Legislative Affairs Committee 4 June 2021

In our last update, your friendly neighborhood Legislative Affairs Committee reported that the Bien administration still has the pedal to the floor on gun control legislation. You may remember that the Biden administration is focusing on five fronts. Those are: 1) control for ‘ghost’ guns, 2) pistol brace bans, 3) national ‘red flag’ legislation, 4) Community violence intervention funded across five agencies 5) and the appointment of David Chipman to the ATF Directors role.

Mr. Chipman was in front of a Senate Committee on Wednesday, 26 May 2021, packed in with seven other nominees. Mr. Chipman’s hearing clearly indicated his anti-2A position. Lightly addressed was his role on Bloomberg anti-2A groups, specifically Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Gifford Framework, started by Gaby Giffords. Mr. Chipman, by the way, is still listed as a senior policy for both organizations.

Mr. Chipman failed miserably under questioning from Senator Kennedy (R-LA) on what guns should be included in an assault weapon ban. Mr. Chipman would not answer the question, as best exemplified in an exchange with Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA). “Just give me your definition,” Kennedy pleaded, after confirming that Chipman still supported a ban. When Chipman refused, Kennedy finally concluded in frustration, “I’m done, Mr. Chairman. I don’t think I’m going to get an answer.”

The position of Mr. Chipman is clear as someone who will disregard the 2A and therefore selectively enforce the Constitution. It is that black and white.

So, who is on that Committee? It is the Senate Judiciary Committee, populated by the following: Democrat members 1) Dick Durbin, 2) Diane Feinstein, 3) Sheldon Whitehouse, 4) Amy Klobuchar, 5) Chris Coons, 6) Richard Blumenthal, 7) Mazie Hirono, 8) Cory Booker, 9) Alex Padilla, and 10) Jon Ossoff. The Republicans are 1) Chuck Grassley, 2) Lindsey Graham, 3) John Cornyn, 4) Michael S. Lee, 5) Ted Cruz, 6) Ben Sasse, 7) Joshua D. Hawley, 8) Tom Cotton, 9) John Kennedy, and 10) Marsha Blackburn.

Elections matter, dear friends.

So, what can you do? 1) Join VCDL, and 2) write your congressional representatives.

Not sure of your congressional representatives? For the immediate area surrounding the Club, that’s Congressional Representative Jennifer Wexton, US Senators Warner and Kaine, State Representative Danica Roem. And State Senator George Barker. You can find more contact information at this link. https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Thanks, from your friendly neighborhood Legislative Affairs Committee