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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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1. R.I.P: Four open-carry activists from Richmond killed in tragic traffic accident in Ohio
2. Head of BATFE stepping down because of attempted ammunition ban
3. More on credit cards used to pay CHP application fees
4. Remember that you have NO LEGAL obligation to tell a Virginia officer if you are carrying
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1. R.I.P: Four open-carry activists from Richmond killed in tragic traffic accident in Ohio
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Four open-carry activists from Richmond were killed on Friday in a horrific traffic accident in Ohio while on their way to an open-carry event in Michigan.
VCDL offers its sincere condolences to the families and friends of David Alexander Armstrong (a VCDL member), Jason Spitzer, Stephen Kim and James Higgins.
I had met all four of these young men over the last couple of years. They were part of a group who have been pushing the envelope on open carry of long guns in the Richmond area. They were in the Richmond news several times last year, including a march through a housing project with the intent to educate residents as to their right to self-defense.
Jason and I were interviewed together on a Richmond radio show last year.
Steven, James, and Jason were all at the VCDL protest in Alexandria back in December.
The last I talked to Jason was at a subcommittee meeting at the General Assembly in February.
The accident happened on a two-lane road in rural Ohio. They had a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler at 7:30 AM in the morning.
On top of all the other things that make this a terrible tragedy, they were all young and working hard to protect and expand our right to keep and bear arms. We need so many more young people like that, and yet we have lost four of them in an instant.
Unlike so many people who won't lift a finger to fight for their rights, David, Jason, Stephen, and James were passionate and involved in the fight.
May they all rest in peace.
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Here is an article on the accident (my comments on the Sheriff's ridiculous actions are in square brackets):
http://wktn.com/local-news/136288
Four Richmond, Virginia Men Killed in Friday Morning Crash
Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart said the crash occurred on US 68 about a mile south of Dunkirk, "At this point , it appears that the northbound car went left of center, and that is what caused the crash between the car and the southbound semi."
Three men died at the scene. A fourth man in the car was transported to St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima where he was pronounced dead. They're identified as David Armstrong, Jason Spitzer, Ho Jik Kim and James Higgins. The sheriff could not confirm, but did hear, that the four men were travelling to Detroit to participate in a gun walk. Sheriff Everhart did say that Homeland Security was brought in to investigate, "There were just some items in the vehicle that raised our concern a little bit. At that point, I decided that Homeland Security at least should be notified of some items that were in the vehicle and let them carry on that part of the investigation." [PVC: Really, Sheriff? Four guys have four rifles in the trunk and you need to call Homeland Security? Perhaps you should just hand your badge over to Homeland Security, since you apparently can't run an investigation on your own. Two seconds on social media with any one of their names and you would have had all your questions answered. Americans can have guns in the trunks of their cars legally. Why are those guns even an issue at all? And are you personally going to make sure those guns are returned to the surviving family members once the "investigation" is over?]
And the sheriff adds that crashes like these are difficult on first responders, "Anytime you have a fatality it's tough on the first responders, and then multiply that by four, and it just increases the trauma, but I believe everyone is handling it okay. We have offered some counseling services to any of the first responders that would deem that appropriate to take us up on the offer."
--
Richmond news coverage:
http://wtvr.com/2015/03/20/group-known- ... collision/
or
http://tinyurl.com/n6tox6u
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2. Head of BATFE stepping down because of attempted ammunition ban
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... lash-over/
or
http://tinyurl.com/mmh3mxx
B. Todd Jones quits as ATF director amid backlash over proposed bullet ban
By Phillip Swarts - The Washington Times - Friday, March 20, 2015
B. Todd Jones, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced he is stepping down Friday after nearly four years on the job.
His announcement comes following a controversial ATF proposal to ban certain bullets that could pierce bullet-proof vests and be fired from an AR-15 rifle. But public outcry and Congressional pressure led the agency to abandon its efforts.
"ATF employees are hard-working, dedicated individuals who serve the public to make our nation safer every day," Mr. Jones said in a statement. "I have seen firsthand their extraordinary commitment to combating violent crime, ridding the streets of criminals, and leveraging all available resources to keep our communities safe."
Attorney General Eric Holder called Mr. Jones "an exemplary leader, a consummate professional, and an outstanding public servant."
"As a result of Todd's leadership, ATF has built a proactive, creative and effective team that is well-prepared to drive the agency into the future," Mr. Holder said.
Mr. Jones, 57, assumed acting directorship of the ATF in August 2011, faced with the responsibility of reforming the agency following the Fast and Furious gunwalking scandal that let U.S. government-bought weapons fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels and led to the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Though tensions with conservative members of Congress continued, Mr. Jones was widely viewed at having been successful in reforming some parts of ATF culture, and in 2013 was confirmed by the Senate to become the director.
Mr. Jones is also a former Marine who was active during Operation Desert Storm.
The ATF announced that deputy director Thomas Brandon would serve as the acting director following Mr. Jones' departure. Mr. Brandon has been with the ATF since 1989.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Virginia Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the agency "needs a change in leadership to repair its tarnished image."
"Under [Mr. Jones'] leadership, many of those responsible for Fast and Furious never faced any consequences for their actions," Mr. Goodlatte said in a statement. "Jones was also the director when ATF conducted a series of disastrous store front sting operations where individuals with mental impairment were possibly exploited by ATF agents among other questionable tactics."
Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, echoed Mr. Goodlatte's comments.
"There's no question he took the reins of the ATF during a time of great turmoil following the Fast and Furious scandal, but it appears that he failed to address many of those problems," Mr. Grassley said. "I look forward to seeing the ATF once again regain its footing in its own ranks and with the American people."
Mr. Jones was the first director to be confirmed in the agency's history since the position was changed in 2006 so that it required Senate approval.
But Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said it's unlikely President Obama would get another ATF director confirmed before he leaves office in 2016.
"It may not be a good sign for the ATF director that it's taken so long to confirm or vote on the nominee for attorney general," Mr. Tobias said.
The ATF's mandate may not be as broad as the attorney general's, Mr. Tobias said, "but it certainly sparks a lot of controversy, so it may be tough to get someone confirmed."
Liberal think tank Center for American Progress hailed Mr. Jones' tenure, saying the ATF had benefited from his strong leadership.
"Across our country every month, nearly 1,000 Americans are murdered by assailants using guns at rates far above those of peer nations," said Chelsea Parsons, CAP's vice president of Guns and Crime Policy. "The scope of gun violence in this country warrants vigorous federal law enforcement efforts in partnership with local law enforcement."
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3. More on credit cards used to pay CHP application fees
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From one of our members, who is in the credit card business:
There are a few caveats when charging a credit card surcharge. The payment (aka credit) card companies limit the amount that you charge to be no more than the fee that the merchant is charged by their acquirer to a maximum of 4%. For example, if the merchant accepts payments via Square for a $50 transaction, the merchant could not charge any more than $1.38 to the customer as a credit card surcharge. Further, credit card surcharges cannot be charged to customers using debit or prepaid cards. Lastly, in 10 states, there are state regulations that either deny or further limit payment card surcharge fees. For further info, check out http://usa.visa.com/personal/get-help/checkout-fees.jsp
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4. Remember that you have NO LEGAL obligation to tell a Virginia officer if you are carrying
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Another case was reported to me of a person being told by an officer, after he ran her ID and found out she was a CHP holder, that she HAD to let him know if she was carrying.
I can't believe how that myth stays alive.
There is NO legal obligation to tell an officer you are carrying. If an officer knows you are carrying concealed and asks to see your permit, that is the only time you have to produce it.
Of course you are free to volunteer that you carrying, if you so choose. But it is your choice.
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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/]
