VA-ALERT: Antis Mad at VCDL for Gun GiveAway

VA-ALERT: Antis Mad at VCDL for Gun GiveAway
Date: May 13, 2007 3:36 PM
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VCDL's Gun Dealer Legal Defense Fund -- help fight Mayor Bloomberg's
scheme to cripple Virginia firearms dealers. See: www.vcdl.org/index.html#DefenseFund
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The following Washington Post article says that Fairfax County
officials are furious at VCDL over the Bloomberg Gun GiveAway being
held in a County building.

Our intention wasn't to upset them. We just wanted to help two
businesses defend themselves from NYC Vigilante Bloomberg's actions.
However, if they're upset, that's too bad. Rights (at least in
Virginia) are for everyone, not just the few elites (as in NYC).

You are NOT going to believe some of the statements in this article.
I did not have the time to work this item into the Update coming out
very shortly, but it is better as a stand alone alert item anyway.

Let's have standing room only on Thursday night!

My comments are in square brackets throughout this story, with one
misquote (corrected) on the NRA:

http://tinyurl.com/2unubs

Advocates to Give Away Guns to Protest Bloomberg's Lawsuits

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 13, 2007; C03

RICHMOND -- A gun-rights organization is planning to hold a "gun
giveaway" next week inside a Fairfax County government building to
protest New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's efforts to crack down on
illegal gun sales in Virginia.

On Thursday at the Mason District Government Center in Annandale, the
Virginia Citizens Defense League will hold a drawing for a
semiautomatic pistol, a hunting rifle and ammunition to raise money
for two gun shops that Bloomberg has filed suit against.

And because it's Virginia, many people at the "Bloomberg Gun Giveaway"
will probably be armed. League members routinely lobby the Virginia
General Assembly with guns on their hips.

Fairfax County officials are furious about a gun event staged in a
government building but say they can't do much to stop it because the
General Assembly won't allow local governments to ban the possession
of guns in public buildings.

"These people have concealed-weapons permits, and we know they are
packing, but they are legal," said Fairfax Supervisor Penelope A.
Gross (D-Mason). "I swore to uphold the law, whether I like it or
don't, and I don't."

[Am I supposed to be impressed? People obey laws all the time that
they don't like - PVC]

Under Virginia law, a person 21 or older can obtain a permit for
carrying a concealed handgun. No permit is needed if someone 18 or
older wants to carry a gun in plain sight. The league, which says it
has 3,300 members, sent out an e-mail this week reminding members that
"lawful gun carry is optional at the Bloomberg Gun Giveaway."

[We always leave it up to our members to decided if they want to
carry or not, never discouraging or encouraging carry - PVC]

The Citizens Defense League is trying to raise money for Bob Moates
Sport Shop in Richmond and Old Dominion Gun and Tackle in Danville,
two of the six Virginia dealers New York has sued. The legal
challenges stem from Bloomberg's effort to prove that Virginia is a
major contributor to violent crime in New York.

[And Bloomberg has failed miserably at this. Not one single targeted
gun store has been prosecuted for any such charge - PVC]

Convinced that Virginia gun dealers are selling weapons illegally,
Bloomberg sent undercover agents to the stores to conduct "straw
purchases," in which one person fills out a form and buys a gun for
someone else. According to a lawsuit filed a year ago in federal court
in Brooklyn, the city alleges that Bob Moates and Old Dominion Gun
illegally sold guns to Bloomberg's agents.

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League,
said, "We are trying to protect the gun stores that Bloomberg
attacked." He called the Republican mayor "a vigilante. He has come
into Virginia and taken the law into his own hands."

Bloomberg spokesman Jason Post responded: "We will not for one second
back away from our tough law enforcement efforts against illegal guns,
which have made New York the safest big city in the country. We caught
gun dealers on videotape flagrantly violating the law."

[Oh, yeah? Then where are the prosecutions, Mr. Post? - PVC]

To help pay the gun dealers' legal fees, the defense league has
encouraged people to buy weapons from the Moates and Old Dominion
stores. Those who spend more than $100 will have their names entered
into Thursday's drawing. Winners will be able to view the guns at the
meeting but will take possession of their weapon at a gun shop after
filling out the paperwork, Van Cleave said.

When she learned of the event last week, Gross intervened to see
whether the drawing was legal. Gross concluded that the county cannot
prohibit a group from using community meeting rooms because of its
political views. And because the organizers won't be selling tickets
at the meeting, Gross said it appears that the group is not violating
state or local laws regulating raffles.

[We are not so sure that Fairfax County is through trying to stop the
meeting. Hopefully we are wrong. - PVC]

Even so, Del. Adam P. Ebbin, a Democrat who represents parts of
Alexandria and Fairfax County, called the event "embarrassing."

[That's funny. As a Virginian, I am embarrassed by Delegate Ebbin's
votes on gun related bills - PVC]

"I guess this group wants to rub salt in the wound and prove we can't
stop firearms in our buildings," Ebbin said. "It would be nice if they
put their energy into making sure people who shouldn't have guns
don't, instead of passing around extra guns."

[That is NOT our intent, of course. All of our NoVA meetings have
been held at that government center for many, many years. This one
is no different. - PVC]

The gun giveaway is turning off some sportsmen groups. "It really
gives legitimate gun owners and shooters a bad name when you see
something like this," said Fairfax resident Bob Ricker, executive
director of the American Hunters and Shooters Association.

[Of all the groups to quote. The "American Hunters and Shooters
Association," with prominent anti-gunner Robert Ricker in tow, is a
"sportsman's group?" Oh, please. That shell organization is
certainly not a LEGITIMATE sportsman's group - see the NRA's comments
on them:
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/articles/read.aspx?ID=231
- PVC]

Fairfax has been pushing for state legislation that would allow local
governments to ban the possession of firearms in county buildings,
police stations and public libraries. The Republican-controlled
General Assembly has killed the bills, demonstrating the disconnect
between Northern Virginia and the rest of the state on gun-control
issues.

[This attempted gun ban dies every year because the General Assembly
knows it serves no purpose other than to stick gun owners in the eye.
It was Fairfax County years ago that admitted in front of a
subcommittee that their proposed gun ban would not be enforced
against "that kind of person," referring to a question about an armed
repairman who might drop in to fix something. The Delegates' jaws
dropped open with everyone wondering what kind of person it WOULD be
applied to. Oooops, Fairfax County, your agenda is showing! - PVC]

Del. C.L. "Clay" Athey Jr. (R-Warren) said law-abiding citizens who
carry guns shouldn't have restrictions placed on where they can go.

"The reality is, it may be helpful for someone who is qualified to
carry a concealed weapon to be there in a public building in case some
[shooting] occurs," said Athey, noting that many retired police
officers have concealed-weapons permits.

The Virginia Citizens Defense League was formed in 1994 to fight for
the rights of people who want to carry concealed weapons. The group
often spars with the Fairfax-based National Rifle Association, which
it accuses of being too willing to compromise on gun control.

[That is NOT my quote. I said the NRA is SOMETIMES too willing to
compromise on gun control. Certainly not always. - PVC]

In Richmond, the league holds considerable influence among lawmakers
who represent rural areas. But the group is known for its aggressive
lobbying tactics in support of its agenda, including a bill that would
allow students to carry guns on college campuses.

State Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax) said some league
members have threatened her in the past over her support for tougher
gun laws.

"They are mean-spirited, and they won't listen or reason," Devolites
Davis said.

[WHAT?!? See my email to Senator Devolites-Davis below and comments
about her. I think it is fair to say that if SHE would present us
with something REASONED we would be glad to listen! She's too busy
trying to be another Carolyn McCarthy, a ferociously anti-gun
Congresswoman from New York - PVC]

Bloomberg has said the group is made up of "sick people."

[Meaningful words from a vigilante - PVC]

Mike Stollenwork, a defense league member from the Alexandria section
of Fairfax County, responded: "We are tenacious but polite. . . . We
defend civil liberties."

--

Senator Devolites-Davis's accusations that VCDL members have
'threatened' her and are "are mean-spirited, and they won't listen
or
reason" are most probably based on sour grapes.

Just this year, Senator Davis, who is running on a anti-gun platform
this fall, put in a bill that would hurt gun shows. VCDL fought that
bill vigorously and your efforts caused her bill to be repeatedly
passed by, as Davis could not get the votes to get it out of the
Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

She held a press conference that was supposed to be about her
'victory' in getting her gun show bill out of committee. Of course
that didn't happen, so it became a much different press conference
about her fight to get it out of committee.

There were more VCDL members sitting in on her press conference than
supporters! That was something that the Senator did NOT miss.

As soon as she ended the press conference the press rushed over to
interview VCDL members, ignoring Davis and her allies. That was
something that the Senator did NOT miss, either.

In the end, the only 'threats' that she has gotten from VCDL is to
her political aspirations. Those aspirations, hopefully, will go the
way of her gun show bill.

If you would like to see the videos and pictures of that press
conference disaster for Senator Davis, click here for the original
alert:

http://tinyurl.com/2p5qmc

My email to Senator Davis regarding her claim in the Washington Post
that she's been threatened by VCDL members:

--

Dear Senator Devolites-Davis,

While VCDL strongly disagrees with you on firearm laws, VCDL
certainly does not condone threats of violence from our members to
anyone.

Nor do we take accusations against VCDL lightly.

I therefore ask that you provide me any and all information
concerning the threats that you told the Washington Post that you
have received from VCDL members. Please include associated police
reports, including arrest reports or judicial verdicts. We will then
investigate and remove any such offenders from our membership.

Do understand that someone who has said they will NOT vote for you or
who will actively support an opponent is NOT a threat of the nature
implied in the Washington Post.

I also ask that if you have no information on VCDL or its members
making threats to your physical (as opposed to political) safety,
that you issue a public apology forthwith.

Sincerely,

Philip Van Cleave
President
Virginia Citizens Defense League
804-639-0600

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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 membership considers the
Right to Keep and Bear Arms to be an essential human right.

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




The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !