To the Editor:
Democratic candidate Kathleen Murphy and the gun control groups
she is working with were so disrespectful to the Great Falls Citizens
Association debate that instead of trusting our citizens to ask
questions about this issue, they “demanded” that all of their questions
be answered and organized a disruptive demonstration before and
during the debate in order to bully and threaten GFCA and attendees
if their questions weren’t answered. As a result the debate between
Delegate Comstock and Murphy had to be rescheduled.
So let’s take one of their major issues on Ms. Murphy and the
anti-gun groups attack Delegate Comstock on: Concealed Carry
Legislation. Most people don’t realize that concealed carry is the law
in 43 states.
Concealed-carry permit-holders must go through a background
check—something these gun control groups claim they want more
of—before they receive a court approved permit. Democrats and
Republicans alike have supported this common sense legislation. Our
Senator Mark Warner and former Senator Jim Webb (both NRA “A”
rated Members of the Senate) not only supported concealed carry
legislation but they supported expanding the law so that Virginia
permit holders could use their permits in other states. (And for the
record, when Mark Warner was governor, he signed every single
piece of pro-gun legislation that hit his desk).
Locally, Democratic state Sen. Chap Petersen long has been a
supporter of the concealed carry law and even voted to override Gov.
Kaine’s veto of the bill back in 2009. Del. Keam also voted in favor of
what Kathleen Murphy and her supporters derisively describe as the
“guns in bars” bill. Add Democratic Caucus Chair Mark Sickles and
Del. David Bulova to those who support the concealed carry law. If
you check out Ms. Murphy’s website you will see that she supports all of these
Democrats and has had them at her fundraisers. Has she
“demanded” that they change their position on concealed carry?
Has she rejected their financial support and help? Did these gun
groups protest and demonstrate her fundraiser with Mark Warner, a
concealed carry supporter?
I think we all know the answers here. This is the political, silly
season where hypocrisy runs rampant and Ms. Murphy’s campaign
of deception and misinformation has resulted in no case for her
candidacy on this or other issues.
Barbara Gloeckner,
Great Falls