Why Join VSSA?

For those not familiar with VSSA, we thought it would be helpful to have some brief bullet points on what VSSA does for Virginia gun owners and why you should join VSSA.

First and foremost, VSSA exists to provide shooting opportunities for, and to protect the Second Amendment rights of, all law abiding Virginians

The goals of VSSA are to:

· unite shooters, hunters, sportsmen, collectors and all other law abiding firearms enthusiasts to promote the safe and responsible use of firearms;

· promote the development of the shooting sports and the facilities necessary to the shooting sports; and,

· provide a united voice to all levels of government to defend the shooting sports, and firearms ownership.

VSSA has a presence at the General Assembly every day the Assembly is in session. NRA’s Legislative Liaison must cover multiple states and cannot be here everyday. It is up to VSSA to protect your gun rights from the anti-gunners every day the General Assembly is in session.

In the past, VSSA was instrumental in:

· Passage of Virginia’s Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) statute (SB744) of 1995

· Passage of Virginia’s full Pre-emption statue (HB 530)

· Passage of the first partial roll-back (HB404) of Virginia’s handgun rationing statute (one gun-a-month). It was a VSSA member, Delegate Bill Janis that introduced HB 404.

· Passage of legislation (HB2282) to make it harder to close a gun range for noise. Again it was VSSA member Delegate Bill Janis that introduced this bill.

· Passage of legislation (HB 1302) abolishing provisions regulating sales and purchases in contiguous states.

· Passage of legislation prohibiting (HB 1150) a local government from adopting an ordinance governing the storage of firearms or ammunition

Every year VSSA’s lobbying team works to:

· Protect gun shows and your right to sell parts of your privately owned firearms collection to other private citizens

· Repeal the restaurant ban on carrying concealed handguns in restaurants that serve alcohol

· Enhance Virginia’s Concealed Handgun Permit Statute to allow storage of your firearm in your car while you are parked in a parking lot at work or other location

· Passage of “Castle Doctrine” legislation to put into law that you have the right to protect yourself in your home free from the fear that a criminal may sue you for doing so

· Enhance Virginia’s range protection statute to fight attempts from anti-gunners who attempt to use noise complaints from anti-gun residents

· Protect Virginia’s pre-emption statute to prevent a patchwork of gun laws from one locality to the next

Other Reasons to Join VSSA

· VSSA joined 39 other state associations in filing one of 47 amicus briefs on behalf of the Respondent Richard Heller in the “D.C. Gun Ban Case”

· VSSA also promotes hunting. As part of our legislative efforts we work to protect all shooting sports from the anti-gun and anti-hunting crowd.

· VSSA annually sponsors one of the most successful charity shooting events of its type with the proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

· The larger our membership, the louder our voice when we go to the General Assembly to protect and secure YOUR gun rights.

· Legislators and elected officials understand numbers and when we tell them we are representing thousands of voters who own firearms and these gun owners vote, it has an impact on those officials.

· Join now and you can add your voice to thousands of Virginia gun owners who have already joined VSSA and help secure your rights for yourself and the next generation.

· Remember: VSSA is the firewall standing between your firearms freedoms and those who would take them away. And we need your help to win!

To join, simply print and complete the membership application and mail to the address on the form together with the appropriate fee.

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