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VCDL Update #40 10/11/02

WAGCWAGC Member Posts: 81 ✭✭
VCDL Update #40 10/11/02

1. Homeland Defense Rifles
2. Isle of Wight update
3. Virginia Beach - misleading sign at police station
4. Activism in action - VCDL member wins with Bowl America
5. Gun show in Roanoke - help needed!
6. Skip this movie: "Bowling for Columbine" and contact Walmart
7. VCDL gets letters printed in Virginian Pilot


1. Homeland Defense Rifles

A member has written a letter to the editor with an idea and I like
it. I am tired of referring to semi-automatic "ugly" rifles like
AR-15's and AK-47's as "assault" weapons. It is an inaccurate
description, it sounds negative, and was hung around our necks by the
anti-gun lobby. Let's use a positive and more accurate description
from now on: Homeland Defense Rifle.


2. Isle of Wight update

Isle of Wight has sent VCDL a letter which indicates that they are
now justifying the ban in their parks based on a hunting ordinance
instead of the state law against carrying loaded Homeland Defense
Rifles in public places.

I have sent them some suggested wording for their signs that would
solve the problem.

It is important that we show up at the Board of Supervisors meeting
this Thursday at 6 PM to encourage them to change their signs and be
compliant with Virginia law. (They will also need to tell their
police officers about the change.)

Those of you who have e-mailed letters to the County Manager -
thanks! I think we stand a good chance on getting this resolved soon
if we keep the pressure up.

If you are going to attend the meeting and have not already done so,
could you let me know?


3. Virginia Beach - misleading sign at police station

I go this e-mail from a VCDL member in Tidewater. Virginia Beach
members take note:

"I went to the 1st Precinct in Virginia Beach to drop off my renewal
application
for my permit, and there is a new sign outside. It states, 'We ask that all
visitors safely secure their weapons inside their vehicles. If this is not
possible, please advise the desk officer in the lobby.'

Since I know that it is NOT illegal in VA to carry in a police
station, I questioned
the desk officer. She said, and I quote, "we don't want anyone
carrying a gun in
here who isn't an law enforcement officer".

I pointed out that it wasn't illegal, and then she said 'well, maybe here in
the lobby, but not in any of the secured areas in the precinct.' I asked
her to show me a law that said so, and all I got was the 'stunned mullet'
look.

When I got home, I immediately called to discuss it with the Chief;
he stated that the reason for the sign was that many people with warrants
were processed there, and he didn't want them getting hold of permit holders
guns. But, he admitted that there was NO statute or ordinance, and it was
basically a *request*, not a prohibition. He asked that if we were going to
carry, to notify the desk officer.

I can see his point for a specific case; a person carrying openly who does
not have as much weapon retention training as the police might be
vulnerable in there.
But, if they have people in there for processing, shouldn't they be CUFFED?!
And if I'm carrying concealed, the odds of someone taking my firearm are nil,
since they won't even know I HAVE it!"


4. Activism in action - VCDL member wins with Bowl America

VCDL member, Chris O'Conor, after being told by a Bowl America
manager that he couldn't
carry there, contacted Bowl America's regional office. (He was
carrying a handgun
openly because they serve alcohol. The holster had a retention strap
so that there
would be no chance of his gun falling out of the holster.)

The regional office, after a brief discussion, changed their policy
and told him that it
would be OK to carry in Bowl Americas now.

Good show, Chris!


5. Gun show in Roanoke - help needed!

We're having a tough time staffing our gun show operations in
Roanoke. We need YOU!
If you haven't done it before, it's easy and fun. You'll get into the show
for free and make a significant contribution to the right to bear arms.

Alvin Cole is the only activist who has volunteered to help at the Roanoke
show Oct 26-27. Can you please help? Contact Stephen Wren at
swvagunshows@vcvdl.org


6. Skip this movie: "Bowling for Columbine" and contact Walmart

I saw an interview with the director and writer, Michael Moore, of
the new movie
"Bowling for Columbine" last night. This is simply a movie to attack and
vilify gun owners.

My suggestion - Obviously we don't want any of our money going to
this movie. Hopefully it flop.
You might also tell any theatres in your area that are showing the
film that you
will not becoming there to see any movies until that offensive film
is no longer
being shown.

Right now it is at only selected theaters. I have a feeling that it
is not going to be
at very many theaters even later. Good.

And Mr. Moore is trying to pressure Walmart into not selling guns.
It might not be
a bad idea to let Walmart know that law abiding gun owners should not
be punished
for the acts of criminals.

Although VCDL doesn't normally don't put much faith in petitions, per se, here
is the address of a petition that has been setup to counter Mr. Moore's
anti-gun petition to Walmart.

The title of the petition is: Wal-Mart is Everything, Because of its
Customers. Sign
it if you wish - there are currently 1,500 signatures.

http://www.petitiononline.com/GT1776/petition.html


7. VCDL gets letters printed in Virginian Pilot

VCDL members have had several pro-gun letters printed in the
Virginian Pilot. One is
mine, which is followed by a note from the editor of the Pilot.

The following two stories are printed for educational and discussion
purposes only and are
copyright the Virginian Pilot (www.pilotonline.com):

Opposing gun ban in parks started by your own citizens

Your Sept. 27 editorial on 'Fun and guns" is full of misinformation.

First, contrary to what you wrote, Virginians have regularly carried
firearms, both openly and concealed, in the General Assembly.

Then you attempt to portray the movement for restoration of citizen
safety in parks as supported mostly by outside agitators. In fact, 12
of the 14 civil rights supporters who attended the recent Norfolk
City Council meeting were Norfolk and Hampton Roads residents. It was
residents of Norfolk complaining to VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense
League) that brought the whole issue to a head.

As evidenced by your own Pilot Online poll ("Should citizens be
allowed to carry guns in city parks?"), your readership has a better
grip on liberty than you or the City Council: 72 percent believe the
good citizens of Norfolk can be responsible enough to he "allowed"
their right to the means of self-defense.

Philip Van Cleave
President, VCDL, Midlothian

Editor's note: According to state
Capitol police, and staff, citizens with valid permits can carry
weapons to the House gallery but not the Senate gallery.


Self-defense laws should be same around the state

It was no surprise to find the stand taken by The Virginian-Pilot on
the carrying of guns in public parks (editorial, Sept. 27). After
all, buzzwords like "gun-toters" were used to de-scribe the recent
visitors to Norfolk City Council chambers.

The reason that these articulate and well-versed gentlemen came to
Norfolk (and Newport News, Richmond, Fairfax and Roanoke) is that
citizens from all over Virginia have joined Virginia Citizens Defense
League in droves. We want to be able to carry our self-defense guns
in parks, restaurants, civic centers, schools, recreation centers,
churches and everywhere we go.

We want the laws to be uniform so we won't he arrested in Salem for
what is legal in Hopewell. We want no restrictions on where we can
carry.

And oh, you should tell the City Council to drop the ban on guns in
parks. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. One of the
first places these VCDL gentlemen went was the Capitol, where they
were welcomed with open arms by the House of Delegates.

Richard Popkin
Norfolk



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 civil rights of all Virginians. The membership considers the right to keep and bear arms an essential human right.

VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org

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The Second Amendment IS our Homeland Security

Comments

  • Options
    gunphreakgunphreak Member Posts: 1,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Homeland defense rifle.... I like the sound of that.

    Death to Tyrants!!!

    Jesus Christ believed in the right to keep and bear arms, Luke 22:36.

    -Gunphreak
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