VA: MMM has its protest at a church instead of the Richmond gun show

MMM has its protest at a church instead of the Richmond gun show
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The Million Mom March, knowing that their ideas don't have a prayer,
moved their Richmond gun show protest from the Showplace to a church
across the street from gun show this afternoon.

They had a mixture of men and women dressed in black (well not all of
them, some were actually wearing white or gray).

As I crossed the street to get to the church, press from local TV
stations (channels 12 [NBC] and 6 [CBS]) and the Richmond Times
Dispatch came over to interview me. I gave them handouts stating the
truth about each of the Million Mom's lies.

One of the MMM leaders came stomping over to see what all of the
press were doing near the street. She was not happy that they were
interviewing me.

Even though VCDL members and other attendees at the gun show didn't
know about the last minute change of venue, we still had over 20
members at the protest, including quite a few women of all ages, all
of whom were open carrying! Some member brought signs and held them
right next to the MMM's signs, getting our message out quite nicely.

Our message? Gun control played a major roll in the deaths of those
32 people. Also, of course, there is NO gun show loophole.

After the lie-in was over, I took the reporter from Channel 12, the
NBC affiliate, into the gun show, as she said she had never been to
one. Although she wasn't allowed to tape (but was told she would be
able to in the future with sufficient notice), she spent about 20
minutes walking around and taking everything in.

I explained to her what the 'assault weapon ban' farce was all about
and showed her the evil parts of such a weapon - the folding stock,
the pistol grip, the flash suppressor, and the ever deadly bayonet
lug. She was taken aback.

I explained that the food, holster, ammunition, clothing, and coin
vendors she was looking at were included in the anti-gunners' count
of 'unlicensed gun show dealers.' I explained that they do this
deception to make gun shows seem like there are far more private
sellers than there really are. She was quite amazed at the small
number of private sellers, as well as the small number of guns those
sellers offered, as compare to the huge tables that commercial
vendors had.

I also took her back to the room where the Virginia State Police run
the background checks on purchasers. I explained that in Virginia,
if a felon tries to buy a gun, while he is waiting for the approval,
the police immediately arrest him.

All in all, I think she was glad she came in to the gun show so she
could better understand the issue.

Several of our members video taped the event and I should have some
links to the videos soon.

This just came in from Channel 12:

http://www.nbc12.com/news/state/10691606.html

Protesters call for change at gun show
By Sunni Blevins, NBC12 News
The issue of gun control came to a head today in Henrico County as
protesters gathered across the street from a popular gun show.

Exercising their first amendment right, dozens of people turned out
to protest, not the gun show itself, but what they think is a
loophole in Virginia law that allows private sellers to sell someone
a gun without doing a background check.

Also there, a group of people who are pro-gun who say they don't want
anyone to interfere with their second amendment right to bear arms.

One by one, they lay down.

32 people representing not only the 32 victims at Virginia Tech, but
the average number of people who are murdered everyday.

They remained for three minutes...representative of how long it takes
to buy a gun in this country.

Steps away, others gathered...silently showcasing their pro-gun
position...and opposition to this groups protest across the street
from a weekend gun show.

Both sides came in peace, but have differing opinions.

"We had a problem at Virginia Tech, but it wasn't the gun, it was
somebody that picked up that tool and had the blackness of the heart
to actually murder someone and that's the problem," said Philip Van
Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

"One of the main problems we have is guns getting into the hands of
the wrong kinds of people, Cho's a perfect example" [That is NOT MY
quote. It must be from Andy Goddard, below. - PVC]

Andy Goddard's son Colin survived that fateful day at Virginia
Tech...after being shot four times.

Now, Andy says he'll do what he can to stop gun violence...and
believes gun shows are a good place to start.

"There are people in their [sic] right now selling guns today without
going through the background check system," said Goddard. "They are
selling what they call a private collection, or they are just
unlicensed dealers who are just selling guns and all you need to be
able to get guns in there is this stuff."

But gun advocates say protesting a gun show is not going to help their cause.

"There is nothing you can do inside a gun show that you can't do
outside a gun show," said Van Cleave. "A person who is selling
privately isn't required to do a background check to sell you a gun,
but that's true anywhere. If you came to my house, and I wanted to
sell you a gun...I don't need to do that." ["That" being a
background check. - PVC]



The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !