Contempt from the contemptible in the Virginia Senate

I'm feeling a bit lazy on this Sunday morning, so I'm not even going to try to come up with much original material today. I had been following the other side's efforts in Virginia to close the mythical "gun show loophole" (here, when the relevant House bill was defeated; here, when I realized that the greater danger was actually the Senate bill; and most recently, here, when that abomination was finally dispatched).

What I didn't cover was the contempt with which Senator Richard Saslaw (D-Fairfax, and member of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, in which the bill was debated) views gun rights activists. From the Virginia Citizens Defense League:

On Monday, Executive member John Pierce was in an elevator in the General Assembly building, participating in the VCDL Lobby Day. John was in the back of the elevator and at some point Democratic Senator Dick Saslaw of Fairfax County, who is the Senate Majority Leader, entered the elevator with a companion.

The Senator, not realizing that John with his large "Guns Save Lives" badge was in the back of the elevator, continued a loud conversation he was having with his companion.

In a clearly audible voice, Senator Saslaw said to his companion: "I see we're debating a gun bill today. Half of the cast of Deliverance is in town."

Nice, eh? Sailor Curt and the Washington Post discuss this, as well.

Saslaw wasn't done, though. Once again, VCDL has the story:

In the following Washington Post blog, Saslaw doesn't deny making the "Deliverance" statement, but asks how gun owners know it was referring to them.

How about because it was obvious to anyone with more than a kindergarten education, Senator? You support every anti-gun bill that comes your way and we are to believe you are disparaging the anti-gunners?

It was Senator Saslaw, by the way, who rudely and contemptuously interrupted the VCDL's Phillip Van Cleave during his testimony to the Courts of Justice Committee--something he did not do when supporters of the restrictive gun law were speaking.

But even if you were referring to the anti-gunners, as a Senator you should have more decorum than to make such an offensive statement about ANY group, even the anti-gunners.

Adding insult to injury, Saslaw said this about gun owners who might think that his "Deliverance" comments were aimed at them: "some people must have one hell of an inferiority complex."

The point about the irrelevance of exactly to whom Saslaw referred is a good one (and one that Sailor Curt also made well). Saslaw is a public servant. Whichever component of his constituency he disparaged is composed of his employers (until they dismiss him, anyway).

Saslaw needs to be made aware that there are consequences attached to such egregious behavior on the part of an underling. Virginians need to let him know. Here's how (courtesy of Sailor Curt):

Senator Richard L. Saslaw
(D-Senate District 35)
Virginia Senate Majority Leader

In-session address:
General Assembly Building, Room 613
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-7535

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1856
Springfield, Virginia 22151-0856
(703) 978-0200

email: district35@sov.state.va.us

VCDL also provides a tool for Virginia residents to use to contact their Delegates and Senators, urging them to demand an apology from Senator Saslaw.

Saslaw wants this to simply go away. Do not grant him that wish.