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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. VCDL member illegally detained/harassed by Hopewell PD on Monday
2. VCDL to have picnic in Salem on Saturday, September 7th
3. Reminder: VCDL President to be part of roundtable at Liberty University on Thursday, September 5th
4. Senator Herring supplies latest quote on VCDL web site
5. Reminder: VCDL to hold special picnic during huge Hillsville gun show this Sunday
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1. VCDL member illegally detained/harassed by Hopewell PD on Monday
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On Monday a VCDL member was participating in an event where cardboard signs were being held on an overpass for cars below to see (and honk if they agreed with the message). The member, Brandon Howard, had an unloaded AR-15 slung across his back and a pistol holstered at his side.
After a while EIGHT Hopewell police officers showed up guns drawn and POINTED at Brandon! Keep in mind Brandon was simply standing on the overpass holding a sign in both hands. Both guns were secured, so the police had no justification to seriously endanger Brandon's life by pointing loaded guns at him. (Officer safety does NOT trump citizen safety in such a situation where there is no viable threat. I guarantee that the Hopewell officers do not like someone pointing a gun at THEM.)
The Hopewell PD, with what must have been their ENTIRE on duty force at that time, then proceeded to do a felony stop, having Brandon walk slowly backwards with his hands in the air. He was then cuffed, his rifle thrown into the trunk of a police car, and then taken to the PD. The police claimed at the time that this was just a "detention." That detention lasted TWO HOURS, after which Brandon was released, his damaged rifle returned, and he was driven back to his vehicle.
Keep in mind this happened in VIRGINIA, in our backyard, not New Jersey.
I have put Brandon in contact with an attorney, as he needs to look for a remedy that will get Hopewell's attention so this doesn't happen to anyone else.
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Jimmy Barrett on WRVA (Richmond AM 1140) this morning went off on a self-righteous tirade on this event without knowing the facts. He implied things that weren't true. Having met Jimmy before, all this took me by surprise.
Professionals in the media should avoid doing such things, as it affects their credibility.
Jimmy said that one should not mix the Second Amendment and First Amendment rights. Really? They get mixed all the time and it's no big deal.
He also said that the police were justified in detaining Brandon because drivers might see him with the rifle, not knowing if he was going to shoot at them! The implication is that the rifle was in his hands and visible from the traffic below.
OK, let's look at the facts on this, Jimmy:
1. The rifle and handgun were secured, not in Brandon's hands - no one was being threatened.
2. The rifle and handgun would be totally invisible from the expressway below - from both directions. Brandon's front was covered by a sign and the rifle was strapped to his back, making it totally invisible from drivers approaching Brandon from the front. Drivers approaching from his back wouldn't see any of him at all because the bridge would be blocking their view. The only way his gun could be seen was by someone driving on the overpass itself. Again it was secured (and unloaded).
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It is a right to be able to carry a firearm openly - be it a handgun, shotgun, or rifle and THAT is the bottom line. The Hopewell PD failed miserably in their treatment of Brandon and hopefully amends will be made.
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2. VCDL to have picnic in Salem on Saturday, September 7th
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SW VIrginia VCDL will have a Family "Pot Luck" picnic at:
Longwood Park
601 East Main St.
Salem VA 24153
(The picnic shelter for VCDL is located at the top of the hill.)
The picnic will be on September 7, 2013, from 5:30 PM until 8 PM.
This picnic is open to VCDL members, families and guests.
SW Virginia VCDL members will (from our donated supplies) furnish plates, plastic ware, cups, napkins, soft drinks, water, and ice.
If you can, please bring a dish to share with others.
There will be a donated door prize, too!
Please RSVP with numbers in your group that will attend so that the proper items will be available for everyone's use. Speaker to be announced. PLEASE NOTE NEW HOURS 5:30 PM - 8 PM.
RSVP to: al@vcdl.org
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3. Reminder: VCDL President to be part of roundtable at Liberty University on Thursday, September 5th
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I'll be on a panel titled, "Why Vote 2013?" from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursday, September 5th at the Liberty University School of Law (in the Supreme Court Room), sponsored by the Lynchburg Tea Party.
Other panel members include Jamie Radtke (former pro-gun U.S. Senate candidate), Travis Witt (Foundation for America), Timothy Johnson (Frederic Douglass Foundation), and a few others, each talking on a variety of different subjects/causes (to my knowledge, I'm the only one speaking on guns).
The event is open to the public, so bring family and friends!
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4. Senator Herring supplies latest quote on VCDL web site
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We added this quote from anti-liberty Senator Mark Herring's web site to the VCDL web site (Herring is running against pro-liberty Senator Mark Obenshain in the race for Attorney General):
VCDL, which prides itself on being more radical than the National Rifle Association (NRA) with stickers that say 'guns save lives,' supports allowing guns on school grounds, on college campuses, in libraries and government facilities and in bars. They oppose closing the gun show loophole and universal background checks.
State Senator Mark Herring August 2, 2013
Of course none of that was meant by Herring to be a complement, but it was - thanks, Senator!
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5. Reminder: VCDL to hold special picnic during huge Hillsville gun show this Sunday
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The VCDL is holding a picnic in HILLSVILLE on Sunday, September 1, 2013, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This is the same weekend as the VFW Labor Day Flea Market & Gun Show.
VCDL will be serving FREE HOT DOGS & BARBEQUE. Soft drinks, plates, napkins, plastic ware, and cups will be provided.
The picnic is a family event, and is open to the public. VCDL will be inviting flea market/gun show attendees to come to the picnic to learn more about us.
All VCDL members are encouraged to attend. Feel free to bring friends! This is a great opportunity to come and hear how our organization is working for the benefit of ALL VIRGINIA GUN OWNERS.
There will be several DOOR PRIZES given away, each person who attends will receive a door prize ticket. You must be present to win!
Location: Carroll County Parks and Rec Picnic Shelter: 129 BALLPARK DRIVE, HILLSVILLE VA 24343
(Directions: Take I-77 to exit 14, go WEST on US 58 (Carrollton Pike). Take first LEFT onto Farmers Market Drive, then Take first RIGHT onto Ballpark Drive (across from the Super
RSVP to Shannon and Philip Honaker at: picnic.hillsville@vcdl.org
We look forward to seeing you in Hillsville!
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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 Right to
Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
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