Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL)

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.
PO. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 • 804-639-0600 • 703-372-3285 • 757-271-3705 • 540-446-5783

08/04/09 - VCDL Update 8/4/09 - Part 3

store clerk to void the transaction. No other store would have known about the incident because the background check was never started. After leaving the pawnshop, Hockman went home to pick up a checkbook for a closed account - one that identified her as Donna Reedy. She then went to Rockingham Cooperative in Harrisonburg. According to testimony that came out during her trial, Hockman told the clerk she needed a gun for protection from an abusive boyfriend. She also said she wanted hollow-point bullets so they wouldn't go through a body. Hockman proceeded to purchase a .380-caliber handgun with her old name and a bad starter check, which the store couldn't verify. Stanley doesn't understand why a store selling expensive merchandise doesn't have a check reader. "I work at [a convenience store] and you can't buy $10 worth of stuff without getting it approved," she said. Stanley also wants to see a three-day waiting period to buy handguns enacted in Virginia. "[Dustin] could have found out she had a gun or she could have changed her mind," she said. "If they refused that sale that day, my son might still be alive." [PVC: I'm sorry for Ms. Stanley's loss. But she doesn't understand that if Hockman wanted Dustin dead, being turned down on the gun purchase wouldn't have stopped her. Guns are not the only way to commit murder by any means.] Remembering Dustin But because of the ease Hockman had in getting a gun, Stanley says, her son is dead. Now, it's hard for her to go to her mother's Mount Jackson home, where Dustin was living until his murder. The last time she saw him, he was standing on the outside steps, admiring the windows he recently painted. "I just feel sick knowing that was the last place I saw him," Stanley said. While Stanley has had trouble dealing with her loss, Dustin's grandmother, Gracie Stout, also is feeling the pain. Just days before the killing, Stout made Dustin one of his favorite meals: Southern-fried pork chops, cabbage, corn bread and fried potatoes. Stout said she hasn't cooked that meal since, nor has she had the courage to go to his grave in Edinburg. "My husband is buried right beside him, but I can't go to the grave," she said. In addition to his mother and grandmother, Dustin left behind four children: Alec, 7, Brayden, 6, and twin girls, Maison and McKenzie, 2. Stanley said her son's children meant everything to him. "He might have been a little behind on his child support, but he loved those kids and they knew it," she said. Stanley found some said satisfaction knowing that the jury cleared her son's name after Hockman accused him of domestic violence. On Jan. 30, a Rockingham County jury found Hockman, who claimed self- defense, guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced her to life in prison. Stanley said she hopes Hockman's stay in prison is a mental torture. "Donna wasn't crazy. She was evil, mean and jealous," Stanley said. "I hope she's thinking about Dustin. I hope it haunts her every day." ************************************************** 20. Virginia sets new gun-law record ************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 2009 Complete contact info at end VIRGINIA SETS NEW GUN-LAW RECORD Study Shows Highest Count in History A new study being released by Bloomfield Press reveals that Virginia has surpassed its own record for gun laws on the books, with 193 statutes totalling 47,321 words of gun law. The large body of law is included in the just-released 7th edition of "The Virginia Gun Owner's Guide," the plain-English guide the firm has been publishing since 1995. Bloomfield Press, which operates gunlaws.com, is the largest publisher and distributor of gun-law books in the country. Copies of the guide for media review are available on request. "For more than a decade, a year hasn't gone by when Virginia did not increase its gun laws," according to Alan Korwin, the book's co- author. "Many of these limit the rights of citizens, but others protect rights for Virginians, and of course some are aimed directly at criminals." The crime problems Virginia faces are similar to other states, he says. "We have the laws, but criminals simply ignore them and law enforcement cannot keep up. Passing more laws just hasn't helped the enforcement vacuum or the root causes and public policies that push people to the dark side." The bulk of criminal "gun deaths" are actually war deaths, he says, in the war on some drugs. Everything remotely criminal about gun use is already outlawed, often more than once, Korwin notes, but words on paper only matter after a crime and then only when perpetrators are caught, which is unfortunately rare. Laws that protect citizens' gun rights have led to numerous documented cases of self defense and crime deterrence. This is especially true for the discreet-carry laws that have swept the nation. These have helped put the average person on the street on an equal footing with armed thugs who roam freely, act irresponsibly and who can no longer victimize the public with impunity. The FBI does not track justifiable homicides, grand jury "no-bills" and defensive gun uses -- none of which are crimes. But 13 scholarly studies have put the figures for defensive gun use between 700,000 and 2.5 million incidents per year, depending on definitions, time frame and sampling size. "It's popular to say there are 20,000 gun laws on the books, but this is misleading," Korwin says. "One law, like the federal Brady law, covers scores of different situations and events. Does that put you under one rule or dozens?" Virginia now has 193 numbered laws, but with more than 47,000 words, it's obvious there are more than 193 things covered by the Commonwealth's gun laws. Bloomfield Press has assessed this complex issue at http://www.gunlaws.com/faq.htm#howmany. Alan Korwin Bloomfield Press "We publish the gun laws." 4848 E. Cactus, #505-440 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 602-996-4020 Phone 602-494-0679 Fax 1-800-707-4020 Orders http://www.gunlaws.com alan*gunlaws.com Call, write, fax or click for free full-color catalog (This is our address and info as of Jan. 1, 2007) Alan Korwin is a 20-year member of the Society of Professional Journalists and author of 11 books, so far. His next book, about free speech and all the things you can no longer say, is entitled "Bomb Jokes at Airports" and is expected soon. ************************************************** 21. US: Four arrested in attack on elderly man ************************************************** Who needs to have a gun within reach in their own home? http://tinyurl.com/n9pc3h Four Arrested in Alleged Scam, Attack Targeting Elderly Man posted 5:34 pm Tue July 21, 2009 - STAFFORD, Va. from NewsChannel 8 - http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0709/642381.html Authorities say an 89-year-old man survived an alleged scam and assault after police say four Stafford County men tried to take his money. All four men are reportedly under arrest Tuesday night and police are wondering if there could be more victims. The neighbors know what happened -- especially those who have lived near Hope Road for a long time. Their elderly friend fought off men who tried to take his money. "One was talking to him while the other ones were in his house doing what they need to do.... whatever they were after money or whatever they could get a hold of," said Bennie Lester, a neighbor. Stafford County deputies say the men faced the barrel of the man's gun after they allegedly forced their way into his home and began to attack him. "He ended up on the floor. He was able to get the gun from underneath the mattress and then he brandished the firearm, pointed it at them and at that point they began to taunt him," said Major David Decatur of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Investigators say the victim was approached last week by the men who traveled in a red pickup truck. They reportedly said they'd been there before to reseal his asphalt driveway and offered to do it again at a discount rate of $2,000 if he paid in cash. The victim did and when his family found out and believed he'd been scammed, they filed a report at the sheriff's office. The next day, deputies say they received a 911 call for help from the man who said the men had returned and were ransacking his house. That's when, authorities say, the homeowner pulled a gun on them. The alleged scam artists left but deputies caught up with them a few miles away and arrested all four. "It is scary -- now we'll watch out for more closely," said Mary Lester, a neighbor. Shirley Gibson says her driveway was resealed last month but she was careful who did the work. "We haven't had anybody stop and try to take our [money]," she said. ************************************************** 22. UK: Man arrested after confronting gang at home ************************************************** Only in Britain would they arrest the victim and charge him with attempted murder because, while scuffling with a gang of thugs who invaded his home, he stabbed a criminal with a letter opener! (I'll bet they ban "assault" letter openers next.) Britain's crime rate is now the highest in Europe, higher than America, and on it's way to beating South Africa. Yep - that gun control really works! http://tinyurl.com/mm3lkt telegraph.co.uk Man held after confronting gang at home A businessman was held on suspicion of attempted murder after confronting a gang of youths who allegedly threatened to kill his wife and attacked his stepson outside their home. Ben Leach and David Barrett Published: 10:35PM BST 25 Jul 2009 Colin Philpott was roused from bed and, still barefoot, challenged the group as his stepson, Alex, was battered in the front garden of the family's #500,000 property. In the scuffle which followed, one of the youths, named locally as Josh Hasler, was stabbed a number of times and collapsed in the street. Police were called, leading to the arrest of Mr Philpott and five of the youths, aged 16 and 17. The incident took place in an estate in Crowthorne, Berks, which residents said had been plagued by problems with drunken, rowdy teenagers from outside the area who congregate at a nearby park. Mr Philpott's wife, Susanne, said she confronted the gang on Friday night after her husband's van was damaged. "It was all so very surreal and scary. You never expect this kind of violence to happen in your neighbourhood, let alone on your doorstep," said Mrs Philpott, a training consultant. "When the police arrived and arrested Colin, I was gobsmacked. It was heartbreaking to see him handcuffed and carted off like a common criminal - he is a hardworking, honest family man. "Any action taken by my husband was as a result of a desire to protect his family and loved ones, and to defend his property." Mrs Philpott said her neighbourhood had recently experienced problems with drunken behaviour involving youths. She said she and her son left their home after they heard a bang. She added: "We saw two young guys outside our house. When we saw a big dent in my husband's van, Alex asked them if they had done it. They denied it and disappeared off around the corner. "They returned 15 minutes later - with three others - and were all visibly drunk. "When they started shouting outside the house, we came out again and this time I took a digital camera with me and told them that if they vandalised anything else, I'd take pictures as evidence. "It was then that one particularly drunk and rowdy teenager threatened me. He said that if I took a picture, he would kill me and burn down my house. "I was terrified by his words and when Alex tried to calm him down, the other four got worked up and the gang attacked him. "He ended up on the ground with all five of those yobs on him, kicking him in the head and stomach. "I was so frightened for him that I screamed for Colin, who until this point had been in bed. He came running out - still barefoot and half asleep - and saw the mess that Alex was in. "In the blink of an eye, the lads attacked Colin and I saw one stumble into the road as Colin screamed for me to call the police and ambulance service." Mrs Philpott's 25-year-old son was treated in hospital for a broken nose and concussion. The 16-year-old boy who was stabbed five times in the chest was said to be in a stable condition at Royal Berkshire Hospital. It was believed a letter opener may have been involved in the incident. Police arrested Mr Philpott, 57, who runs an escalator cleaning company, on suspicion of attempted murder. He was held in custody. Mrs Philpott, 51, said the tree-lined road where the family lives had been blighted by unruly teenagers attacking cars and pulling up plants and flowers from gardens for several months. Earlier this week, Mr Philpott's Jaguar S-type car was smeared with hair gel while it was parked in the driveway. Stephen Webb, a neighbour, said: "They do get a lot of drinking and trouble down that end of the road." Yesterday, police installed a panic alarm at the Philpotts' five-bedroom home in case they were targeted again. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said that three 17-year-old and two 16-year-old boys had been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage and were in custody. Police added last night that Mr Philpott had been released on bail. ************************************************** 23. Replica rifle has Brooklyn man at odds with cops ************************************************** It's fun watching Mr. Littlejohn thumb his nose at New York and its Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, over Littlejohn's perfectly legal, non- registered, antique rifle: http://tinyurl.com/ku5ajy nydailynews.com Up in arms over gun: Replica rifle has Brooklyn man at odds with cops BY JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN DAILY NEWS WRITER Wednesday, July 29th 2009, 4:00 AM Like America's first soldiers at the Battle of Brooklyn, Michael Littlejohn is fighting for his right to bear arms. The Revolutionary War buff charges the Bloomberg administration with tyranny for trying to seize his handmade flintlock rifle - a dead ringer for the weapon once used against the redcoats. "This is the last legal gun that you can have without registration in New York," Littlejohn said. "And yet Mayor Bloomberg is driven crazy by my flintlock gun - the one that won the American Revolution." Littlejohn fired the first shot when he hired a Tennessee blacksmith to recreate the vintage rifle. It arrived at his Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, apartment in June - followed quickly by city cops. Police claim it's illegal for Littlejohn to keep the flintlock without a gun license. Littlejohn, 50, cites the earliest American patriots as his inspiration while refusing to surrender his firearm or apply for a license. The social worker is also clinging to a little-known exemption in the city's strict gun laws. The loophole allows license-free ownership of "antique firearms" - defined as rifles that require the bullet and gunpowder to be loaded separately. Littlejohn's rifle appears to fit the bill. Loading the weapon, he explains, is a multistep process that takes several pokes with a ramrod and up to a minute to complete. To fire, the rifle relies on a sharpened piece of flint that produces a spark when the trigger is pulled. That point is moot, Littlejohn says: He doesn't own gunpowder or bullets. That's not enough to make the NYPD retreat. The cops visited Littlejohn's apartment and sat down this month with the Tennessee blacksmith who forged the rifle. The lead detective on the case told Littlejohn's lawyer that he had orders "from higher-ups" to pursue the case, according to an e-mail the lawyer sent to Littlejohn. Littlejohn's interest in the Revolutionary War dates to his childhood. He grew up playing tag outside the upstate Newburgh house used in 1782-83 as Gen. George Washington's headquarters. As an adult, he joined in Colonial American reenactments in Virginia and Georgia. The NYPD learned about Littlejohn's $825 rifle when he left a receipt inside a Staples copy center, prompting a call to the cops. Cops aren't threatening to arrest Littlejohn - yet. Lawyer Joyce David, who represented Littlejohn until it became too expensive, says her ex-client could wind up with a summons. A police source says the war could end peacefully if Littlejohn applied for a permit with the NYPD handgun license division. Littlejohn would rather fight. The Brooklynite says he's willing to sue for his rifle rights. ************************************************** 24. Don't trust your life to cheap ammo ************************************************** Advice from VA-ALERT reader Craig Faunce: In addition to not buying cheap guns, I would also suggest not buying cheap ammo... Yeah, I know that quality hollow points are running pretty high these days (I think I'm paying about $30 now for 25 rounds), but I think my life's worth it. I'd also stress to people not to buy too much gun. Sure, a .357 snubby might sound great, but it's not going to do much good if you can't line up that second shot in time to have it count. ************************************************** 25. God, guns, guts, and CNN's idiot reporters ************************************************** http://tinyurl.com/m8bvb6 sglogan.blogspot.com 7.19.2009 God, Guns, Guts, and CNN's Idiot Reporters Greetings, Instapundit readers! "You don't have a problem with God, do ya?" This is a question posed to CNN reporter Carol Costello during a recent interview with Mark Muller, a Missouri car dealer whose company is offering an unusual incentive: a free AK-47 with the purchase of a vehicle. Thanks to Muller, we now know Costello doesn't have a problem with God. (She answered in the negative). We also know she's, for lack of a more dignified term--not because I can't think of one but because she doesn't deserve it--just plain dumb. In CNN's true journalistic fashion, she throws in a requisite number of liberal jabs after screwing up her guest's name and before attempting to engage him in a theological battle of wits, asking "Would Jesus carry a gun?" Muller responds to her jabs and ludicrous questioning with the kind of down-home common sense that make me proud to be a Southerner. "No. They didn't have guns back then, but I do believe He'd carry a sword if he needed it. But He was so powerful he didn't need any weapon." Frankly, I'm suprised that CNN even aired the clip. I'm sure they expected "country bumpkin" Muller to come out with the short end of the stick against "city slicker" Costello. What the producers didn't realize was that the stick was lodged so far up Ms. Costello's hind end that Muller wouldn't have had a shot at it ... not even with an AK-47. But don't take my word for it. Watch for yourselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukVAJ0Qf4G8 ************************************************** 26. Life and Death Clock ************************************************** Thanks to a Maryland Shall Issue email for the link: http://tinyurl.com/78h58 ************************************************** 27. Glenn Beck carries a gun to the movies? ************************************************** http://tinyurl.com/nt839d (Facebook Video) ************************************************** 28. Wanted: VA-ALERT Editors ************************************************** As they saying goes, "When it rains, it pours." VCDL has two volunteers who compile and edit the basic VA-ALERT materials for me, Philip Levy and Paul Kent. This saves me several hours of time, freeing me up to do other things for the group. Unfortunately, both have other commitments that have come up and they wish to resign. So VCDL needs a couple of volunteers to pick up the ball and carry on. Here's what Philip and Paul currently do: * I email Philip and Paul the articles that I want in the next VCDL Update as I see them during the week * Philip and Paul take turns each week compiling those stories into an update * At the end of the week whoever is doing the compilation emails me the Update * I then annotate and distribute the Update to all of you. Philip developed some software to make the compilation easier and is willing to provide it to the new editors. If you are interested in become one of the two VA-ALERT editors, or if you are willing to do it every week as a sole editor, reply to this Update and let me know. I would like to thank Philip and Paul for all the time they have donated to help me with the Updates and for the great job they have done over the years! While Philip and Paul have generously volunteered to keep doing the Updates until I have found replacements, I would like to begin the transition as soon as possible so they can be cut loose. ------------------------------------------- ***************************************************************************