VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Bob McDonnell confirms he will sign restaurant bill
2. Reminder: Lynchburg VCDL meeting TONIGHT
3. 62nd annual Shad Planking event on Wed., April 21
4. Second Amendment March and D.C. laws on ammunition, magazines, etc.
5. Concealed weapons permits still open records
6. JMU empty holster protest and events
7. LTE: Deliver me from guns--and their owners!
8. More anti baloney: Our "right to protect yourself" too risky to entrust Virginians with guns
9. Guns and speeches
10. Restaurant robbed by beer drinking perp at gunpoint
11. Editorial: More guns being sold, and fewer crimes being committed
12. 3 killed, 6 hurt in Washington, D.C. shooting
13. EDITORIAL: Federal judge goes after gun owners
14. More about the 7 states banning open carry
15. Op-Ed: Concealed Handguns Won't Make Bars Shooting Galleries
16. Alan Gura to speak at the GRNC Annual Dinner May 14th in Charlotte, NC
17. Jimmy Kimmel goes to Starbucks
18. Starbucks can't stay out of gun debate, NYT says
19. U.N. arms trade treaty would impose strict controls on firearms
20. Who is more likely to kill?
21. Going for their guns
22. 10 rules for dealing with the police [VIDEO]
23. Mayor Blomberg slams White House on gun control: report
24. Jail time for gun owner who got laid over in Newark, NJ
25. Report from liberal cable outlet shows that more guns equals fewer firearms deaths
26. Gun shows and events!
**************************************************
1. Bob McDonnell confirms he will sign restaurant bill
**************************************************
About 7 minutes into the "Ask the Governor" radio show, Governor Bob
McDonnell confirms he WILL sign the restaurant ban repeal. He also is
dead on when asked about the recent road rage incident in NoVA, saying
that we have laws to punish those who act badly and we should not
infringe on those who are law-abiding with "prior restraint" laws
which take away rights because someone MIGHT abuse them.
Good job, Governor!
BTW, the Governor has until April 21st to sign the 800 bills on his
desk (hence the delay in signing the gun bills). It doesn't really
matter when he signs it - the new laws won't go into effect until July
1 any how.
--
http://tinyurl.com/y9jcpv6
http://icestream.bonnint.net:8000
**************************************************
2. Reminder: Lynchburg VCDL meeting on April 6
**************************************************
Member Joe Seiffert lined up a restaurant for us to go to after our
membership meeting in Lynchburg on Tuesday, April 6th:
Monte Carlo
3230 Old Forest Road
Lynchburg, VA.
The meeting will begin at 7 PM and is going to be held at:
Solid Rock Baptist Church
110 Church St
Madison Heights, VA
We will be discussing the legislative session and other things of
interest to Virginia gun owners.
VCDL will have a table there for those wishing to purchase some of
VCDL's "stuff"
As with all VCDL membership meetings, they are open to the public, so
bring your friends, family and coworkers!
Thanks to Pastor David Cash for letting us use the facility and to
Board member Al Steed, Jr. for coordinating.
I'll see you there!
**************************************************
3. 62nd annual Shad Planking event on Wed., April 21
**************************************************
http://tinyurl.com/yaepm5q
VCDL will have a booth there. For those who want to attend this
important annual political event that has both Republicans and
Democrats attending, here is more information (including how to
purchase tickets):
http://www.shadplanking.com/planking_info.html
**************************************************
4. Second Amendment March and D.C. laws on ammunition, magazines, etc.
**************************************************
Douglas Johnson emailed me this:
--
Dear Philip,
Regarding the upcoming Second Amendment March in D.C.:
I have written to the organizers of the March to suggest that they
offer much more prominent warnings about D.C.'s restrictive laws, and
I think this would also be advisable for people promoting the event in
various states. Right now, the Second Amendment March merely notes
that D.C. laws "prohibit carrying firearms in public." That is
certainly true, but there are a lot of other prohibitions as well,
retained in the 2009 rewrite of the D.C. gun laws that was upheld by a
federal judge last week. The currently effective D.C. laws are much
more restrictive than those in effect in most states, including even
Maryland.
Mere possession of any type of firearm is generally banned, including
possession in personal vehicles and hotel rooms, even if unloaded and
fully cased. Someone who is merely driving through D.C. with an
unloaded, cased gun might claim the protection of federal law (18 USC
Section 926A), but this does not apply to persons who stop in D.C. for
an event in D.C. (There is also a limited exception that applies to
the handful of D.C. residents who have gone through the burdensome gun
registration requirements established by the 2009 D.C. gun law.)
Moreover -- and this is a biggie -- it is a separate offense to
possess even a single round of any type of ammunition, either on one's
person or in a vehicle. Tourists are often arrested for violations of
this law. (I believe I have even read of arrests for rounds that were
displayed on belt buckles and such, although I suspect that such cases
are later dismissed. I have read of arrests for the stray shotgun
shell rolling around in the pickup and that sort of thing -- shades of
Mexico.)
It is another separate offense to possess a magazine that can hold
more than 10 rounds, even if it is empty and "regardless of whether
the device is attached to a firearm."
It is another separate offense, punishable by a 5-year term, to ride
in a motor vehicle in which one is aware there is a firearm, with
certain narrow exceptions.
Of course, D.C. law does not recognize carry permits from any
jurisidiction. The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act does
apply in D.C., however.
The D.C. event will be closely scrutinized, I suspect, by ranking
officers in multiple agencies who are not in sympathy with its
purposes, who will be looking for violations of any of the D.C. gun
laws. And, unless the March promoters step up their warnings, I
expect we'll be reading about arrests in the April 20 edition of the
Washington Post.
Douglas Johnson
Maryland
**************************************************
5. Concealed weapons permits still open records
**************************************************
Ms. Rhyne's attitude is "let them eat cake." Easy for her to say
that those who threaten or attempt violence should be prosecuted, but
that doesn't help the dead permit holder who was "outed" by the courts.
And if is so important that all records be public, how about if Ms.
Rhyne publishes her medical records, so drug companies can advise her
of "educational, marketing or recreational opportunities?" Prospective
employers, as well as her neighbors, might find it enlightening, too!
Oh, and as far as having a "watch dog" "to make sure localities are
processing applications properly," that's what VCDL already does and
does quite well. And we can do that job just fine with that database
being closed to the public. How? Because gun owners know where to go
when they are abused by the government in Virginia.
--
http://tinyurl.com/ycx23wl
http://www.wpcva.com
Concealed weapons permits still open records
By Shadae Lee/Capital News Service
Monday, March 29, 2010 8:40 AM EDT
RICHMOND - You can still go to your local courthouse to see if someone
has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
A bill that would have prevented the public from accessing concealed
handgun records and applications failed during the General Assembly's
recently completed session.
House Bill 79, sponsored by Delegate R. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, stated
that court clerks "shall withhold from public disclosure permit
applications and information regarding identifiable permittees" The
legislation would have made the permit information available only to
law-enforcement agencies.
The House of Delegates voted 87-10 in favor of the bill. However, the
proposal died in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun rights group, supported
the proposal, saying it would protect the privacy - and possibly the
lives - of concealed handgun permit owners.
Philip Van Cleave, the league's president, said some individuals who
have concealed weapons permit are hiding from violent ex-spouses or
have had their lives threatened.
But Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open
Government, said she was pleased to see HB 79 defeated.
She said it's important for concealed weapons permits to remain open
to public inspection. That way, people are able to monitor the permit
process to make sure localities are processing applications properly,
Rhyne said.
Reporters accessed such records in January after a man shot and killed
eight people in Appomattox County. Local newspapers reviewed concealed
weapons applications and found that the suspect, Christopher Speight,
a 39-year-old security guard, had a permit to carry a concealed
firearm.
"Access to these records is not just about finding out who has a
permit and whether those people should have a permit, but it is
important," Rhyne said.
Also, because the records are public, it is possible to contact permit
holders about educational, marketing or recreational opportunities.
Until 2007, Virginia had a centralized database that citizens could
use to look up concealed weapons permits. The information now is
available only at the courthouse for a particular county or city.
Van Cleave and Rhyne agree that someone's life may be put in jeopardy
by someone gaining access to a permit application.
However, Rhyne said the same problem can arise with information
contained on any public record and information published on the
Internet.
"The solution is to employ law enforcement and the court system to
punish people who make threats or attempt violence against others -
not to close off access to public records," Rhyne said.
**************************************************
6. JMU empty holster protest and events
**************************************************
Kevin Garris, president of JMU Students for Concealed Carry on Campus,
emailed me this:
--
Hello,
I contacted you earlier about the Empty Holster Protest thats going on
at JMU and other college campuses the week of April 5-9. We have made
some changes to our plans but we will be having an open forum debate
on concealed carry on campus April 8th from 6-8PM on the new side of
campus in the ISAT Building, Room 159. This event is open to the
public so I was hoping you might inculde a reference to it in the next
VA-Alert to make surrounding community members aware of it. If anyone
has questions about the event feel free to include my email address.
Thanks,
Kevin Garris
JMU SCCC President
garriskd@jmu.edu
**************************************************
7. LTE: Deliver me from guns--and their owners!
**************************************************
The writer of this LTE is totally ignorant of the meaning of the
Second Amendment. He also thinks that armies don't carry handguns!
--
http://tinyurl.com/ycbckql
http://www.fredericksburg.com
Deliver me from guns--and their owners!
Date published: 4/1/2010
Much of the time when I am on fredericksburg.com and comment on
handgun control, I get angry responses from people who misunderstand
the Second Amendment.
First, the Second Amendment mentions a militia, which today has been
replaced by the National Guard. So it doesn't include handguns. Trust
me, the federal government has enough firepower behind it that if it
wanted to take over somebody's home, a handgun isn't going to do the
trick.
Second, handgun owners irrationally equate owning a gun with freedom,
when the opposite is true. I have the right to be free from someone
who has a gun in his possession. The opposite is not true. I want to
protect my family from people with arms, not arm them.
Third, I have been reading this paper for 16 years now, and I've never
seen a headline stating "Innocent Person Protected by Handgun." I do
see stories about people getting killed by them though, like that poor
soul killed recently for having his house dirty.
Finally, a lot of people believe law-abiding citizens own guns. If you
ask me, the easiest way for a law-abiding citizen to become a criminal
is to carry a gun; ask Gilbert Arenas.
The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to void D.C.'s gun law. Let's hope we get
the final justice soon to protect us from irrational NRA gun-loving
zealots. (I can see the anger coming now on Freder icksburg.com. I am
glad I have tough skin.)
Patrick Victor
Fredericksburg
Editor's note: In District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies to an individual's right
to bear arms.
**************************************************
8. More anti baloney: Our "right to protect yourself" too risky to
entrust Virginians with guns
**************************************************
http://tinyurl.com/ye2wt6j
http://www.staffordcountysun.com
[SNIP}
In an age where anyone can get a gun, times need to change.
Not everyone can be trusted to be sane, think rationally and be
competent while handling a gun, and for that reason in addition to
numerous others, guns need to be taken away from the dangerous hands
that hold them.
***Sure, there are law-abiding citizens that want to keep guns in
order to have "the right to protect themselves."*** But, how many
times have accidents happened to these people, too? How many times has
a child wandered into their parents' bedroom and discovered a new toy,
only for the gun to go off and kill or injure the child?
How many times are people successful in protecting themselves with a
gun when an intruder enters their home?
More often than not, guns result in more trouble than protection other
than through use by law enforcement, trained or military personnel.
In select countries, safety problems don't exist like we have in the
United States because guns aren't available to the degree that they
are here.
When we'll drive down the road and shoot each other over a road-rage
incident, or over an argument with a neighbor, that's when we should
all sit down and wonder if something is really wrong with society, and
the way many of us choose to live our lives. It should be a warning
sign that change is necessary.
**************************************************
9. Guns and speeches
**************************************************
Firearms advocates plan rally to start at Fort Hunt Park and move to
Gravelly Point.
Bruce Jackson emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yl447s6
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com
Guns and Speeches
Firearms advocates plan rally to start at Fort Hunt Park and move to
Gravelly Point.
By Michael Lee Pope
Friday, April 02, 2010
Daniel Almond has never been to Fort Ward Park or Gravelly Park.
Neither has he staged a rally before. He doesn't even live in
Virginia, but he's not letting that stop him from staging an April 19
rally he's calling "Restore the Constitution."
Almond, who lives near Atlanta, Ga. is an Iraq War veteran who
separated from the Marine Corps in 2007. Since then, he's become
increasingly concerned about a growing list of what he considers
constitutional violations. It's a catalogue that includes the bank
bailout, mandated health insurance, eminent domain and the federal
minimum wage for starters. Inspired by a Florida-based online
communication network known as Alarm and Muster, Almond decided stage
a rally where supporters could bring their firearms in what he calls
"civil obedience."
"We wanted to have it as close to D.C. as possible," said Almond, a
real-estate agent. "This is intended for a national audience."
Enter the National Park Service.
Last month, the longstanding prohibition against bringing firearms
into parks owned and operated by the National Park Service was
overturned. When Congress was considering a bill regulating credit
cards last year, a provision was attached as a rider that would force
the National Park Service to apply state laws rather than having its
own rules. That bill passed. As of Feb. 22, gun-owners could legally
bring their weapons into parks across the commonwealth.
"Certainly, having firearms mixed in with visiting crowds would cause
us some pause," said Dottie Marshall, superintendent of the George
Washington National Parkway. "At this point, we are faced with
following the law."
ALMOND CHOSE April 19 to commemorate the anniversary of the "Shot
Heard Round the World" in Massachusetts that started the Revolutionary
War. His original plan was to conduct the event at Gravelly Point,
where he could benefit from Virginia's gun laws while still in sight
of the U.S. Capitol. But as more and more people began expressing
interest, Almond realized that parking would be a problem for the size
of the expected crowd.
So he added a second site -- Fort Hunt Park, the popular picnicking
location in Fairfax County on the parkway. Almond figured having the
event at Fort Hunt could accommodate more people, and small convoys
could travel up and down the parkway to take the demonstration to the
edge of Washington, D.C. Last month, he applied for a permit to
conduct the rally. Since then, a debate has emerged online among
supporters about the wisdom of mixing angry protesters with armed
individuals.
"I pray that the cowboys don't show up," said Tom Fernandez, the
founder of Alarm and Muster who will be one of the featured speakers
at the rally. "The reality is that there are irresponsible gun owners
in this world, but this rally is not for them."
Like many of the participants, Almond plans to come bearing arms. For
starters, he'll be packing an unloaded rifle. He'll also be wearing a
bandoleer with rifle ammunition. Then there's the loaded pistol that
he'll keep holstered during the rally. The show of force is an effort
to make a statement, Almond said, about the growing threats to the
U.S. Constitution.
"This is serious business," he said. "Why even bother having a
Constitution if we are not going to follow it?"
George Mason University professor Solon Simmons said groups such as
the ones staging the April 19 protest feel that they have been
marginalized, and that organizing tea party events and open-carry
rallies are an attempt to regain a perceived loss of power. Part of
that phenomenon is racial, he said, with certain elements of the
movement concerned with the emergence of an ethnically diverse
society. It's a mix he said that could prove to be dangerous.
"These are people who feel deeply marginalized," said Solon. "Any
movement that emerges in that kind of self-perception can be
dangerous."
**************************************************
10. Restaurant robbed by beer-drinking perp at gunpoint
**************************************************
Scott Mercer emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/ykbtf9z
http://www.newsvirginian.com
Dine-and-dash robbery
By CHASE PURDY
Published: March 28, 2010
Updated: March 30, 2010
Before he pulled a gun out of his pocket late Sunday afternoon, the
man finished two beers and a small pepperoni pizza.
But he never paid for the meal, said Tommy Scotto, owner of Scotto's
Italian Pizzeria at 1412 W. Broad Street in Waynesboro.
Instead, the man strolled up to Scotto, who was taking an order over
the phone.
"He waved the gun and said 'Come out, come out,'" Scotto said. "But I
said, 'Hey, I'm takin' an order!'"
Scotto ultimately decided to take no chances. He came from behind the
counter with other restaurant workers.
The man stole $200 to $300 from Scotto's pocket, then fled, Scotto said.
The rare daytime robbery at the Waynesboro restaurant left police
reviewing security camera footage and preparing evidence for testing
at a state crime lab.
The suspect, still unidentified, was described as a white man, about 6
feet, 2 inches tall, weighing more than 200 pounds, 40 to 60 years
old, wearing blue jeans and a black jacket with the word "Lowe's" on
the front. He ran from the restaurant and might have fired a shot from
a revolver, police said.
Scotto said the robber neither took cash from the register nor
demanded money from patrons.
"He could have gotten jewelry, too," he said. "It was weird. It was
kind of a stupid rob."
The suspect might have missed other opportunities to take money, but
Scotto said the man finished his meal, down to the last crumb.
"You know a lot of people leave the crust, but this guy finished the
whole thing," he said. "His plate was white."
None of 10 to 15 witnesses saw the suspect's vehicle, if there was
one, police said.
The suspect did, however, leave fingerprints and DNA on his silverware
and beer bottles, Scotto said.
Sgt. Kelly Walker said some tips have come to police, who "collected a
lot of evidence."
"I can't remember another sit-down restaurant that's been robbed in
this fashion," Walker said.
In August, a Waynesboro Burger King employee was ambushed while taking
a bank deposit to his vehicle. A month later a masked man tried to rob
Wendy's off Rosser Avenue but made off with no cash.
--------
http://tinyurl.com/yajkt39
http://www.whsv.com
Updated: 2:21 PM Mar 29, 2010
Restaurant Owner Reacts to Armed Robbery by Patron
Waynesboro, Va.
A local restaurant received quite a surprise Sunday night when one of
its diners pulled out a gun and demanded money after his meal.
Posted: 11:18 PM Mar 28, 2010
Reporter: McKinsey Harris
A local restaurant received quite a surprise Sunday night when one of
its diners pulled out a gun and demanded money after his meal.
Scotto's Italian Restaurant owner Tommy Scotto says he's still
surprised, but happy no one was injured.
"In the 21 years that we've been in business, nobody ever came in here
with a gun. Nobody ever scared us like that," says Scotto.
Scotto says the man ate a pizza and had a couple of beers before
rounding up employees at the waitress stand with a revolver.
"He told us, 'Just give me some money, and nobody gets hurt.' And
that's it. I took whatever I had in my pocket, give it to him," says
Scotto.
Scotto says he thought the man would then want to get into the cash
register, but he left calmly instead.
"I thought he was going to do something, you know. Because he was just
waving the gun and waving the gun, and that was my biggest concern,"
says Scotto.
Waynesboro police say an armed robbery like this isn't common.
"As economic times get worse, people do desperate things. And luckily
we live in a nice city here and we have. These incidents are rare for
us," says Sgt. Robert Luzader.
Scotto says he's just happy it only meant the loss of a couple hundred
dollars.
"I was hoping that nobody gets hurt, that's it. Money comes and goes,
a life doesn't come back," says Scotto.
Waynesboro police describe the suspect as a white man between 40 to 50
years old.
He was wearing blue jeans and a dark jacket with the word "Lowe's" on
the front.
Police and witnesses say the man fired a shot from his revolver after
leaving the restaurant, before he fleeing north of the city.
**************************************************
11. Editorial: More guns being sold, and fewer crimes being committed
**************************************************
Daryl Ours emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yzujt8u
http://www.dnronline.com
More Guns Being Sold Posted 2010-03-31
And Fewer Crimes Committed
The passionate anti-gun crowd would have folks believe that heightened
momentum nationally toward open-carry and concealed-carry laws is 1)
merely a ploy on the part of the firearms industry to sell more
product and/or 2) an open invitation to more, rather than less,
violent crime.
Statistics lend a certain credence -- if not outright cause-and-effect
-- to the former contention, but a recent report published by (of all
people) the gang at MSNBC.com thoroughly disputes the latter notion.
In the past decade, as more and more states liberalized gun laws in
favor of open-carry and concealed-carry permits, the rate of firearm-
related homicides has fallen -- and dramatically so -- rather than
risen.
The numbers are illustrative. As the MSNBC report indicated, Americans
in the 1980s and '90s were killed by guns at a rate of 5.66 per every
100,000 of population. Since 2000, or ever since the increase in open-
carry and concealed-carry statutes, this rate has fallen 28 percent to
4.07 per 100,000.
What's more, this reduction has transpired as the number of guns
legally purchased has jumped, again dramatically. The amount of
weapons sold remained constant, at between 8.5 million and 9 million
annually, in the period 1999-2005. But, starting in 2006, this number
jumped an astounding 55 percent -- from 10 million that year to more
than 14 million in 2009.
Thus, more guns do not translate into more deaths from gun use. In
fact, just the opposite has happened. Of decidedly greater
significance is the nature of laws on the books pertinent to ownership
of weapons.
A classic point-counterpoint: The District of Columbia has the highest
gun-homicide rate -- 20.50 deaths per 100,000 in population. The
district also boasts one of America's most restrictive gun-control
laws. The lowest gun-homicide rate can be found in Utah, at 1.12
deaths per 100,000 people. Not surprisingly, Utah also sports one of
the country's least-stringent series of gun laws, not to mention a
widely acclaimed mandatory firearm safety course for all legal gun-
owners.
Firearms in the legal possession of law-abiding Americans need not
translate into more violence. In fact, as the MSNBC report clearly
suggests, the precise converse holds in states that hold Second
Amendment rights dear. These statistics don't lie, and so a case can
be made that a well-armed citizenry means fewer, rather than more,
murders, robberies, and rapes.
**************************************************
12. 3 killed, 6 hurt in Washington, D.C. shooting
**************************************************
DC continues to show that gun control only benefits those who are not
inclined to obey laws:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yhrobf8
http://www.msnbc.msn.com
D.C. shooter attacked mourners after funeral
Suspect accused of involvement in killing man who was buried
Associated Press
updated 10:40 a.m. PT, Thurs., April 1, 2010
WASHINGTON - A crowd sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting that
killed four and wounded five had just returned from the funeral of a
man slain nearby, and a 20-year-old is suspected in both shootings,
according to authorities trying to prevent retaliation on Wednesday.
Two men and a 14-year-old boy accused of driving the minivan from
which the bullets were fired were charged with first-degree murder in
Tuesday night's shooting, the worst in D.C. in at least 16 years. One
other person who was in the van was not caught, court documents said.
One of the suspects, Orlando Carter, also has been charged with second-
degree murder in the March 22 death of Jordan Howe. On March 23,
Carter was shot in the head and shoulder hours after his brother was
charged in Howe's death, court documents said.
Assistant Police Chief Peter Newshan said at a news conference that by
finding out if there are beefs between two neighborhood groups he
called crews, police hope to stop paybacks. Crews are more loosely
affiliated than gangs, he said.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier called the drive-by an egregious type of
retaliation.
"It's ridiculous and the community is tired of it," she said. "There
is no excuse for it."
Neighborhood known for drug violence
Both the drive-by shooting Tuesday and Howe's killing were in a
neighborhood known for drugs and related violence about 7 miles from
the White House. Friends and relatives of the drive-by victims
returned to the scene on Wednesday. Four teddy bears were placed by
steps leading to the apartment building.
The building's owner, William Cheek, said he had just walked across
the street to buy a lottery ticket when he heard gunshots about 7:30
p.m. Tuesday and saw many in the group on the ground. His grandson was
among the victims.
"I saw him breathe his last breath," Cheek said, a tear running down
his face. "He was shot in the head."
Cheek didn't want to identify his grandson but said he was enrolled in
a GED class, played basketball and hoped to become a long-distance bus
driver. Court documents identified the victims as 17-year-old Tavon
Nelson, 19-year-old William Jones III, 16-year-old Brishell Jones and
18-year-old Devaughn Boyd.
"They got shot right on my porch," said Cheek, a case manager at a
local community center with programs on substance abuse, job training
and anger management.
Carter and Nathaniel Simms, 26, were arraigned and ordered held
without bail. The teen also faces a murder charge and a family judge
ordered him held at a juvenile facility, saying he was a danger and a
risk for fleeing. He has nine convictions dating to 2005.
Defense lawyers for Carter and Simms argued that court documents
didn't list probable cause or what role the two are accused of in the
latest shootings.
Carter's brother, Sanquan Carter, was charged with murder in Howe's
slaying. Court documents say Howe was killed over a missing gold-
colored bracelet that apparently belonged to Sanquan Carter. A witness
said Orlando Carter was with his brother and was seen shooting a gun
at the time of Howe's death, according to court documents.
'The wrong place, the wrong time'
In Tuesday's shooting, police said they arrested the three after
officers chased the silver van into Prince George's County in Maryland
and back into Washington and saw an AK-47 type weapon thrown from the
van. Other weapons were found inside.
Ross Rauls, 26, said he had been to Howe's funeral and went with a
group of friends to a wooded area afterward where they shared memories
of their friend. He said he headed to the gym, while the others went
to Cheek's building.
"It's sad when the last thing you say to them is 'I'll see you
later,'" he said.
He said the young men shot were not gang members.
"They weren't that type of people. It wasn't gang-related," Rauls
said. "It's a classic case of the wrong place, the wrong time."
Rico Scott said one of those killed, DeVaughn Boyd, was his cousin.
Boyd was a high school senior who liked to go to the mall and the
movies with friends, as well as parties that featured go-go music, a
mix of soul, funk and Latin styles, Scott said.
It was at least the worst shooting in D.C. since 1994, when four men
fired into a crowd at the O Street Market, killing a teenager and
wounding eight other people. A man was convicted of orchestrating the
shooting to retaliate against people who had shot him in the stomach
and robbed him several weeks earlier.
**************************************************
13. EDITORIAL: Federal judge goes after gun owners
**************************************************
Judge dismisses 'Heller 2', goes after gun owners
Jay Britt emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yeosw8s
http://www.washingtontimes.com
Originally published 12:00 a.m., March 30, 2010, updated 05:30 a.m.,
March 30, 2010
EDITORIAL: Federal judge goes after gun owners
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The gun grabbers in Washington are celebrating a federal ruling handed
down Friday that upheld the tangle of rules that effectively prohibit
District residents from owning firearms for the purpose of home defense.
While the Supreme Court in its landmark 2008 Heller decision
recognized the individual's right to own a gun, it also conceded that
reasonable regulations on gun ownership might be acceptable. U.S.
District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina took this concession as a green light
to approve D.C. rules designed to create a gun ownership ban in
everything but name. The District outlawed semiautomatic pistols,
instantly removing the vast majority of handguns sold in the United
States from the reach of law-abiding residents. Guns that can hold
more than 10 bullets are also prohibited. What few remain must be
stored unloaded, disabled and unusable for any reasonable form of self-
defense. Judge Urbina ruled that all of these onerous restrictions
were justified by "public safety concerns."
The decision will almost certainly be appealed, but that, too, may
place gun ownership rights in further jeopardy as the case record
appears flawed in one critical respect.
Stephen P. Halbrook, the attorney who filed this suit against the
District, correctly argued that gun ownership for the purpose of self-
defense is a fundamental right. Such rights compel the courts to apply
a "strict scrutiny" to restrictive laws to ensure that they are
narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest. Gun
control advocates insist that public safety is just such an interest,
but Mr. Halbrook declined to cite the direct empirical evidence needed
to establish a record for higher courts on whether gun control reduces
crime. Under strict scrutiny, such laws must be struck down unless the
District can show that gun control is essential to reducing crime rates.
Mr. Halbrook's reluctance to cite the empirical evidence explicitly
linking guns and crime is unfortunate because gun control laws have
demonstrably failed to yield any of the benefits promised. Take the
regulations on which Judge Urbina ruled. The evidence shows that rules
increasing the cost and burdens of handgun ownership make crime more
likely. Books such as "The Bias Against Guns" and "More Guns, Less
Crime" show that gunlocks, assault-weapon bans and registration rules
do not lower crime rates and might instead increase them.
This result is not surprising. Requiring homeowners to keep guns
locked and unloaded prevents the law-abiding from having accessible
self-defense measures. This merely emboldens criminals to go after
people in their homes with an increased chance of success.
Criminologists and other researchers have found no evidence in the
vast academic literature that assault-weapon bans and magazine
limitations at either the state or federal level have had any effect
on reducing violent crime. Despite portrayals on TV crime shows, gun
registration in reality fails to help solve crimes. In theory, if a
registered gun were left at the scene, it could be traced back to its
owner. However, crime guns are rarely left at the scene. When they
are, they are not registered to the criminals who committed the crime.
Failing to take advantage of this powerful evidentiary record weakens
the gun rights case in the event that a higher court uses a "balancing
test" to weigh the arguments. The situation is even more precarious as
the Obama administration continues to pack the appellate courts with
anti-gun judges who think like Judge Urbina, a Clinton appointee. In
many ways, the upcoming Senate elections could be just as important to
preserving the Second Amendment as they will be about health care.
**************************************************
14. More about the 7 states banning open carry
**************************************************
After a recent VA-ALERT which included an article about the open carry
movement growing across the United States, one of our members emailed
me the following:
"in a recent vcdl article it mentioned that 7 states prohibit open
carry. Could you mention which states those are in a future update?
Thanks!"
According to OpenCarry.org's map at http://www.opencarry.org/opencarry.html
, the 7 states banning the open carry of properly holstered handguns
are: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Illinois,
and New York.
This map also labels California a "rural only open carry state"
apparently because openly carried guns in incorporated areas (i.e.,
cities) must generally be unloaded.
VCDL members might also be interested in OpenCarry.org's "Unlicensed
travelers' map" at http://www.opencarry.org/travel.html which attempts
to highlight states which allow unlicensed handgun carry in vehicles.
Combining these states with the states which accept your Virginia and/
or other state concealed handgun permit(s) often results in the
startling realization that you can carry a loaded handgun while
driving a vehicle in most of the United States and on federal land in
those states managed by the National Park Service, National Forest
Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
I don't need to tell VCDL members this but, as always, remember that
Internet sources should only be your **starting point** when
researching state gun laws before you travel outside of Virginia.
**************************************************
15. Op-Ed: Concealed Handguns Won't Make Bars Shooting Galleries
**************************************************
Hal Macklin emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yglc8ev
http://www.timesdispatch.com
This is a well-written Op-Ed published Sunday in the RTD. The author,
David Rittgers of the Cato Institute, gives his opinion, supported by
the facts, of Chief Jake Jacocks Jr. stereotypical remark that only
law enforcement officers can handle that awesome responsibility of
carrying a concealed handgun in a restaurant that serves alcohol:
[SNIP]
If Chief Jacocks is so concerned about the prospect of intoxicated
arguments turning into gunfights, he should have submitted language to
the legislature that applies a "no drinking" rule to law enforcement
officers and commonwealth's attorneys. They are currently allowed to
carry a concealed handgun in a bar and to consume alcohol while doing
it. The proposed legislation would not change this fact.
The majority of the states allow concealed handguns in establishments
that serve alcohol. The Commonwealth of Virginia can treat its
citizens like adults and do the same.
**************************************************
16. Alan Gura to speak at the GRNC Annual Dinner May 14th in
Charlotte, NC
**************************************************
Bill Lawry emailed me this:
--
Hi Philip -
Paul Vallone (President of Grassroots North Carolina) asked me to send
along our flyer and his request that you each arrange to publish it as
an Alert.
May 14th was chosen to sync up with the NRA's Annual convention and
meeting in Charlotte and we would like you to make your members aware
that there's an alternative to their 'Friends' dinner on Friday night
- and only 4 blocks away.
We've stuck our necks out to get Gura and now we need to sell all the
tickets at $50 ea just to break even. The price is right and I've
been told by Alan Korwin that Gura will deliver a good presentation.
We promise to keep the politicians reined in to 'remarks'.
The room is small - only about 250 seats - so this will be a good time
to get on the inside of the arguments and have all of your questions
answered. Gura isn't doing any NRA events.
Flyer: http://grnc.org/symposium.htm
**************************************************
17. Jimmy Kimmel goes to Starbucks
**************************************************
Carla and Dave Hicks emailed me this:
--
I am really SHOCKED that Starbucks let him use a store for this, since
they
"want to be left alone and kept out of the debate."
So far those on an ProRKBA site see it as:
Pro-gun / Satire on how the antis think we act = 11.11%
Anti-gun / Attempts to portray gun owners as dangerous = 22.22%
Neutral / It's just comedy = 52.78%
Can't tell / Too ambiguous = 13.89%
http://tinyurl.com/yjp2bzr
**************************************************
18. Starbucks can't stay out of gun debate, NYT says
**************************************************
I would also remind the press that Virginia gun owners have honored
Starbucks' request to not be in the middle of a gun debate. It's the
Brady's that have, as usual, been disrespectful towards Starbucks.
--
http://tinyurl.com/y8d7som
http://www.seattletimes.com
Starbucks can't stay out of gun debate, NYT says
Posted by Melissa Allison
"Starbucks' combination of a somewhat-pious corporate persona and its
massive growth has made it an apparently irresistible jumping-off
point for all kinds of debates and meditations," Rob Walker wrote in a
New York Times Sunday magazine item on Starbucks and the gun debate.
In what appears to be a gratuitous swipe, the piece says that when
sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term "third place," that place
between work and home that Starbucks wants to be, "It seems fair to
say that Starbucks is not what he had in mind." (Maybe the Times is
upset that Starbucks is now carrying The Wall Street Journal in 450
New York stores?)
He also points out that civil rights protests often focused on
restaurants and hotels and says, "Starbucks, in more ways than one, is
shorthand for 'everywhere.'" That makes it a target for both sides in
the gun debate, he wrote.
If that's true, I wonder why open carry advocates hung out first at
Peet's Coffee? OpenCarry.org co-founder Mike Stollenwerk of Virginia
said they switched to Starbucks only after Peet's banned their openly
carried guns.
In fresher political news, French president Nicolas Sarkozy insisted
that "his choice of espresso machine be provided" at a visit to
Columbia University yesterday, the New York Post reports.
Unfortunately, it does not report which machine that is.
**************************************************
19. U.N. arms trade treaty would impose strict controls on firearms
**************************************************
Stephen Wenger emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yku9cvx
http://works.bepress.com
UN Lies: Currently, the United Nations is drafting an Arms Trade
Treaty to impose strict controls on firearms and other weapons. In
support of hasty adoption of the Treaty, a UN-related organization of
Treaty supporters is has produced a report claiming that armed
violence is responsible for 740,000 deaths annually. This Article
carefully examines the claim. We find that the claim is based on
dubious assumptions, cherry-picking data, and mathematical legerdemain
which is inexplicably being withheld from the public. The refusal to
disclose the mathematical calculations used to create the 740,000
factoid is itself cause for serious suspicion; our own calculations
indicate that the 740,000 figure is far too high. Further, while the
report claims that 60% of homicides are perpetrated with firearms, our
review of the data on which report claimed to rely yields a 22% rate.
The persons responsible for the report have refused to release their
homicide calculations, or any other calculations. This Article also
shows how a narrow focus on restricting firearms ownership continues
to distract international attention from life-saving, viable
solutions. We propose some practical alternatives which have already
saved lives in war-ravaged areas. (This is the abstract for a recent
article by David Kopel, Paul Gallant and Joanne Eisen.)
**************************************************
20. Who is more likely to kill?
**************************************************
Violence Policy Center report wrongly paints concealed handgun permit
holders as killers
Stephen Wenger emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/ygy7dcl
http://www.examiner.com
Who Is More Likely to Kill?: Josh Sugarmann of the Violence Policy
Center is at it again. Regular readers will recall this is the
character who counts on ignorance about firearms to spread the
misconception that semiautomatic firearms are machine guns in order to
help gin up support for banning them as "assault weapons." Sugarmann's
new shtick is representing concealed carry permit holders as violent
criminals, and he's employing his trademark sleight of mind to do
it... To prove their case, VPC cites 151 people killed by permit
holders since 2007. Note they do not cite how many shooters have been
convicted, but for the sake of argument, let's stipulate they're all
bad to the bone. A. Barton Hinckle of The Richmond Times-Dispatch puts
things in perspective: "[T]he percentage of concealed-carry permit
holders who have killed someone with a firearm comes to two one-
thousandths of 1 percent. Yet to listen to the VPC's Kristen Brand
[sic] - who says 'concealed handgun permit holders are killing people
over parking spaces, football games, and family arguments' - you'd
think the cohort of permit holders was as dangerous as the gang at
Rikers Island." From MSNBC, hardly noted for sympathy to gun rights:
"From its beginnings in the 1980s, the "right-to-carry" movement has
succeeded in boosting the number of licensed concealed-gun carriers
from fewer than 1 million to a record 6 million today, according to
estimates from gun-rights groups that are supported by msnbc.com's
research." From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Police and detectives
held about 883,600 jobs in 2008." Shall we compare populations?
**************************************************
21. Going for their guns
**************************************************
Interactive map shows state concealed handgun permit laws
And Iowa is about to become gold colored, too. (Iowa should be
honoring VA CHPs by the first day of next year).
Charles DeKeyser emailed me this:
--
This map shows the states with "shall issue" concealed-weapons permits
(meaning most adults qualify to get one); "may issue" and "no issue"
states also are shown. Click on the "Play" arrow next to the timeline
for a graphic view of how many states have become "shall issue" since
1986.
Charles DeKeyser
Reston
http://tinyurl.com/yczqbov
http://www.msnbc.msn.com
**************************************************
22. 10 rules for dealing with the police [VIDEO]
**************************************************
Video uses lawyer and actors to demonstrate the ten rules people
should follow to stay out of trouble during police encounters
James Durso emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yz3ceyw
http://www.cato.org
**************************************************
23. Mayor Blomberg slams White House on gun control: report
**************************************************
Another temper tantrum from Mayor "I bought the election" Bloomberg.
Carla and Dave Hicks emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/y9psnxh
http://www.nypost.com
Mayor Blomberg slams White House on gun control: report
POST WIRE SERVICES
Last Updated: 4:23 PM, March 30, 2010
Posted: 3:38 PM, March 30, 2010
President Obama is under the gun when it comes to Mayor Bloomberg and
his crusade against illegal weapons.
Bloomberg, generally considered a White House ally, put Obama on
notice after he fired off a letter to the White House this month where
he reportedly accused the president of dragging his feet when it comes
to gun control, according to a report today.
In the March 3 letter sent from Bloomberg's coalition, Mayors Against
Illegal Guns, the mayor points to a separate report the group sent the
Obama administration last August, which laid out 40 recommendations to
"improve enforcement of existing gun laws," according to The
Huffington Post.
The letter was co-signed by Boston Mayor Tom Menino.
"We appreciate the ... consideration of the report, but this is an
urgent matter: further delay will almost certainly result in the
needless loss of innocent lives, including many children. Mr.
President, the time has come for action," the mayors wrote, according
to the letter obtained by The Huffington Post.
The White House did not immediately have a comment in regards to the
letter.
Bloomberg has been an ardent fighter for gun control, blaming illegal
handguns smuggled into New York State for shootings that take place in
the city. He has also taken on the National Rifle Association in the
past.
"Over the past six months, approximately 6,000 Americans have been
gunned down in intentional acts of violence. The 40 recommendations in
our Blueprint, many of which could be enacted immediately, offer the
best hope we have for making our country safer over the next six
months -- and the years ahead."
The Huffington Post report comes after the city conducted a sting
operation last year where it caught unlicensed gun dealers selling
weapons to undercover investigators who admitted they couldn't pass
background checks.
The stings were conducted at seven gun shows in Tennessee, Ohio and
Nevada. Those states are among the many that permit private unlicensed
dealers, known as "occasional sellers," to sell weapons at gun shows
without conducting background checks.
Nine states, including New York, have passed laws to close the
loophole, requiring background checks on at least all handgun
purchases at gun shows.
**************************************************
24. Jail time for gun owner who got laid over in Newark, NJ
**************************************************
This tragedy bears careful reading by those of you who travel. Ben
Piper emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/yg42cx4
http://www.volokh.com
Unexpected Flight Delay => Hotel Stay => Criminal Prosecution for Gun
Possession
Eugene Volokh * March 30, 2010 5:18 pm
An unfortunate story, detailed in Revell v. Port Authority (3d Cir.
2010): Gregg C. Revell was flying from Salt Lake City to Allentown,
Pennsylvania, via Minneapolis and Newark. He had an unloaded gun
legally checked in his luggage, which was supposed to meet him at
Allentown.
Supposed to. In fact, the flight to Newark was late, so Revell missed
his connection. He booked himself on the next flight, but the airline
changed those plans. He was supposed to get on a bus, but his luggage
didn't get on the bus with him. He found the luggage, but the bus had
left, so he had to stay overnight at the hotel, with his luggage.
Aha! That's where the crime came in. The Firearms Owners' Protection
Act protected Revell on the plane, and would have protected him on the
bus. But the moment the luggage came into his hands or otherwise
became "readily accessible" to him outside a car -- here, when he got
the luggage to go to the hotel, but it would have also happened if he
had gotten the luggage to put it into the trunk of a rental car -- he
violated New Jersey law, which requires a permit to possess a handgun
(and which bans the hollow-point ammunition that Revell also had in a
separate locked container in his luggage). Revell was arrested when he
checked in with the luggage at Newark Airport, and said (as he was
supposed to) that he had an unloaded gun in a locked case in his
luggage; he then spent four days in jail until he was released on
bail. Eventually the New Jersey prosecutor dropped the charges against
him, but Revell didn't get the gun and his other property back until
almost three years later.
Revell sued, and lost; the Third Circuit concluded that once he took
the luggage in hand in New Jersey, it became "readily accessible," and
the FOPA immunity was lost. And this is indeed a sensible reading of
the statutory text:
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or
regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person
who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting,
shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a
firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully
possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may
lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation
the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition
being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from
the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That
in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the
driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a
locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
So what do you if this happens to you?
Stranded gun owners like Revell have the option of going to law
enforcement representatives at an airport or to airport personnel
before they retrieve their luggage. The careful owner will do so and
explain his situation, requesting that his firearm and ammunition be
held for him overnight.[18]
[Footnote 18:] Of course, this suggestion leaves unanswered the
question of what the gun owner should do if the law enforcement
officers decline to assist him. It may be hoped, however, that
officers will not compound a blameless owner's problems in that way.
Hope does spring eternal, but I suspect that airport police and
airport staff aren't going to be willing to hold people's luggage for
them overnight, especially when it contains a gun. And of course the
airport police or staff would then have to personally check in the
luggage for the owner, since the owner can't take it in hand without
losing the FOPA immunity.
So watch out when you travel with your gun in checked luggage. If your
flight gets routed to a different city, or you have to stay overnight
at one of the stops, you could be arrested. Or if you drive across
country but your car breaks down, and you need to move the luggage to
another car, you could likewise be violating the law (though you'd be
less likely to be caught, since you have no obligation declare your
gun when you switch cars the way you do when you get on a plane). FOPA
gives you a good deal of protection on your travels -- but, as Mr.
Revell learned, not complete protection.
**************************************************
25. Report from liberal cable outlet shows that more guns equals fewer
firearms deaths
**************************************************
John Sabol emailed me this:
--
http://tinyurl.com/y9vy9aa
http://www.cnsnews.com
Report From Liberal Cable Outlet Shows That More Guns Equals Fewer
Firearms Deaths
Monday, March 29, 2010
By Joe Schoffstall
(CNSNews.com) - A new report published by MSNBC.com shows that more
guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens results in fewer deaths from
the use of firearms.
"Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens prevent 1 million
robberies, murders and rapes every year," John Pierce, a Virginia-
based gun-rights activist with opencarry.org, told MSNBC.com.
Alan M. Gottlieb, vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation
(SAF), called the finding "further evidence that everything the gun
prohibitionists have been claiming and predicted over the past two
decades has been fundamentally fraudulent."
However, not everyone shares the sentiment of those pushing for laws
that allow open carry and concealed carry. Kristen Rand, legislative
director for the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group, said the
movement for more open-carry and concealed-carry gun laws "has to do
with selling more guns."
While it was pushed by groups like the National Rifle Association, it
also "dovetailed with the gun industry's desperate need to find a new
market," she said.
The MSNBC.com report, Record numbers now licensed to pack heat, says
that in the 1980s and 1990s, Americans were killed by guns at a rate
of about 5.66 per 100,000 population, at the time the concealed-carry
movement (carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed
manner, either on one's person or close proximity) began gaining
momentum.
In this decade, the gun-homicide rate has fallen to 4.07 per 100,000,
which equates to a 28 percent reduction in homicides with the use of
firearms. This decline in homicides follows a five-fold increase in a
"shall-issue" (requirement of a permit to carry a concealed handgun,
but where the granting of the permit is subject only to meeting
certain criteria laid out in the law) and unrestricted concealed-carry
laws in states from 1986 to 2006, reported MSNBC.com.
According to federal background checks conducted on the sale of most
firearms, the decline in homicides comes as U.S. firearm sales are
skyrocketing.
While the number of gun sales held stable between 8.5 million and 9
million from 1999-2005, the FBI reported a rise in sales to 10 million
in 2006. In 2007 the number jumped to 11 million; in 2008, up to 13
million; and more than 14 million in 2009 -- an increase of 55 percent
in four years.
The nation's highest gun homicide rates are in Washington, D.C., with
20.50 deaths per 100,000 people, five times the general rate. Yet the
District of Columbia has the strictest gun-control laws in the nation.
The lowest rate of gun-related homicides is in Utah: 1.12 deaths per
100,000 people. Utah's gun-control policy is very unrestricted.
According to SAF's Gottlieb, gun control advocates "repeatedly argued
that more guns will equate to more crime and more firearm deaths, and
MSNBC.com just let the air out of their sails with this exhaustive and
well-balanced report.
"This is why," said Gottleib, "anti-gun groups have lost their
momentum and their credibility. They failed to gain traction even with
a Democrat-controlled Congress and anti-gun White House. They are so
desperate for attention that they have now declared war on private
businesses just to generate publicity. Their high-profile campaign of
hysteria against Starbucks for complying with state laws that allow
concealed and open carry in their coffee shops is based on an issue
they fabricated just to grab headlines and television face time, and
the public knows it."
Gottlieb concluded, "Every restrictive gun law, every ban, every gun-
free-zone they have advocated and defended have one thing in common:
they gave us a body count. The MSNBC.com report suggests America has
had enough."
**************************************************
26. 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 around the state.
Dale City, March 13-14
Terrell Purde', Jeff Morrow, Vin Miragliotta, Tom Pietras, Russell
Krull, Mark Jones, Kieth & Tori Dingwall, Clairia Jackson, Dexter
Guptill, and Dr. Jerry Coffey
Roanoke, March 20-21
Sherrill Smith, Kathy Smith, Ken Modica, John Everett, Bruce Powers,
Chris Sturgill, Greg Bellamy, and Bill Brown
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. RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, April 10-11
Saturday, April 10 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 11 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact our coordinator at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Richmond Raceway Complex.
b. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, April 10-11
Saturday, April 10 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 11 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.
c. SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, April 17-18
Saturday, April 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 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. VIRGINIA BEACH http://www.guns-knives.com, April 17-18
Saturday, April 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 18 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact Ron and Jean Hyson at VBgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Virginia Beach.
e. CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, April 23-25
Friday, April 23 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 24 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 25 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.
f. RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, May 15-16
Saturday, May 15 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 16 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Contact Audrey Muehleisen at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Showplace in Mechanicsville.
g. FREDERICKSBURG http://www.guns-knives.com, May 22-23
Saturday, May 22 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 23 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact Robert Herron at Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Fredericksburg.
h. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, June 5-6
Saturday, June 5 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 6 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.
i. RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, July 10-11
Saturday, July 10 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 11 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Contact Audrey Muehleisen at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Showplace in Mechanicsville.
j. SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, July 17-18
Saturday, July 17 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 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.
k. CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, July 30-August 1
Friday, July 30 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 1 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.
l. DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, August 7-8
Saturday, August 7 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 8 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact Sam Childress at NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help in
Dale City.
m. RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, August 7-8
Saturday, August 7 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 8 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact our coordinator at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help at
the Richmond Raceway Complex.
n. ROANOKE http://www.showmasters.us, August 21-22
Saturday, August 21 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 22 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.
o. FISHERSVILLE http://www.showmasters.us, August 28-29
Saturday, August 28 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 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.
p. RICHMOND http://www.guns-knives.com, August 28-29
Saturday, August 28 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 29 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please contact our coordinator at CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org to help
at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell.
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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/]