Aiming to Please the NRA
Sunday, March 5, 2006; Page B08
Virginia state Sen. Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) recently harrumphed about Virginia, "This is the biggest pro-gun state in America. I think if there was a bill to require every home to come with a surface-to-air missile, it would pass." Saslaw was reacting to approval by the House of Delegates of measures promoted by the National Rifle Association (NRA), including prohibiting private firms, such as Wal-Mart and McDonald's, from banning guns in locked cars in their parking lots.
The Senate may water down or kill this legislation; if not, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) probably will veto it. Yet why are House members -- including 17 Democrats on the parking lot bill -- so eager to rubber-stamp the NRA agenda?
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To begin with, individual senators represent more people than do individual delegates, which means that single-interest groups have a harder time influencing their votes. But more important, the Senate has never felt the clout that two recent House members exerted in their chamber.
The first delegate of influence was A. Victor Thomas (D-Roanoke). For years, Thomas introduced or promoted pro-gun legislation and helped obtain campaign funding from the gun industry for those who voted with him.
Thomas found an ally in S. Vance Wilkins Jr. (R-Amherst), who, after two unsuccessful attempts, in 1977 defeated Don "Rooster" Pendleton for a House seat. Wilkins promptly sold his construction firm and devoted himself to one goal: Converting the then-25 member House Republican caucus into the majority party. Democratic House leaders did not take kindly to Wilkins's quest, but that did not deter the GOP backbencher from recruiting candidates, raising big bucks and strengthening ties with business, the religious right and the national Republican Party. Thus he spearheaded the defeat of incumbent Democrats and captured open seats. Wilkins gravitated toward candidates who opposed abortion, extolled low taxes , favored developers and interpreted the Second Amendment as allowing unfettered access to firearms.
Propelled by the successful gubernatorial campaigns of Republicans George Allen and James S. Gilmore III, Wilkins and his right-wing comrades gained control of the House -- a body whose fondness for pro-gun initiatives turned into a love affair when nurtured by campaign contributions from the NRA. The 100-member House now has 57 GOP members.
Wilkins served as House speaker from 2000 to 2002 before being forced from office after attempting to cover up a sex scandal. After 30 years of service, Thomas retired in 2003.
Wilkins and Thomas may no longer be in Richmond, but their views on firearms remain ascendant. As for Saslaw's concern: A substantial contingent in the House of Delegates may indeed believe that the Second Amendment applies to surface-to-air missiles -- but only if they are on your own property.
-- George W. Grayson
a Democrat who served in the Virginia House
of Delegates, teaches government
at the College of William & Mary.
