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

10/15/09 - VCDL Update 10/15/09 - Part 1

Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VCDL Update 10/15/09 - "There is no way to rule innocent men. The only = power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws." =97 Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged." 1. Virginia gun group to protest Congressman Cantor's "roundup" on Oct. 17 2. Reminder: VCDL president speaking at Liberty University on Friday 3. Welcome to new Richmond gun show coordinators 4. Who needs a gun at home? 5. Dennis O'Connor responds to Lori Hass's LTE in the Catholic Virginian 6. Gun control advocates appeal to emotionalism, not facts 7. Update: Malicious wounding/false report to police/arrest 8. Reichley column: Let guns on the VRE 9. Appleseed info 10. Old Hampton Community Center "No Guns" sign 11. Virginia county drops park carry ban 12. Bloomberg ad 13. University of Pennsylvania school of medicine poll 14. 2008/09 Norfolk Harborfest ordinances 15. Church starts gun "surrender" program in Lynchburg 16. International shooting lessons 17. Guns in the shower 18. LTE: Don't worry about me, worry about criminals 19. Newport News store owner shoots man during attempted robbery 20. MAIG member Dwight C. Jones demands Virginia close gun show 'loophole' 21. Pics from Ladies Day at Black Creek Range 10/03/09 22. VB gun show Oct 10 & 11 23. VCDL sticker might have saved my life 24. Chantilly gun show and a really cool news article 25. Gun-toting soccer mom's death re-ignites national debate on gun rights 26. Cops shoots homeowner who has burglar at gunpoint 27. Who needs a gun on campus? 28. 450 mayors sign letter to Obama demanding dozens of gun control laws 29. 13 y.o. boy repels burglars from home with 20 ga. shotgun 30. Guns are the new abortion 31. Primer for Terry stops and open carry 32. In U.S., record low support for stricter gun laws 33. Incredible ballistic slow-motion videos 34. Anti-gun N.C. state senator shoots intruder 35. Feds sued to keep out of state's gun affairs 36. VCDL EM fixes Leesburg's invalid ordinances ************************************************** 1. Virginia gun group to protest Congressman Cantor's "roundup" on Oct. 17 ************************************************** VCDL to protest "round up" no-guns policy. Click the link to read the = whole article. http://tinyurl.com/ycskhv3 www.examiner.com " . . . for several years now they [VCDL] have been asking Representative Eric Cantor (R - VA) . . . to hold their annual Roundup = at a venue which respects gun rights . . . But the Republicans have steadfastly refused . . . Said Gunst to other rally planners, "we consider ourselves a freedom friendly mall, and at this point we have the Roundup surrounded." ************************************************** 2. Reminder: VCDL president speaking at Liberty University on Friday ************************************************** I will be one of two speakers at Liberty University this Friday, October 16. Liberty University is having the Second Amendment Symposium from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Supreme Courtroom on campus. The talks will center around Second Amendment rights and also concealed carry permits = in Virginia. There will be a Question and Answer session following the speakers. A = catered reception will follow in the Mountain View Room. (Liberty University is considering allowing students, faculty, and staff to carry and hopefully the symposium will open some eyes and provide some important information to those attending.) The Symposium is open to the public. If you are one Facebook, you can = RSVP by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142893404557 ************************************************** 3. Welcome to new Richmond gun show coordinators - volunteers needed for area gun shows ************************************************** VCDL would like to welcome our two new VCDL gun shows coordinators for = the Richmond area: Paul Henick and John Bell. VCDL is continuing to grow and we have decided to expand the number of = gun shows we are doing in the Richmond area. To avoid overloading our current Richmond gun show coordinator, EM Audrey Muehleisen, we had asked for volunteers to head up the new gun shows and Paul and John stepped up to the plate. Paul and John need to start lining up volunteers to work the gun show table at the new Meadow Event Park gun show on October 30th - November = 1st. If you want to volunteer, reply to me and I will forward to Paul and John (we don't have a reflector setup for them yet). ************************************************** 4. Who needs a gun at home? ************************************************** Nobody, if you don't mind being pistol-whipped and robbed: http://tinyurl.com/ylxfaz7 http://hamptonroads.com Robbers pistol-whip two adults in Virginia Beach By Kathy Adams The Virginian-Pilot October 7, 2009 VIRGINIA BEACH Police are looking for three men who entered a home on Newtown Road on = Tuesday afternoon and robbed and pistol-whipped two people. The incident occurred at an apartment in the Broad Meadows complex in the 900 block of Newtown Road. The men stole a small amount of cash and jewelry before ransacking the residence and fleeing, Officer Adam Bernstein said. At least two of the men were armed, Bernstein said. Both victims were transported to the hospital for treatment of head lacerations. A child was also present but was not injured, he said. ************************************************** 5. Dennis O'Connor responds to Lori Hass's LTE in the Catholic Virginian ************************************************** self-defense is a moral obligation http://tinyurl.com/yfgdvbh www.catholicvirginian.org Reader disagrees with curbs on firearms I read with incredulity Lori Haas's emotional commentary ("Why does gun violence permeate our society?" Sept. 21 issue), full of falsehoods that I will leave to others to address, questioning whether = Christians do enough to prevent violence. Because of misuses by criminals, she illogically demands curbs on the ready availability of firearms, which actually save up to 2.5 million lives each year. No other self-defense tool can be employed as effectively by trained citizens to stop violent attacks and prevent deaths, even against determined attackers who are younger, stronger, bigger, and faster. Over 90 percent of the time, the defensive firearm isn't even discharged; its mere presence neutralizes the danger. But even in a worst case scenario where the attacker's death results, self-defense is declared legitimate by our Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2263). Pope John Paul II, in his Encyclical Letter EVANGELIUM VITAE (1995), explains that a Christian's defense of self and others is more than just a right, but a moral obligation: "Certainly the intrinsic value of life and the duty to love oneself no = less than others are the basis of a true right to self- defense...legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another's life, the common good of the family or of the state." As a Catholic, a rights advocate with the Virginia Citizens Defense League, and a certified instructor, my personal ministry is to provide = firearm safety training to citizens desiring state permits to carry handguns. I advocate for the right to life at all stages of the human experience, including the right of all to defend their own lives and that of their loved ones. And so I will always fervently oppose misguided attempts to impede access to firearms for those who need and want them, so violence can be prevented where necessary, and innocent life protected and preserved. Dennis J. O'Connor Prince George ************************************************** 6. Gun control advocates appeal to emotionalism, not facts ************************************************** Follow up from Dennis to his letter in item #5, above: -- Editor, The Catholic Virginian: Following two letters (Oct. 5) which correctly pegged the tone of Lori Haas's commentary ("Why does gun violence permeate our society?" Sept 21) as "emotional," the editor chastised that those critical should give Haas "some slack" because of the injury done to her daughter. Haas and her fellow anti-rights lobbyists have been very successful in refining the emotionalism in their many appearances, panels, interviews, and commentaries as a tool to stifle opposing views. While I applaud The Catholic Virginian for journalistic integrity in publishing opposing views even while the editor may deem such opposition insensitive, many other publications throughout the commonwealth have refused to let pro-rights responses see the light of day out of fear of being perceived unsympathetic. On Thursday, September 24th, I attended, with dozens from the group "Students for Concealed Carry on Campus" (SCCC), a "discussion on violence prevention" at Virginia Tech arranged by the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention, which supports further restrictions on access to firearms. The discussion panel was made up entirely of anti-rights activists, including Lori Haas. When I began passing out orange stickers to gun rights supporters who stood in line to be identified as such, the "moderator" aggressively demanded that I stop as it was discourteous and disrespectful to those of the panel who were part of her "ministry" and who had suffered tragedies. When I continued distributing the stickers after telling her that the many attending in opposition wish to be heard and identified, she stormed off to a police captain in the corner of the room and then returned to me, misrepresenting what the officer said (I checked with him afterward) and demanding I stop as I was breaking the law (I wasn't). Later, when several members of SCCC wanted to speak, local TV affiliate WDBJ News 7 showed Lori Haas saying "Frankly it was not planned as a debate." How long will these oft-appearing lobbyists toiling to restrict the rights of others get a free pass on their one-sided propaganda program, by shielding themselves in the cloak of sympathy to censor dissent? Dennis J. O'Connor Parishioner, St. James Catholic Church ************************************************** 7. Update: Malicious wounding/false report to police/arrest ************************************************** Springfield mall beating mentioned in last week's Update was a fabrication; the wounds were self-inflicted: http://tinyurl.com/yh5b66q www.fairfaxcounty.gov UPDATE: MALICIOUS WOUNDING/FALSE REPORT TO POLICE/ARREST Springfield Mall 6600 *Detectives have determined that a man made a false police report on September 29 when he alleged he was robbed and stabbed at Springfield Mall, located at 6660 = Springfield Mall. The 21- year-old man reported he was inside the mall around 9:20 p.m. when he was approached by two men. The suspects reportedly demanded the victim's wallet and he complied. He went on to report that one of the suspects stabbed him in the upper body with a knife then fled. The victim was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. An investigation revealed his injuries were self-inflicted. Anthony Chedid, of 6427 Franconia Court in Springfield, was arrested on Thursday, October 1 and taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with filing a false police report. ************************************************** 8. Reichley column: Let guns on the VRE ************************************************** Guns on trains will not turn people into homicidal maniacs http://tinyurl.com/yzylpcq www2.insidenova.com Reichley Column: Let guns on the VRE Charles Reichley Published: October 6, 2009 The Virginia Railway Express has voted to follow Virginia law, "allowing" law-abiding gun owners to carry their weapons on the VRE trains. Some people seem to think this is a problem, as if our friends and neighbors who have long carried their guns around without incident will somehow turn into homicidal killers on their morning commute. After all, haven't we all seen the movie "Falling Down," which showed that we are all one rude driver away from blowing up a construction site with a bazooka? Of course, I haven't heard of any incidents of mild-mannered VRE commuters suddenly beating their fellow passengers senseless with a briefcase. Columnist Davon Gray thinks the Virginia General Assembly should exempt VRE from the law. His main reason seems to be that there is something about trains that just make them a bad place for a gun. He says that "a crowded train and random people carrying guns" scares him. As opposed to a crowded street, or a crowded shopping center, or a crowded stadium, or a crowded park, or wherever else you might find random law-abiding citizens who might be packing heat. He says there are "too many threats on our transit system as it is." Now, I hadn't thought of the VRE as a dangerous place, but if there are "many threats," I would think a person who owns a gun for protection would want to have that gun with them to counter the "threats." Not to mention that the right to carry a gun when you are not on the train isn't much use if you can't take the gun on the train. Davon also explains specific rules in Virginia law about carrying guns, implying the rules change will bring out new owners who can't be trusted to know how to properly behave. But I doubt that someone who doesn't own a gun now is going to think, "Hey, I should buy a gun now that I can carry it on the VRE." However, there is one real problem -- our basic right to self-defense ends at Virginia's borders. Despite the court ruling lifting the D.C. gun ban, non-residents are still prohibited from carrying guns, with few exceptions. This means most commuters will still have to leave their weapons home, even though the most dangerous part of their day could well be when they walk the streets of the capital. And again, the right to carry a gun in some places is meaningless if you have to leave your gun at home because you are spending any part of your day in a place that treats you like a criminal. The answer to this problem isn't banning guns in more places, but to lift the non-resident ban on guns in D.C. The ban doesn't stop people in D.C. from being killed with guns, but it does guarantee that the law-conscious citizens of our country are sitting ducks for any robber, mugger or miscreant who needs only to check a license plate to know that their victims can't defend themselves. In a related story, the U.S. Senate has voted to allow passengers to carry guns on Amtrak -- but only in their checked luggage. Airline passengers can already do so, which again allows upstanding citizens who can legally carry a gun to also take that gun with them on trips. Amtrak used to allow guns, but stopped after the Madrid bombings in 2003 -- once again showing how the terrorists win, because when they break the law, our reaction is often to restrict the rights of citizens, in the name of "security." Interestingly, the argument against the Amtrak change is that Amtrak's security is so bad that anybody could just steal the guns out of the bags, and it would cost too much to protect passenger luggage. I bet most passengers didn't know their luggage was left lying around to be plundered. And of course, if a terrorist or criminal can so easily steal guns from the checked bags, they could also put bombs in the luggage. But apparently Amtrak figured that terrorists would somehow be stopped by a rule banning checked handguns. If a person can legally carry a gun without causing trouble, there's nothing special about doing so on a train. We shouldn't restrict the self-defense rights of the innocent in the vain hope of stopping criminals from doing bad things. Criminals don't respect the laws, but they love when their victims are unarmed and helpless. Charles Reichley has been a Prince William County resident since 1981. He can be reached at: criticallythinking*msn.com. ************************************************** 9. Appleseed info ************************************************** Mike Piper sent me a link to the Appleseed Project, which teaches people how to be true riflemen. If you are interested in this great project, here is the website: http://www.appleseedinfo.org/ ************************************************** 10. Old Hampton Community Center "No Guns" sign ************************************************** An email from VCDL supporter Jim Sawyer advising of a "no guns" sign on a Hampton Community Center was handled by VCDL EM Ron Lilly. Hampton, which I think has one of the finest City Attorney offices in the Commonwealth, acted swiftly and professionally, directing the community center to take down the "No Guns" sign. No excuses, no ifs, = ands or buts. Thanks to Jim for bringing this to our attention and Ron for handling it. [Ron Lilly's email to Ms. Hudson, City Attorney for Hampton] Miss Hudson, There has been a sign posted at the Old Hampton Community Center that states that no weapons or firearms are allowed. The sign appears to have been made by someone on the staff there since the sign = does not have the official city seal on it. As you know, VA Code 15.2-915 prohibits localities from regulating the possession or carrying of firearms. It would be greatly appreciated if you would speak to the staff at the Community Center and have them to remove the sign. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. respectfully, Ron Lilly PS: the community center is located at 201 Lincoln Street and their phone number is 727-1123. -- [Jim Sawyer to Ron Lilly, confirming the sign is now gone] Ron, Thanks for your assistance. The signs have been removed from the center. Jim Sawyer -- [Ron Lilly to Jim Sawyer] Jim, glad that I could help. Miss Hudson sent a reply to my email saying she'd take care of it. She usually does. Glad it worked out without a hassle. Ron Lilly ************************************************** 11. Virginia county drops park carry ban ************************************************** Loudoun's ordinances are finally fixed, but their position on self- defense in a park is still unconscionable: http://tinyurl.com/ylqgnc5 www.washingtonpost.com Virginia County Drops Park-Carry Ban: Loudoun County officials approved a measure Tuesday lifting the county's ban on carrying weapons in public parks and community centers. The move brings Loudoun in compliance with state law. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ordinance amendment, = which still allows Loudoun to prohibit the discharge of weapons - including firearms, slingshots, dart devices and bows and arrows - in public parks and centers. The county code previously restricted the carrying of those weapons, as well. The amendment was deliberated in May at the board's Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting. But when it came before the full board in June, supervisors sent the measure back to the committee after they could not agree on whether visitors to parks and community centers should be given an explicit right to fire a gun in self- defense... The state had previously barred counties from restricting the carrying = of guns unless the restriction was enacted before 1987, an exception that allowed Loudoun to keep enforcing its ban. But the Virginia General Assembly removed the grandfathering clause in 2004... ************************************************** 12. Bloomberg ad ************************************************** Bob McDonnell takes a swipe at Bloomberg in a campaign ad - and a pretty funny ad at that: http://tinyurl.com/yae2bgq [video] www.politico.com Mob-themed NRA spot attacks Bloomberg, boosts McDonnell October 07, 2009 By Ben Smith A new ad kicking off the National Rifle Association's half-million dollar campaign in Virginia stars a Sopranos-style mobster in the service of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, strongly suggesting that Virginia voters oppose Bob McDonnell. "When Mayor Bloomberg got down here, your guy, Bob McDonnell, kicked him out of Virginia, and it was very disrespectful," says the character. "When you vote I strongly suggest you forget about your freedoms and your Mr. Second Amendment Bob McDonnell." McDonnell fought Bloomberg's effort to shut down Virginia gun dealers who sold guns to undercover investigators working for the City of New York who bought the guns in violation of existing regulations. Bloomberg has also underwritten an ad citing the Virginia Tech massacre and attacking McDonnell for failing to support stricter gun regulations. ************************************************** 13. University of Pennsylvania school of medicine poll ************************************************** Member Hawk Scarborough sent me this: -- Phillip, Hi, again. First off, as a disabled and frequently bedridden vet (and member of VCDL) you offer me a chance to give my flabby mind a bit of exercise in the Alerts. You were far more accurate than you know, I think, about this bunch of Epidemiologists (don't they have some medical things to do?). I was formerly a newspaper editor, and before everyone votes to stone me, I was an old fashioned Editor who happened to actually believe in the code of journalism. Yes their is one, although it is mostly taught tounge in cheek these days. One of the classes mandatory was in the MATH department, on scientific polling, Which this one was definitely not. It more closely resembles a polling method reffered to as Convenience Polling, meaning you grab the first bunch of people most likely to fit your opinion. This is also known as a "self- selected opinion poll, or SLOP". I'm not making this up, Honestly. ************************************************** 14. 2008/09 Norfolk Harborfest ordinances ************************************************** Mark Matthews emailed me this. He was double-checking that the unlawful firearms restrictions were removed from Norfolk's temporary ordinances: -- Philip, Looks like Norfolk cleaned up their ordinance for the 2008/2009 Harborfests. They removed the "no firearms" language from the prohibited weapons section, and added a section on the 2d-to-last page = expressly saying they are not interfering with firearm carrying/ possession/transportation. Good on them. Best Regards, Mark ************************************************** 15. Church starts gun "surrender" program in Lynchburg ************************************************** http://tinyurl.com/yfbzou5 John Hoffmeister emailed me this about another feel-good, do-nothing- useful gun buy ups: -- PVC, I ran across this article and thought it may be of some interest. It is about a "Firearm Surrender" program started by a local church as a way to curtail violence in Lynchburg. I have mixed emotions about this article and movement. True there are firearms in the hands of some people that aren't responsible enough to own them, but doesn't this article come across a bit celebratory that people will hand over their firearms. I also think that it implies that the way to make out streets safer is "Firearms Surrender". Stopping just short of linking the lack of homicides this year to the program. In fact just last year a friend of mine was beaten with a crowbar and stabbed with a knife in Lynchburg, he died from the injuries. I don't see a Knife and Crowbar surrender program in their agenda. Please read it and form your own opinion, there are other stories related to this program that can be found via the search window. Thanks, John Hoffmeister www2.newsadvance.com Grandfather hopes gun surrender will serve as statement By DAVE THOMPSON Published: October 6, 2009 A shotgun that played a part in a family's heartbreak is now in the hands of Lynchburg police, its owner hoping it will serve as a statement toward a continuing anti-violence campaign in the city. At a news conference Tuesday evening, Charles Lewis, of Madison Heights, relinquished to Lynchburg Police Chief Parks Snead the firearm that Lewis said his grandson, Quentin Lewis, used to kill himself in 2007. Lewis said the message he was trying to send was more important than giving up the gun. "I hope that, you know, other people will see that and continue to do things like (surrender their guns)," he said. The surrender was the 11th firearm voluntarily given over to city police since ministry group Churches United for Service began their recent anti-violence efforts in June of 2008. The Rev. James Coleman, who has been instrumental with the group, pointed out that this year, there have been no homicides in Lynchburg. The city saw four homicides last year."We acknowledge through Churches = United for Service, that ministers can make a tremendous difference," Coleman said. "We do not take credit for that, but we are a contributing factor." Snead lent his perspective as police chief, praising the group for their efforts, not only for their gun surrender events, but also for their continuing dedication to community efforts. "I commend Churches United for Service. I commend all the partners in this organization in trying to make our community a safer place to be," he said. But Snead stopped short of picking one factor or another to explain why the city has seen fewer homicides this year. "I don't point to anything," he said. "I point to everything. I point to people being involved, to people becoming interested in this, to families like the Lewises, who are willing to send a positive lesson out of a family tragedy." Baltimore minister Bishop Walter Thomas attended the news conference, and offered his own perspective as a community activist. "To see what's happening here, and to see the collective effort of pastors and preachers coming together to make sure that guns are taken = off the street that have no business being on the street is almost remarkable," he said. "To see all of them working together just is a testament to what can happen," he said. Coleman said even after the group's gun surrender events end in December, he hopes the impact will last much longer. The group still plans to have an active part in community efforts. "We believe that when a few ordinary people have conviction to speak and then to act upon that which they speak, then you can literally make a difference in your community," Coleman said. ************************************************** 16. International shooting lessons ************************************************** Spanish tourists travel to Virginia Beach to learn how to shoot Roger Gossett emailed me this: -- Thought you might be interested in what happened to me a couple of months ago. I am a NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Instructor, and I work at the Lynnhaven Shooting Range in Virginia Beach as a sales associate, and occasional instructing. I received a telephone call in July from a Doctor in Madrid, Spain, asking if I would be willing to teach him and his wife how to shoot a pistol, rifle, and revolver. Seems they would be visiting his mother, who lives in Norfolk, during August, and while they were here, they wanted to experience shooting various guns, since they cannot find any = decent shooting ranges or instructors in Spain. When they arrived, I introduced them to basic firearms safety and handling, and then had them start on a .38 special revolver, then move = to a 9mm Beretta, an M-16 semi-auto, and a 12 ga pump shotgun, over the period of five days. The wife did especially well with a five- shot .38 special pocket pistol. They enjoyed it so much that they returned to Spain and are organizing a tour group, to come to America for the sole purpose of learning to shoot various guns, with everyone staying at a beachfront hotel in Va Beach, and renting a van to ferry everyone around. In addition to the previously mentioned guns, we are also planning to introduce the group to full-auto fire with an MP-5, and .308 bolt- action shooting at the 300 yard outdoor range. Last communication from = them indicated they had about six or seven persons interested in making the week-long trip to Virginia Beach. We plan on three or four hours of shooting for five days, with local tours of points of interest after the shooting is over for the day. I'll keep you informed as to how it turns out. Roger Gossett ************************************************** 17. Guns in the shower ************************************************** Pelican case makes "shower carry" and similar problems possible http://tinyurl.com/yjzhf3v www.pelican-case.com ************************************************** 18. LTE: Don't worry about me, worry about criminals ************************************************** Gun owners on VRE not a threat http://tinyurl.com/yc4koa9 http://fredericksburg.com Don't worry about me: Worry about criminals Date published: 10/6/2009 This is regarding the letter from Diane Conrad ["Guns have no place in public transport," Sept. 27]. I was horrified to read that Ms. Conrad wants to openly infringe upon my rights to carry a gun on the VRE while in the state of Virginia. I cannot for the life of me understand why she wants to restrict my ability to protect myself and my family (and maybe even her). Continued ...