VA-ALERT: VT murder, Radford & JMU protest wrap up, gun show

[OakRidgeStars]

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not yet a VCDL member? Join VCDL at: http://www.vcdl.org/join.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Cold-blooded assassination of a Virginia Tech police officer
2. Disrespectful anti-freedom crowd uses officer's death to push their agenda
3. Radford University protest wrap up
4. James Madison University protest wrap up
5. 2012 Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States On Sale NOW!
6. Gun shows and events!


**************************************************
1. Cold-blooded assassination of a Virginia Tech police officer
**************************************************

As most of you know by now a Virginia Tech police officer, Deriek Crouse, was murdered by 22-year-old Ross Truett, who snuck up on the officer while he was engaged in a traffic stop. Shortly thereafter Truett turned the gun on himself.

As soon as I saw Officer Crouse's picture in the paper, my heart sank even further - I recognized him. One of our members confirmed that he was at the VCDL protest at Virginia Tech back on November 17. He was dressed in a SWAT uniform. I had gone over to talk to him and a couple of other Virginia Tech officers during a slow time at the protest.

VCDL offers its condolences to Officer Crouse's family during this tragic time in their lives. Rest in Peace, sir.

Here is some coverage of the story. There is information in the story on how to contribute to a memorial fund for Officer Crouse.

From the Roanoke Times: http://tinyurl.com/77l2zvq

Police identify Virginia Tech shooter as Radford University student
By Mike Gangloff
UPDATED: 7:20 p.m. | POSTED: 9:01 a.m.

A 22-year-old part-time Radford student was responsible for the murder-suicide on the Virginia Tech campus on Thursday that took the life of university police officer Deriek Crouse, Virginia State Police confirmed Friday evening.

Ross Truett Ashley, who had an East Main Street Radford address, shot and killed Crouse, then killed himself in a Tech parking lot known as the cage, according to a state police news release.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive in the case, and announced again on Friday night that they have found no connection between Crouse and Ashley.

Ashley, according to Radford Police, was also the man who stole a white 2011 Mercedes SUV — at gunpoint — from the Gilbert Real Estate office on Calhoun Street in Radford late Wednesday morning. The SUV was found on Thursday on the Smart Road near the Tech campus, according to police.

A Friday morning news conference about the killing of a Virginia Tech police officer and the apparent suicide of his assailant raised more questions than it answered.

Other new details emerged Friday, too, based on a morning news conference and other state police information. That included more about the sequence of events between when Crouse was shot at 12:15 p.m. Thursday and when officers found a body thought to be that of Crouse’s killer a half hour later.

Other details:

* Crouse had pulled over a vehicle and was sitting in his car in the parking lot of Tech’s Cassell Coliseum when Ashley approached and shot him.

* Ashley was the not the driver of the vehicle that Crouse stopped. That driver witnessed the shooting, and has cooperated with police. Flinchum said he did not know why Crouse pulled the man over, because officers don’t report that when they tell a dispatcher they’ve made a stop.

* An image of Ashley was captured by a video camera mounted on Crouse’s police car.

* Ashley left the scene on foot, heading down Washington Street. Police later found a backpack at Tech’s greenhouses, located on Washington Street, containing clothing consistent to what Ashley was wearing when caught on the video. Police had said Thursday that the shooter wore a maroon hoodie and gray hat. Ashley had on different upper body apparel when he was found in the Cage, authorities said.

* About 12:45 p.m., a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy, one of more than 100 officers from an array of agencies who came to campus when the shooting was reported, spotted Ashley in the Cage, a Tech parking lot for dorm students’ vehicles. The Cage is at the end of Washington Street, and Ashley was making “furtive movements,” The deputy drove his car toward Ashley, but briefly lost sight of him while rounding the rows of vehicles. The deputy found Ashley dead from a gunshot, with a handgun beside him. Ballistics tests found the same gun had killed Crouse, and the video from the slain officer’s car showed a similar gun in the hands of the shooter.

* Tech officials expressed condolences to Crouse’s family and said a memorial fund has been established, with details available at www.vt.edu.

The officer’s family will receive friends Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Horne Funeral Home in Christiansburg. Cassell Coliseum will host a funeral service Monday at 2 p.m.

The memorial fund that will support Crouse’s wife and five children has raised more than $21,000 as of about 5 p.m. Friday. The memorial fund’s website is sites.google.com/site/hokiesforcrouse.

Donations are also accepted at the National Bank of Blacksburg.

Tech officials reiterated Friday that they thought the university’s alert system, revamped after the massacre that left 33 people dead in 2007, had performed well.

Flinchum said that when he heard about the shootings Thursday, he was in Northern Virginia, where he and other Tech officials attended a U.S. Department of Education hearing to contest a $55,000 fine imposed for failing to issue a timely warning during the 2007 killings.

“I’m not sure I have words to describe the emotions I felt,” Flinchum said. “Incredulous, aghast … It’s just hard to describe.”

After this morning’s press conference, Tech student Xinghan Xu, 20, a junior from Beijing, China, majoring in economics, laid a lily and a card at a makeshift memorial on the edge of the Coliseum parking lot this morning.

His card, directed to Crouse, said, “You took a bullet for us and we won’t forget. Rest in peace.”


**************************************************
2. Disrespectful anti-freedom crowd uses officer's death to push their agenda
**************************************************

Not only did the President of Virginia Tech make a despicable comment at the press conference on the death of Officer Crouse on Thursday, but Lori Haas has turned disrespect into an art form.

I am not going to address or comment further on either issue for now. VCDL will stand in respectful silence.

From Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/6mb7p63

Virginia Tech Learned From Massacre, but Not Lawmakers
By Lori Haas
Published December 09, 2011

The mass shooting that occurred at Virginia Tech four years ago was already on my mind when I learned about Thursday’s murder-suicide at the campus. I was in Washington, D.C., to testify at an appeal hearing concerning the April 16, 2007 tragedy. Virginia Tech is appealing fines levied by the Department of Education, which found that the school failed to adequately warn students, faculty and staff of the initial murders committed by gunman Seung Hui-Cho that horrible morning in Ambler Johnston Hall.

Ironically, I first learned about the murder of Officer Derek Crouse when I checked my cell phone messages after the hearing. I had a voicemail from Virginia Tech administration, indicating that a gunman was loose on campus. Students were being clearly instructed to “shelter in place.”

Even though my daughter Emily—who survived the 2007 massacre after being shot twice—graduated two years ago, I decided to remain in Virginia Tech’s warning system. No one ever wants to see something like this happen, but if it did happen again, I was hoping the university would learn from 2007. To their credit, they did. Their warning was issued almost immediately after Officer Crouse was shot by the gunman, and it’s possible that it saved lives.

The terrible constant, of course, is America’s criminally weak gun laws. Seung Hui-Cho was severely mentally ill, a stalker of women and suicidal when he legally purchased the guns used to kill 32 people and injure my daughter and others at Virginia Tech in 2007.

Four years later, almost nothing has been done to improve our nation’s background check system for gun purchasers. And more than 40 states, including Virginia, still allow private sales of guns without any background checks on purchasers. Sadly, it’s not surprising when good Americans like Derek Rouse are killed by homicidal maniacs with high-powered firearms. It’s inevitable. That’s how easy our elected officials have made it for dangerous people to arm themselves; and all to curry favor with the extremist leadership of the NRA.

Meanwhile, on the same day that we lost Officer Rouse, a radical pro-gun group, the Virginian Citizens Defense League, or VCDL, was rallying on the James Madison University campus to force the school to allow guns in its classrooms and dormitories. When they’re not busy trying to arm our campuses, VCDL advocates for the eradication of Virginia’s state background check system.

Keep in mind that neither the Virginia Tech administration—nor a single victim or surviving family member of the 2007 massacre—supports these attacks on our gun laws. To the contrary, many of us are calling for tougher, universal background checks on all gun sales to halt the carnage before it ever begins.

Recently, my friend Colin Goddard—who like my daughter was shot on April 16, 2007, but survived—said something that stuck with me. Responding to those whose only solution to violence on campus is to arm themselves with concealed handguns, he said, “Shame on those unwilling to be their brothers’ keeper, but being all too eager to be his executioners.”

I couldn’t agree more. In the wake of this latest incident, we all need to think carefully about how to prevent future gun violence, not create more of it.


**************************************************
3. Radford University protest wrap up
**************************************************

The Radford University protest on Wednesday was a success, even if the weather didn't really cooperate. Despite the rain and the fact that we could not hand out our brochures and stickers unsolicited, we still handed out 500 brochures and even more stickers. Eryn Bartholomew (Vice-President of the Radford College Republicans), VCDL EM Dave Knight, and I spoke at the event.

We met with the police and student event staff early so they could go over the rules with us for our protest. We also paid for our tables, which we were required to stay near during the protest so as not to block students passing by.

The "occupiers" showed up - all two of them (vs 18 of us). They, of course, did not follow any of the rules that we had to follow. They were standing right in front of the doors to the student center, in the way of those coming and going. They also had not rented a table and were soliciting people to take their stickers and handouts.

While I don't mind them exercising their First Amendment rights, I am sick and tired of them breaking the rules while we are expected to follow them. I called the Radford University Chief of Police (we had swapped phone numbers before the event) and advised her of what was happening. A little while later the anti-freedom crowd, which had swelled to four for about twenty minutes, was told to stop handing out materials and to move away from the doors.

We were told that a debate class had a topic of "campus carry" and that our side was well represented by a young lady. Other classes also had considerable discussion of the issue, including one where a woman wearing a "No guns on campus" sticker, took it off and accepted a "Guns Save Lives" sticker after hearing a few minutes of a discussion on campus carry!

The occupiers could not find any student groups to sponsor them (just like the rest of the venues except one). The Young Democrats at Radford University refused, understanding that gun control is a losing proposition.

Thanks, again, to the Radford College Republicans for sponsoring us!

Great stuff!

MEDIA COVERAGE

From WSLS.com: http://tinyurl.com/79ozglh

Pro-gun rally held at Radford University

The Virginia Citizen's Defense League held a rally near the student center Wednesday at Radford University.

They've recently held a rally at Virginia Tech, to share their message about why they think guns should be allowed on campus.

Meanwhile, Collin Goddard, who was shot in the 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech was at Radford, along with the brother of another victim. They protested in opposition to the rally.

-

From WDBJ7.com: http://tinyurl.com/84pjfbu

Pro-Gun protest held at Radford University

About a dozen people showed up for the protest

RADFORD; Va. —

Another pro-gun protest; this time at Radford University. This is the fifth protest on a state college campus by the Virginia Citizen's Defense League in the past month.
The grassroots, pro-gun organization is pushing for a change in policy to allow those with a concealed weapons permit to carry guns inside campus buildings.

Organizers say now is the time for university's to change their view on guns and safety.

"The push now is because we've gotten impatient," said VCDL President Philip Van Cleave. "We feel the universities and colleges aren't getting the message. In fact, some are getting the opposite message from what happened. They're trying to increase no-gun policies, which do nothing but endanger everybody. So the time came where we finally said 'enough is enough'!"

The VCDL will protest at James Madison University Thursday.

The group is also gearing up for a legislative battle. VCDL organizers say they're working with state senators on generating legislation that would require state universities to allow guns inside campus buildings.


**************************************************
4. James Madison University protest wrap up
**************************************************

The James Madison University protest was the next day, Thursday. The skies were clear, but it was colder, though not extremely so. We had around twenty people at the peak, the occupiers had three. (As usual the occupiers had no table and no student group to sponsor them.) We handed out around 800 brochures and even more stickers. The event started slow, but picked up considerably as the day wore on. Chris Kichnko, the Vice-President of the JMU Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, VCDL EM Patricia Webb, and I spoke around noon.

Hats off to JMU Chief of Police, Lee Shifflett. He was very professional and truly couldn't have been nicer or easier to work with.

Thanks also go to the JMU Students for Concealed Carry on Campus for sponsoring us!

MEDIA COVERAGE

From WSVA.com: http://tinyurl.com/7atdqut

At the same time news was swirling about the shooting at Virginia Tech, students were out on the campus of JMU lobbying for gun rights.

The Virginia Citizens Defense League and JMU's Students for Concealed Carry on Campus rallied, saying that bans in place on college campuses preventing students from carrying guns is a violation of the second amendment.

JMU's policy does not allow students, faculty or staff to carry a gun on campus. The VCDL is urging pro-gun alumni to withhold any financial gifts until the policy is changed.


**************************************************
5. 2012 Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States On Sale NOW!
**************************************************

The Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the Fifty States has been ordered and is expected to arrive about the 3rd week in January. If you do not want to wait to the next local gun show have we got a deal for you....

The VCDL Fulfillment Center has a copy on order with your name on it!! If you would like one we need to receive your order by January 11th.

There are two options:

If you want it sent in a sturdier envelope and by priority mail the cost will be $20.00

If you want it sent in a standard manila envelope and by first class mail the cost will be $18.00 (if you include a copy of your membership card you can reduce the price by $2)

Also, if you typically by your copy from a VCDL table at a gun show, please include a note with the show's location so we do not swamp our coordinators with more than they need.

To order one please send a check or money order to:

VCDL Fulfillment Center
PO Box 254
Garrisonville, Virginia 22463
ATT: Book Sales

Also, please consider including a donation to either the VCDL, the VCDL-PAC. or BOTH!


**************************************************
6. Gun shows and events!
**************************************************

The Virginia Citizens Defense League thanks the following
member-activists who generously gave of their time to advance and
help defend the rights of their fellow gun owners by working our
recruiting and information booths at gun shows and events around
the state.

Richmond, November 12-13
George Lawson, Bob Sadtler, Carl Shuler, Walt MacKay, Alan Konkle,
Bill Heip, Bob Greene, Paul Henick, and David Crosby

Hampton, November 26-27
Doug Kelsey, Bruce Garris, Allen Boughard, Darryl Postell, Mark Spruill,
Doug and Linda Peterson, Sandy Eisner, Cary Nunnally, Doug Burtt,
Bill Slifer, Jack Dougherty, and Ron Lilly


As an all volunteer organization, VCDL depends on YOU to volunteer
your time at our area events, where we recruit new activists and keep
gun owners informed. No experience necessary; if it's your first time
we'll pair you with a veteran volunteer. To find out more about
helping at our gun show tables, go to:

http://www2.vcdl.org/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/vcdl/gs.html

and click on any of the blue links, or contact the coordinator for
the show/event listed below with which you are interested in helping.
Here are the upcoming events with which we need YOUR help:


a. HARRISONBURG http://www.showmasters.us, December 10-11

Saturday, December 10 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 11 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Harrisonburg.


b. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, December 17-18

Saturday, December 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Michael Burnham at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.


c. SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, December 17-18

Saturday, December 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Salem.


d. FREDERICKSBURG http://www.guns-knives.com, December 31-January 1

Saturday, December 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to
help in Fredericksburg.


e. ROANOKE http://www.showmasters.us, December 31-January 1

Saturday, December 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Roanoke.


f. RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, January 7-8

Saturday, January 7 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 8 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Showplace in Mechanicsville.


g. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, January 14-15

Saturday, January 14 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 15 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Michael Burnham at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.


h. HAMPTON http://www.guns-knives.com, January 21-22

Saturday, January 21 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 22 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Ron Lilly at HamptonRoadsgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Hampton.


i. SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, January 21-22

Saturday, January 21 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 22 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Al Steed, Jr. at SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in Salem.


j. FISHERSVILLE http://www.showmasters.us, January 28-29

Saturday, January 28 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 29 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Fishersville.


k. RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, February 4-5

Saturday, February 4 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact David Crosby at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Richmond Raceway Complex.


l. CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, February 10-12

Friday, February 10 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 11 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 12 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Danny Paulson at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Chantilly.


m. NORFOLK http://www.showmasters.us, February 18-19

Saturday, February 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 19 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Jerry Brunner at Norfolkgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Norfolk Scope.


n. VIRGINIA BEACH http://www.guns-knives.com, February 18-19

Saturday, February 18 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 19 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Gary Moeller at VBgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Virginia Beach.


o. DOSWELL http://www.guns-knives.com, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to
help at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, near Kings Dominion.


p. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please contact Michael Burnham at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.


q. HARRISONBURG http://www.showmasters.us, February 25-26

Saturday, February 25 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please contact Bob Schmidt at Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org to help
in Harrisonburg.


***************************************************************************
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 Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

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