nuc65
Activist Member
I am not surprised that the City lies like a rug. But the city council meeting is tonight, see Item 2. I will OC to this meeting as will probably some others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join
----------------------------------------------------------------------
VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. Update on Petersburg gun buy-up
2. Update on Lynchburg considering reducing CHP fees
3. Thoughts on McAuliffe, Herring, and Northam not returning their VCDL survey
*********************************************
1. Update on Petersburg gun buy-up
*********************************************
Today I talked with Brian Telfair, the City Attorney for Petersburg, about this weekend's gun buy-up (not a buy-back because Petersburg never owned the guns).
I've had good luck in working with Mr. Telfair before on an issue dealing with an outdated air gun ordinance. He is professional, courteous, and returns calls.
Mr. Telfair was aware that Petersburg cannot participate in any gun buy-ups without having an ordinance on the books authorizing such participation and that the City cannot destroy guns bought in such a program without first trying to sell them.
He told me that all the City was planning on doing was to have some officers at the event for security.
I told him that the gun-control group was most certainly planning on the City taking possession of all purchased firearms and that would mean the City would be participating in the buy-up. In turn, that would put Petersburg in violation of state law.
That struck a chord. Mr. Telfair is going to talk to the gun-control group to make sure they understand that the Petersburg PD is NOT going to take possession of any bought-up guns. The PD would only be providing security. (Any other locality whose PD accepts the guns for purposes of destruction would similarly be "participating" in the buy-up program and find themselves in violation of the law unless they had an ordinance in place allowing such a thing. The locality would still have to attempt to sell the guns before destroying them.)
I will be talking to Mr. Telfair on Thursday morning and will report back on what I learn.
There may be a dealer or two at the event offering better prices for the guns. Also, if any of you are looking to add to your collections, this might be a chance to get a nice gun at a really good price by making an offer to someone headed to the buy-up.
For now, let's see where this is going on Thursday.
*********************************************
2. Update on Lynchburg considering reducing CHP fees
*********************************************
As was mentioned in the last mini-update, Lynchburg City Council member Jeff Helgeson is leading the charge to reduce the cost of getting a CHP.
He asked the police department to justify the $35 fee that they are getting for each CHP being processed. The PD's first response was, "we are losing money on CHPs, even at the current price."
That seemed odd since with the repeal of fingerprinting, the City saves around $30 per permit from what they were paying a few years ago.
After saying he wanted to see the details of the expenses for processing a background check, suddenly there was a "mistake" in accounting! This is amazing: instead of LOSING money, it turns out the City was MAKING money! Who knew? Well, OK, anyone with an ounce of commonsense knew.
Keep this in mind. Instead of a clerk running the background checks, THEY HAVE DETECTIVES DOING IT AT OVERTIME RATES! No wonder Lynchburg needs the $50 - typical government inefficiency with YOUR money.
If you live in Lynchburg, contact your City Council member and show up Tuesday night to support reducing that fee. This is going to be a fight, but the City should not be taking more money from citizens than is required to process a CHP. Not in this economy and not in any economy.
(This has statewide implications, too. I am starting the same ball rolling here in Chesterfield and will report as things progress. This should be done everywhere else in the state where they are still charging $50 for a CHP.)
Here is the contact information for the Lynchburg City Council. Let's urge them to lower the CHP fees! and do so in big numbers!
Hunsdon “H” Cary, III
At Large
Phone: (434) 384-0495
Fax: (434) 455-6942
h.cary@lynchburgva.gov
Joan F. Foster
At Large
Phone: (434) 847-0822
Fax: (434) 455-4381
joan.foster@lynchburgva.gov
Michael A. Gillette, Mayor
Ward I
Phone: (434) 384-5322
Fax: (434) 384-0691
michael.gillette@lynchburgva.gov
Jeff S. Helgeson
Ward III
Phone: (434) 528-3530
Fax: (434) 455-4121
jeff@jeffhelgeson.com
Ceasor T. Johnson, Vice Mayor
Ward II
Cell Phone: (434) 401-0753
Fax: (434) 455-4120
ceasor.johnson@lynchburgva.gov
J. Randolph “Randy” Nelson
At-large
Phone: 434-401-0696
Fax: 434-455-2712
randy.nelson@lynchburgva.gov
Edgar J. T. Perrow, Jr., PE
Ward IV
Phone: (434) 384-5557
Fax: (434) 455-0207
turner.perrow@lynchburgva.gov
--
Here is some coverage in the media:
From news advance.com: http://tinyurl.com/pj8qy54
Update: Lynchburg issues corrected figures on concealed-carry application costs
What nearby localities charge
Here are the total concealed handgun permit fees charged by the localities in our region. The charges all include a $10 fee for the local circuit court clerk’s office and a $5 fee for the Virginia State Police.
• Amherst County: $35
• Appomattox County: $50
• Bedford County: $40.46
• Campbell County: $15
• Lynchburg: $50
Source: City of Lynchburg, Circuit Court Clerk offices
What does it cost?
Local law enforcement agencies are allowed to charge a fee of up to $35 to conduct background checks on concealed handgun permit applicants. Lynchburg charges the maximum, but says it still lost money in two out of the three last fiscal years.
Fiscal Year 2010-11
• City costs: $20,141.94
• Fee revenue: $12,444.00
• Net loss: $7,697.94
Fiscal Year 2011-12
• City costs: $14,853.47
• Fee revenue: $15,235.00
• Net gain: $381.53
Fiscal Year 2012-13
• City costs: $30,314.89
• Fee revenue: $29,399.00
• Net loss: $915.89
Source: City of Lynchburg
***Updated 11:25 A.M. Monday: ***
On Monday morning, Lynchburg issued a corrected summary of the expenses and revenues incurred by the city to handle applications for concealed handgun permits.
The corrected list indicates the city made money on the process in Fiscal Year 2010-11. Earlier reports mistakenly overstated the city's expenses and said it lost money that year.
The new list indicates the city gained from processing concealed handgun permit applications in two of the last three fiscal years. It also came out ahead for the applications processed to date in Fiscal Year 2013-14, which began on July 1.
City Manager Kimball Payne said the expenses shown only reflect staff time spent on background checks. Other expenses like overhead costs were not calculated, he said.
Here is the full set of available corrected data:
Fiscal Year 2010-11
City Costs: $11,217.21
Fee Revenue: $12,444
Net Gain: $1,226.79
Fiscal Year 2011-12
City Costs: $14,853.47
Fee Revenue: $15,235.00
Net Gain: $381.53
Fiscal Year 2012-13
City Costs: $30,314.89
Fee Revenue: $29,399.00
Net Loss: $915.89
Fiscal Year 2013-14 (To Date)
City Costs: $2,956.18
Fee Revenue: $3,465.00
Net Gain: $508.82
Sunday:
Lynchburg City Councilman Jeff Helgeson’s recent comment on concealed gun permit fees will return this week for possible council action.
Last month in a discussion on park safety, Helgeson suggested lowering the concealed carry fees to promote public safety.
Government cannot be everywhere, he said, and citizens should be able to have the tools to protect themselves.
“It would be nice to have that fee reduced so more people can defend themselves, defend their loved ones and defend their families if the situation warrants,” he said at the time.
State law allows local law enforcement agencies to charge a concealed gun permit fee of up to $35 to cover the cost of conducting background checks.
This is on top of a $10 fee charged by the circuit court clerk offices and a $5 fee charged by the Virginia State Police.
Lynchburg charges the maximum allowed local fee, making its combined fee a total of $50. In surrounding counties, the combined fees range from $15 in Campbell to $50 in Appomattox.
The permits are good for five years.
Helgeson’s comments drew no reaction from other council members when first raised last month. But now at his request, the issue is returning for formal consideration.
City administrators are opposed to lowering the fee, citing financial concerns. Although it levies the maximum charge, the city has lost money on processing permit requests in two out of the last three years, they said.
Last fiscal year, Lynchburg police reported spending about $30,300 worth of man-hours conducting background checks on permit applicants.
It recouped $29,400 in fees, creating a loss of about $900.
City Manager Kimball Payne said the department tracks the time spent on permit applications because it uses overtime labor to handle them. [PVC: WHY???!!!]
At Helgeson’s request, staff will present additional information on how those local costs were calculated when the issue is heard at Tuesday’s council meeting, Payne said.
Helgeson did not return a call for comment. Heading into next week’s meeting, it wasn’t clear how much support there was among other council members for a reduced fee.
Mayor Michael Gillette said he saw no “burning” need to change the fee levels.
“We’re already losing money on concealed carry permits. If we were to cut the fee, we’d be losing more,” he said.
Gillette, a permit holder himself, added he has no philosophical opposition to people getting concealed carry permits.
“But I don’t believe the rest of the taxpayers should subsidize that,” he said. “If citizens want a permit, they should pay a reasonable fee for it.” [PVC: And therein lies the problem - the fee isn't reasonable.]
Vice Mayor Ceasor Johnson, whose ward includes both Miller Park and Riverside Park, said he doesn’t agree that encouraging concealed carry will improve public safety.
“I don’t know where his [Helgeson’s] mind is at on issues of this matter,” Johnson said. “We’re talking about kids and kids’ safety in the parks. I’ve got a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old. You think about kids being out on the seesaws and merry-go-rounds and slides.
“If a fight or something breaks out, I don’t see how it makes the parks safer to have hotheads shooting back and forth like this is the wild, wild west. I don’t see how an elected official sitting on City Council could see that as a rational decision.”
Last month in a radio interview with WLNI’s “The Morning Line,” Councilman H. Cary said he didn’t agree with Helgeson’s take on guns and park safety.
Lynchburg does not need a George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin situation, Cary said.
“When people are taunting and cussing and so forth, I wouldn’t want to see somebody with a concealed weapon who might lose their temper and decide to use that weapon,” he said. “I think we can deal with it in another more civilized manner.” [PVC: Mr. Cary should be writing children's books with his vivid imagination.]
Cary declined to comment on the matter this weekend, saying he hadn’t yet read the full report from city staff.
The concealed gun permit issue will be considered by council during its regular business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 900 Church St.
*********************************************
3. Thoughts on McAuliffe, Herring, and Northam not returning their VCDL survey
*********************************************
As Democrats, I would hope that Terry McAuliffe, Mark Herring, and Ralph Northam would heed the words of the leader of their Party and return their VCDL survey: "The only people who don't want to disclose the truth are people with something to hide" - President Barak Obama.
Of course that same quote applies to the Republicans and other Democrats who have not returned their VCDL surveys either.
-------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
***************************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join
----------------------------------------------------------------------
VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Update on Petersburg gun buy-up
2. Update on Lynchburg considering reducing CHP fees
3. Thoughts on McAuliffe, Herring, and Northam not returning their VCDL survey
*********************************************
1. Update on Petersburg gun buy-up
*********************************************
Today I talked with Brian Telfair, the City Attorney for Petersburg, about this weekend's gun buy-up (not a buy-back because Petersburg never owned the guns).
I've had good luck in working with Mr. Telfair before on an issue dealing with an outdated air gun ordinance. He is professional, courteous, and returns calls.
Mr. Telfair was aware that Petersburg cannot participate in any gun buy-ups without having an ordinance on the books authorizing such participation and that the City cannot destroy guns bought in such a program without first trying to sell them.
He told me that all the City was planning on doing was to have some officers at the event for security.
I told him that the gun-control group was most certainly planning on the City taking possession of all purchased firearms and that would mean the City would be participating in the buy-up. In turn, that would put Petersburg in violation of state law.
That struck a chord. Mr. Telfair is going to talk to the gun-control group to make sure they understand that the Petersburg PD is NOT going to take possession of any bought-up guns. The PD would only be providing security. (Any other locality whose PD accepts the guns for purposes of destruction would similarly be "participating" in the buy-up program and find themselves in violation of the law unless they had an ordinance in place allowing such a thing. The locality would still have to attempt to sell the guns before destroying them.)
I will be talking to Mr. Telfair on Thursday morning and will report back on what I learn.
There may be a dealer or two at the event offering better prices for the guns. Also, if any of you are looking to add to your collections, this might be a chance to get a nice gun at a really good price by making an offer to someone headed to the buy-up.
For now, let's see where this is going on Thursday.
*********************************************
2. Update on Lynchburg considering reducing CHP fees
*********************************************
As was mentioned in the last mini-update, Lynchburg City Council member Jeff Helgeson is leading the charge to reduce the cost of getting a CHP.
He asked the police department to justify the $35 fee that they are getting for each CHP being processed. The PD's first response was, "we are losing money on CHPs, even at the current price."
That seemed odd since with the repeal of fingerprinting, the City saves around $30 per permit from what they were paying a few years ago.
After saying he wanted to see the details of the expenses for processing a background check, suddenly there was a "mistake" in accounting! This is amazing: instead of LOSING money, it turns out the City was MAKING money! Who knew? Well, OK, anyone with an ounce of commonsense knew.
Keep this in mind. Instead of a clerk running the background checks, THEY HAVE DETECTIVES DOING IT AT OVERTIME RATES! No wonder Lynchburg needs the $50 - typical government inefficiency with YOUR money.
If you live in Lynchburg, contact your City Council member and show up Tuesday night to support reducing that fee. This is going to be a fight, but the City should not be taking more money from citizens than is required to process a CHP. Not in this economy and not in any economy.
(This has statewide implications, too. I am starting the same ball rolling here in Chesterfield and will report as things progress. This should be done everywhere else in the state where they are still charging $50 for a CHP.)
Here is the contact information for the Lynchburg City Council. Let's urge them to lower the CHP fees! and do so in big numbers!
Hunsdon “H” Cary, III
At Large
Phone: (434) 384-0495
Fax: (434) 455-6942
h.cary@lynchburgva.gov
Joan F. Foster
At Large
Phone: (434) 847-0822
Fax: (434) 455-4381
joan.foster@lynchburgva.gov
Michael A. Gillette, Mayor
Ward I
Phone: (434) 384-5322
Fax: (434) 384-0691
michael.gillette@lynchburgva.gov
Jeff S. Helgeson
Ward III
Phone: (434) 528-3530
Fax: (434) 455-4121
jeff@jeffhelgeson.com
Ceasor T. Johnson, Vice Mayor
Ward II
Cell Phone: (434) 401-0753
Fax: (434) 455-4120
ceasor.johnson@lynchburgva.gov
J. Randolph “Randy” Nelson
At-large
Phone: 434-401-0696
Fax: 434-455-2712
randy.nelson@lynchburgva.gov
Edgar J. T. Perrow, Jr., PE
Ward IV
Phone: (434) 384-5557
Fax: (434) 455-0207
turner.perrow@lynchburgva.gov
--
Here is some coverage in the media:
From news advance.com: http://tinyurl.com/pj8qy54
Update: Lynchburg issues corrected figures on concealed-carry application costs
What nearby localities charge
Here are the total concealed handgun permit fees charged by the localities in our region. The charges all include a $10 fee for the local circuit court clerk’s office and a $5 fee for the Virginia State Police.
• Amherst County: $35
• Appomattox County: $50
• Bedford County: $40.46
• Campbell County: $15
• Lynchburg: $50
Source: City of Lynchburg, Circuit Court Clerk offices
What does it cost?
Local law enforcement agencies are allowed to charge a fee of up to $35 to conduct background checks on concealed handgun permit applicants. Lynchburg charges the maximum, but says it still lost money in two out of the three last fiscal years.
Fiscal Year 2010-11
• City costs: $20,141.94
• Fee revenue: $12,444.00
• Net loss: $7,697.94
Fiscal Year 2011-12
• City costs: $14,853.47
• Fee revenue: $15,235.00
• Net gain: $381.53
Fiscal Year 2012-13
• City costs: $30,314.89
• Fee revenue: $29,399.00
• Net loss: $915.89
Source: City of Lynchburg
***Updated 11:25 A.M. Monday: ***
On Monday morning, Lynchburg issued a corrected summary of the expenses and revenues incurred by the city to handle applications for concealed handgun permits.
The corrected list indicates the city made money on the process in Fiscal Year 2010-11. Earlier reports mistakenly overstated the city's expenses and said it lost money that year.
The new list indicates the city gained from processing concealed handgun permit applications in two of the last three fiscal years. It also came out ahead for the applications processed to date in Fiscal Year 2013-14, which began on July 1.
City Manager Kimball Payne said the expenses shown only reflect staff time spent on background checks. Other expenses like overhead costs were not calculated, he said.
Here is the full set of available corrected data:
Fiscal Year 2010-11
City Costs: $11,217.21
Fee Revenue: $12,444
Net Gain: $1,226.79
Fiscal Year 2011-12
City Costs: $14,853.47
Fee Revenue: $15,235.00
Net Gain: $381.53
Fiscal Year 2012-13
City Costs: $30,314.89
Fee Revenue: $29,399.00
Net Loss: $915.89
Fiscal Year 2013-14 (To Date)
City Costs: $2,956.18
Fee Revenue: $3,465.00
Net Gain: $508.82
Sunday:
Lynchburg City Councilman Jeff Helgeson’s recent comment on concealed gun permit fees will return this week for possible council action.
Last month in a discussion on park safety, Helgeson suggested lowering the concealed carry fees to promote public safety.
Government cannot be everywhere, he said, and citizens should be able to have the tools to protect themselves.
“It would be nice to have that fee reduced so more people can defend themselves, defend their loved ones and defend their families if the situation warrants,” he said at the time.
State law allows local law enforcement agencies to charge a concealed gun permit fee of up to $35 to cover the cost of conducting background checks.
This is on top of a $10 fee charged by the circuit court clerk offices and a $5 fee charged by the Virginia State Police.
Lynchburg charges the maximum allowed local fee, making its combined fee a total of $50. In surrounding counties, the combined fees range from $15 in Campbell to $50 in Appomattox.
The permits are good for five years.
Helgeson’s comments drew no reaction from other council members when first raised last month. But now at his request, the issue is returning for formal consideration.
City administrators are opposed to lowering the fee, citing financial concerns. Although it levies the maximum charge, the city has lost money on processing permit requests in two out of the last three years, they said.
Last fiscal year, Lynchburg police reported spending about $30,300 worth of man-hours conducting background checks on permit applicants.
It recouped $29,400 in fees, creating a loss of about $900.
City Manager Kimball Payne said the department tracks the time spent on permit applications because it uses overtime labor to handle them. [PVC: WHY???!!!]
At Helgeson’s request, staff will present additional information on how those local costs were calculated when the issue is heard at Tuesday’s council meeting, Payne said.
Helgeson did not return a call for comment. Heading into next week’s meeting, it wasn’t clear how much support there was among other council members for a reduced fee.
Mayor Michael Gillette said he saw no “burning” need to change the fee levels.
“We’re already losing money on concealed carry permits. If we were to cut the fee, we’d be losing more,” he said.
Gillette, a permit holder himself, added he has no philosophical opposition to people getting concealed carry permits.
“But I don’t believe the rest of the taxpayers should subsidize that,” he said. “If citizens want a permit, they should pay a reasonable fee for it.” [PVC: And therein lies the problem - the fee isn't reasonable.]
Vice Mayor Ceasor Johnson, whose ward includes both Miller Park and Riverside Park, said he doesn’t agree that encouraging concealed carry will improve public safety.
“I don’t know where his [Helgeson’s] mind is at on issues of this matter,” Johnson said. “We’re talking about kids and kids’ safety in the parks. I’ve got a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old. You think about kids being out on the seesaws and merry-go-rounds and slides.
“If a fight or something breaks out, I don’t see how it makes the parks safer to have hotheads shooting back and forth like this is the wild, wild west. I don’t see how an elected official sitting on City Council could see that as a rational decision.”
Last month in a radio interview with WLNI’s “The Morning Line,” Councilman H. Cary said he didn’t agree with Helgeson’s take on guns and park safety.
Lynchburg does not need a George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin situation, Cary said.
“When people are taunting and cussing and so forth, I wouldn’t want to see somebody with a concealed weapon who might lose their temper and decide to use that weapon,” he said. “I think we can deal with it in another more civilized manner.” [PVC: Mr. Cary should be writing children's books with his vivid imagination.]
Cary declined to comment on the matter this weekend, saying he hadn’t yet read the full report from city staff.
The concealed gun permit issue will be considered by council during its regular business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 900 Church St.
*********************************************
3. Thoughts on McAuliffe, Herring, and Northam not returning their VCDL survey
*********************************************
As Democrats, I would hope that Terry McAuliffe, Mark Herring, and Ralph Northam would heed the words of the leader of their Party and return their VCDL survey: "The only people who don't want to disclose the truth are people with something to hide" - President Barak Obama.
Of course that same quote applies to the Republicans and other Democrats who have not returned their VCDL surveys either.
-------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
(VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization
dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
***************************************************************************