to safely handle a gun is far superior to safes, locks, and other mechanisms that merely restrict access or discharge of a firearm. Any safety mechanism can be defeated by someone who is determined to do so.

Finally, Virginia already has a law with penalties for a person to "recklessly leave a LOADED, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen" or "to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm EXCEPT when the child is under the supervision of an adult." (18.2-56.2).

If you wish to attend, here is the location:

West Springfield District Station
6140 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA 22152

Here's information about the program:

http://besmartforkids.org/

 

[Grapeshot]

My research indicates that it is a police station and as such cannot be a GFZ.
https://www.mapquest.com/us/virgini...t-springfield-police-district-station-2763825

 

[color of law]

It is a police and fire station.

West Springfield Fire Station, Station 27
6140 Rolling Road
Springfield, VA 22152-1511
(703) 451-0453 Fax: 703-913-9450

West Springfield District Police Station
6140 Rolling Road
Springfield, Virginia 22152
(703) 644-7377
Neighborhood watch officers Peter Fiegelson and James Frey
Fairfax County Police West Springffield Station: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/stations/westspringfield/

 

[davidmcbeth]

I'm not to worried about securing guns ... I can make more.

These wackos would have strokes walking about my house. LOL

 

[bob888]

I was there last night. In a nutshell, these ladies were talking about the latest Bloomberg attempt at gun control in the guise of a program that is about "common sense gun safety" and "think of the children".

Personally, it was a bit disturbing for me in that it was alarmingly balanced and fair. A bit too balanced for me. Anything funded by Bloomberg comes with strings and his agenda attached to it.

One part of the presentation claims they collaborated with the National Sports Shooting Foundation for gun safety information; however, when asked by a VCDL member if the NSSF's position matches MDA's position, the presenter (or her two other cohorts) would not comment.

The slide deck from the presentation is available on that organization's website if you are interested in their spiel.

 

[solus]

I was there last night. In a nutshell, these ladies were talking about the latest Bloomberg attempt at gun control in the guise of a program that is about "common sense gun safety" and "think of the children".

Personally, it was a bit disturbing for me in that it was alarmingly balanced and fair. A bit too balanced for me. Anything funded by Bloomberg comes with strings and his agenda attached to it.

One part of the presentation claims they collaborated with the National Sports Shooting Foundation for gun safety information; however, when asked by a VCDL member if the NSSF's position matches MDA's position, the presenter (or her two other cohorts) would not comment.

The slide deck from the presentation is available on that organization's website if you are interested in their spiel.

wouldnt happen to have a link, would ya?

ipse

 

[davidmcbeth]

I was there last night. In a nutshell, these ladies were talking about the latest Bloomberg attempt at gun control in the guise of a program that is about "common sense gun safety" and "think of the children".

Personally, it was a bit disturbing for me in that it was alarmingly balanced and fair. A bit too balanced for me. Anything funded by Bloomberg comes with strings and his agenda attached to it.

One part of the presentation claims they collaborated with the National Sports Shooting Foundation for gun safety information; however, when asked by a VCDL member if the NSSF's position matches MDA's position, the presenter (or her two other cohorts) would not comment.

The slide deck from the presentation is available on that organization's website if you are interested in their spiel.

No such thing as common sense gun laws .....

 

[SAvage410]

Moms Demand presentation fail

I was there last night. In a nutshell, these ladies were talking about the latest Bloomberg attempt at gun control in the guise of a program that is about "common sense gun safety" and "think of the children".

Personally, it was a bit disturbing for me in that it was alarmingly balanced and fair. A bit too balanced for me. Anything funded by Bloomberg comes with strings and his agenda attached to it.

One part of the presentation claims they collaborated with the National Sports Shooting Foundation for gun safety information; however, when asked by a VCDL member if the NSSF's position matches MDA's position, the presenter (or her two other cohorts) would not comment.

The slide deck from the presentation is available on that organization's website if you are interested in their spiel.

I somewhat disagree that the presentation was "balanced". I commented on a number of flaws with the presentation:

1) While I agree that no one wants children exposed to unnecessary danger, I noted that the Moms put the onus of safety on everyone but themselves. For example: They made no mention of actually training their children. There was no reference to, say, the Eddie Eagle program run by the NRA which teaches children to not touch a gun, to run away, and to tell an adult. This training will not only safeguard children in home where guns are present, but will give them the skills to recognize danger if they should happen upon a discarded gun outside a home.
2) Again with training, they made no mention of taking their children to the range to teach them how to properly handle a firearm and to understand its power and inherent danger.
3) I also mentioned that their entire presentation centered around the need for firearms to be unloaded and locked away - completely ignoring the fact that in a crisis situation you need your firearm NOW! and that there is often no time to fumble with safe keys/combinations, to find the ammo (stored separately, of course), and load the firearm.

While I did not mention it last night, I also object to the way statistics are presented with no context, and with an obvious attempt to instill fear. For example: A gun in the home leads to a 17% increased chance that a child with emotional issues will use it to commit suicide. OK - lets stipulate it's true that a gun increases risk, I would argue that homes with lawnmowers present more risk of yardwork injuries to all children (emotionally disturbed or not) than to children living in homes without such implements. Same with cars. And if you have seen the latest CNN-driven viral video, dressers present undue risk to toddlers as well.

For these reasons and others, I came away from the presentation just about as irritated as I expected going in.

 

[2a4all]

I somewhat disagree that the presentation was "balanced". I commented on a number of flaws with the presentation:

1) While I agree that no one wants children exposed to unnecessary danger, I noted that the Moms put the onus of safety on everyone but themselves. For example: They made no mention of actually training their children. There was no reference to, say, the Eddie Eagle program run by the NRA which teaches children to not touch a gun, to run away, and to tell an adult. This training will not only safeguard children in home where guns are present, but will give them the skills to recognize danger if they should happen upon a discarded gun outside a home.
2) Again with training, they made no mention of taking their children to the range to teach them how to properly handle a firearm and to understand its power and inherent danger.
3) I also mentioned that their entire presentation centered around the need for firearms to be unloaded and locked away - completely ignoring the fact that in a crisis situation you need your firearm NOW! and that there is often no time to fumble with safe keys/combinations, to find the ammo (stored separately, of course), and load the firearm.

While I did not mention it last night, I also object to the way statistics are presented with no context, and with an obvious attempt to instill fear. For example: A gun in the home leads to a 17% increased chance that a child with emotional issues will use it to commit suicide. OK - lets stipulate it's true that a gun increases risk, I would argue that homes with lawnmowers present more risk of yardwork injuries to all children (emotionally disturbed or not) than to children living in homes without such implements. Same with cars. And if you have seen the latest CNN-driven viral video, dressers present undue risk to toddlers as well.

For these reasons and others, I came away from the presentation just about as irritated as I expected going in.

I wasn't at the presentation, but here's a few points to consider:

I don't leave my firearms unattended; If I'm not using it or wearing it, it's locked up.

My gun club has a similar policy: No unattended firearms; they're either stored, worn, in use on a range, or being cleaned in a safe area. Our safety record is enviable.

In a home invasion scenario, a tactical situation could develop such that an intruder comes between you and your firearm. If your firearm is locked up, at least he can't get to it and use it on you. Not every home invader is armed, and not every homeowner is awakened by a disturbance. Yeah, I know: it's next to you on the nightstand. Well, while you're asleep, the intruder, who is awake, might be standing next to your nightstand with his pepper spray.

The most common danger I remember being warned about as a kid was matches.

 

[Grapeshot]

I wasn't at the presentation, but here's a few points to consider:

I don't leave my firearms unattended; If I'm not using it or wearing it, it's locked up.

My gun club has a similar policy: No unattended firearms; they're either stored, worn, in use on a range, or being cleaned in a safe area. Our safety record is enviable.

In a home invasion scenario, a tactical situation could develop such that an intruder comes between you and your firearm. If your firearm is locked up, at least he can't get to it and use it on you. Not every home invader is armed, and not every homeowner is awakened by a disturbance. Yeah, I know: it's next to you on the nightstand. Well, while you're asleep, the intruder, who is awake, might be standing next to your nightstand with his pepper spray.

The most common danger I remember being warned about as a kid was matches.

+1

We carried knives to school and played with them on the front lawn during recess. Some kids in other areas took their hunting rifles to school.

 

[davidmcbeth]

I wasn't at the presentation, but here's a few points to consider:

I don't leave my firearms unattended; If I'm not using it or wearing it, it's locked up.

<snip>

To each their own ... I have gats all over the house ... all for different purposes/uses/etc. ...

All loaded, ready to go.

Odd, no one in my house has had the urge to use one for no good reason or for a reason not anticipated.

Would take too long to put them away, take them out etc...

The worse that can happen is I get shot in the head ... well, all my troubles would be over then ...

 

[Va_Nemo]

The 6 or so minute video of their presentation which makes more sense than flushing after you empty. They really know how to make things turn around about 43 times before coming to a stop somewhere other than right, and making you think its right all along.

Nemo

besmartforkids.org