VCDL Update 10 July 09

[allingeneral]

This is a very, very long email update. Check the table of contents and scroll down to the titles that interest you. If you try to read it from beginning to end, it will take you an hour! Good stuff though. Thank you VCDL for helping to keep us informed!

VCDL Update 7/10/09 - Quote for the day, “Having a computer doesn’t
make you a hacker, ... Having a lighter doesn’t make you an arsonist.
And having a gun doesn’t make you a killer,” unknown, from this
article: http://tinyurl.com/lmnjue

1. Virginia self-defense law
2. What not to do if stopped by a police officer
3. PVC OpEd: Cool the smoldering fear-mongering on guns
4. Another sign fixed: Catoctin Skate Park
5. Isle of Wight may repeal "useless" gun law
6. Dale Welch becomes Executive Member
7. EM Ted Deeds: Evil Exists
8. LTE: Neither candidate is right on guns in bars
9. Two LTEs respond to misplaced fears
10. OpEd: No logic to gun fears
11. OpEd: Concealed weapons are for safety
12. Paranoid nation?
13. Taking to the air in defense of open carry
14. Politicizing the Holocaust Museum shooting is important
15. Good experience with FCPD
16. Police: Man killed in Suffolk break-in had no gun
17. Kansas AG moves to recognize non-resident carry permits
18. Second Amendment includes parks, too
19. Flying with firearms, a primer
20. Pastor urges his flock to bring guns to church
21. Montel Williams wants tracker chips in guns
22. UK is violent crime capital of Europe
23. Delegate "Janus"?
24. Who's afraid of driving alone? Not 89-year-old Rachel

**************************************************
1. Virginia self-defense law
**************************************************

I have been getting a lot of questions about self-defense laws in
Virginia, so I decided to address it again for those who may be new to
the list or missed it before.

First, let me say that I am not a lawyer and don't give legal advice.
Go to a good gun attorney for such advice.

That said, to guide you in the right direction, this is my lay
understanding of the law:

Virginia is a "stand your ground" state. In Virginia the legal
protections for for self-defense are in common law and case law.

You don't need to retreat as long as:

1. You are somewhere you can legally be (you are covered even outside
your residence) and
2. You are completely innocent and are not part of the "problem"

If you are part of the problem, say you made an unfriendly hand
gesture at somebody during a traffic incident and that person comes
after you later in a parking lot, you have to retreat as far as
possible and let the aggressor know that you are giving up the fight.
Only if you are then cornered and the aggressor ignores the fact that
you don't want to fight him, are you then able to legally defend
yourself.

As far as using, or threatening to use, deadly force to defend
yourself (brandishing a firearm or shooting a firearm, for example),
you can only do so if you, or an innocent third party, is in IMMEDIATE
danger of death or grievous bodily harm.

If you are innocent and can stand your ground and have used deadly
force when threatened with immediate death or grievous bodily harm,
that is considered "justifiable homicide." That is, the State
believes that you were completely justified in what you did.

If you were part of the problem, retreated, and then had to use deadly
force, that is considered "excusable homicide." Having an excuse to
use deadly force is not nearly as good as being justified.

Bottom line: never be part of the problem. Period. Don't make
obscene gestures, yell at, threaten, or aggravate others. If they try
to aggravate or threaten you, remain calm, ignore them to whatever
extent possible, and call the police. At all costs, keep your status
of being innocent. That way, if things go down hill, you have the
full protection of the law behind you as you stand your ground. If
you can retreat safely, do so. The only fight you are guaranteed of
winning is the one you don't get into.

**************************************************
2. What not to do if stopped by a police officer
**************************************************

As stated in item #1, above, I am not a lawyer and don't give legal
advice. Here are some comments, based on my lay understanding of the
law, based on a recent incident in another state:

Here is the scenario: you are driving in another state, get pulled
over by an officer, and suddenly realize that you have a gun under
your seat that is not legal in the state that you are being stopped in.

Things to do:

1. Turn on the dome light if at night
2. Keep your hands on the steering wheel in plain sight and have your
driver's license, registration, and insurance cards ready
3. Be polite and calm

Things NOT to do:

1. Do NOT tell the officer about the gun - admitting that you have a
gun will virtually guarantee you are going to be arrested. The police
officer is sworn to uphold the law and if you tell him you are in
violation, then he is most likely going to feel he has to arrest you
and let the courts sort it out. The admission will also give the
police probable cause to search you and your entire vehicle. You
won't get any Brownie points, only a trip to the local jail.
Remember: you are protected by the 5th Amendment - keep your mouth
shut about that gun! Actually, it's best not to answer any questions
at all.

2. However, do NOT lie to the officer. If asked if you have any
weapons, your best choice is to change the subject by asking him an
unrelated question, or, as allowed by the 5th Amendment, to simply not
respond.

3. Do NOT consent to any searches (this is true at all times). Once
you consent, anything they find can, and will, be used against you.
If you don't consent and they end up doing an illegal search, then
whatever they find cannot be used in court. Even if they decide to do
a search without asking your permission, be sure to tell them that you
do not give them permission to do the search.

As long as you are not in the vehicle (say they have not arrested you,
but they have decided to detain you and place you by, or in, the
police car) , they cannot search your vehicle generally. They CAN
search your vehicle if you give them permission, they have probable
cause (like you foolishly volunteering to tell them that you have a
gun), or you are still in the vehicle (in which case they can search
within your "wingspan" for any weapons for officer safety).

Of course, it is best never to be in the above situation. But from my
own experience, I know I came unpleasantly close to being in a similar
position once. For a few disturbing seconds, I thought I didn't have
a way of avoiding temporarily crossing into DC because I was in the
wrong traffic lane. That's just how quickly and easily it can
happen. If it does happen, it's best to "get out of Dodge" quickly
and while carefully obeying all traffic laws as you do so.

**************************************************
3. PVC OpEd: Cool the smoldering fear-mongering on guns
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/m6qp7b

roanoke.com
Cool the smoldering fear-mongering on guns

By Philip Van Cleave | Van Cleave is the president of the Virginia
Citizens Defense League in Midlothian

In Dan Casey's opinion column "Get ready for guns in bars" (June 21),
there were some key points I would like to set straight:

Unlike what Casey wrote, under Virginia law gun owners currently may
openly carry into a restaurant and drink if they wish. But they are
not allowed to get drunk. Truth is, that while it is legal, gun owners
are simply not interested in drinking and carrying a gun.

The bill that passed the General Assembly this year would have allowed
for concealed handgun permit holders to be able to carry concealed as
long as they didn't drink. Gun owners were fine with that. They simply
want to be able to carry discreetly in restaurants and enjoy a meal.

The people you should be worried about, violent criminals, already
carry in restaurants concealed. Unlike permit holders, they don't care
that it's illegal.

So it is not about carrying concealed in bars and drinking, as Casey
says, (Virginia doesn't have actual bars, by the way -- they are
always part of an eating establishment) it is about carrying concealed
and eating in restaurants that happen to serve alcoholic beverages.

While Casey enjoys fear-mongering about "smoldering wisps that emerge
from hot pistol barrels after some permit-holding, gun-hiding patrons
get into a face-off," he fails to point out that currently those same
gun owners can legally carry concealed at special events where alcohol
is served and have been doing so for decades. All without problems.

Such imaginary face-offs with permit holders have been used
shamelessly for a long time now by those who hate guns. When Virginia
started issuing permits on a "shall issue" basis in 1995, people like
Casey were screaming about the danger of shoot-outs in grocery stores
after two carts collide in the aisle.

Those dire warnings all turned out to be nothing more than active
imaginations working way over time. But 14 years later, here we go
again.

Finally, I wonder where Casey was when another bill passed the General
Assembly last year and was signed into law by Gov. Tim Kaine that
allows off-duty commonwealth's attorneys to carry concealed and drink
in restaurants? I didn't hear a word from him or The Roanoke Times
bemoaning that one.

I have no problem with commonwealth's attorneys or permit holders
carrying concealed and having a drink with their meal. They are all
good people who have a proven track record of being law-abiding
citizens. Let's not paint any of them as something they are not in
order to push for more pointless gun control.

**************************************************
4. Another sign fixed: Catoctin Skate Park
**************************************************

Emails between member Bob Jenson and Leesburg Parks Department about
an illegal "no guns" rule:

[Bob Jenson to Leesburg Parks Department]

Good morning. I was at Catoctin Skate Park today with my son and
noticed a sign posted that lists the rules of the park (see attached
photo). One of the rules on the sign indicates "no firearms". This
sign is in violation of Section 15.2-915 of the Code of Virginia,
which prohibits localities and local government entities from
regulating the carrying of firearms.


[Leesburg Parks Department to Bob Jensen]

Mr. Jensen. Thank you for your email. The Town is currently involved
with an exhaustive revision of our Town Code which includes many legal
changes. The issue that you have raised is being addressed as part of
the overall Town Code revisions. Once that job is completed, all
related park rules and facility guidelines will be adjusted accordingly.

In the meantime, the Town is fully aware of the legal changes in this
area and that State law over-rides our current park rules. As a
result, staff and the Police Department will respond in accordance to
the law if needed.

Again, thank you for your email. Should you have any further
questions, please let me know.

**************************************************
5. Isle of Wight may repeal "useless" gun law
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/n77htr

wtkr.com
Isle of Wight may repeal "useless" gun law
By Allison T. Williams
247-4535
8:45 PM EDT, June 30, 2009

ISLE OF WIGHT -- The county likely will repeal a new ordinance that
prohibits concealed weapons from being taken into public parks and
recreational facilities.

The Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance in August
2008 that allows only "authorized personnel" to carry concealed guns
in the county's recreational facilities, said Assistant County
Attorney Mark C. Popovich. But the ordinance -- meant to keep the
county's athletic fields, senior centers and other recreational
facilities safe for the rapidly growing number of users -- is
"unenforcable," he said.

Trouble is, no one realized it until the county received a call from a
gun rights group, Virginia Citizens Defense League Inc., shortly after
the ordinance passed.

State law says that local governments can't adopt ordinances
controlling the use, sale, possession or transportation of firearms.
Local hunting laws are the only exception.

On Thursday, the Board of Supervisors will be looking at a
recommendation to repeal the ordinance adopted less than a year ago.
If it moves forward, a public hearing could be scheduled for as soon
as July 16.

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League,
applauded Isle of Wight's move to remove "useless gun laws" from its
book.

"We don't want issues out there confusing people," Van Cleave said.
Besides, he said, local parks and recreational venues will be safer
with people legally carrying their concealed weapons.

**************************************************
6. Dale Welch becomes Executive Member
**************************************************

Congratulations to our latest Executive member - Dale Welch!

Dale has been an active VCDL member for several years. If VCDL has
something going on in Central Virginia, you can bet Dale will be there.

Recently, he was in the middle of the sticker issue with the Richmond
Coliseum. He was also at the Goochland Republican Party's meeting
where he spoke to Linwood Cobb about the anti-gun location of the
Republican Roundup.

Dale knows his stuff on gun rights and we look forward to his wisdom
being shared on the EM list.

**************************************************
7. EM Ted Deeds: Evil Exists
**************************************************

EM Dave Vann writes:

In discussing this very topic with EM Ted Deeds and EM Dave Yates, we
all believe that we (VCDL) should focus on armed citizens being
labeled "first responders." We've said this before, but it needs to
become our rallying cry, along with "when seconds count the police are
only minutes away."

We need to amass a book with hundreds of news stories of armed
citizens either defending themselves or others, that we can have ready
to hand to the media when interviewed.

The response from the other side, naturally, will be that that is what
the police are for. Our response would be to simply look around and
ask "if something were to happen right now, where is that police
officer?"

[PVC: PVC: Same concept as calling a citizen a first responder who
is the first on the scene of a bad accident and starts rendering aide
before the ambulance or
police get there.]

EM Ted Deeds, who is with the Law Enforcement Alliance of America
(LEAA) had this article published in "American COP" magazine:

http://tinyurl.com/m584ce

fmgpublications.ipaperus.com

Evil Exists:

Law enforcement, probably more than any other profession, knows this
one truth - evil exists. Whether that evil is crashing planes with
thousands dead, or the death of one little child, cops see evil on a
more personal basis than almost anyone else - save victims.

The only proven, effective way of stopping murderous evil is violent
action.

There's a valuable group -- guardians -- who will voluntarily put
themselves between evildoers and their victims, between the wolves and
the sheep. These guardians are, for lack of a better description often
called 'Sheepdogs.'

Whether a cop, service member, firefighter or civilian, there is
something very special about the heart of the person who goes toward
danger, literally into harm's way to try and help.

At a High School in Pearl, Mississippi, evil showed up ready to kill
again. A faculty member grabbed his gun and held the killer at
gunpoint. Without firing a shot, this sheepdog kept the death count
down to two. The killer's next planned stop was a nearby junior high
school to kill even more.

A would-be murder spree at a middle school dance in Edinboro,
Pennsylvania with 240 children present was thwarted when a restaurant
owner grabbed his shotgun and swiftly acted, stopping the attack and
forcing the killer to surrender. This killing spree was stopped at one.

In the mass murder that never happened at Santana High School in
Santee, California, evil was confronted and stopped early on in the
attack. A parent at the high school -- an off-duty San Diego Police
officer -- reacted to the emerging threat with his gun, keeping the
death toll down to two.

Appalachia Law School, evil killed again. Two sheepdogs -- civilian
gun owners -- went into the jaws of the attack and stopped it cold --
without firing a shot. The death toll kept to two.

- CONTRASTS -

Think on this:

11 casualties at the Amish school in Pennsylvania. This adult
incarnation of evil methodically killed little girls.

24 casualties at the Northern Illinois University attack.

39 casualties at the Columbine school incident... no sheepdogs.

55 casualties at the murder spree at Virginia Tech, another 'gun-
free' zone.

13 casualties at the Westroads Mall by a fame-seeking killer who
wanted to go out in style. Unchallenged, this killer moved through the
mall laying waste at will!

45 casualties at the at Luby's restaurant massacre in Texas. A would-
be sheepdog did not have her gun with her (back then it was illegal in
Texas).

A cretin killed during an Illinois church service when he took the
minister's life. Illinois is one of only two states left still
prohibiting concealed carry permits for "average" law abiding citizens.

Contrast with:

Zero dead, six injured at the Tacoma Mall shooting spree. One armed
civilian (there may have been a second) took action to stop the
evildoer who told police to "follow the screams."

A killer's spree was derailed when an off-duty officer who had his gun
and the courage to use it went into harms way at Trolley Square Mall
in Utah. Tragically, five innocents were killed. Taking his attack
into a posted 'gun-free' zone, this predator was stopped from killing
many more by an armed sheepdog.

An armed female civilian sheepdog saved lives when she confronted evil
and shot him at the New Life Church in Colorado.

Need more examples?

Recently a workplace attack in Houston, Texas was thwarted with only
one injury. The would-be killer was confronted by two employees with
guns and permits to carry them. They gave the attacker something else
to worry about -- incoming rounds.

Remember 9-11? Inside a self-defense-free zone -- airplanes -- the
terrorists, armed with box cutters, seized planes they then used to
kill thousands. Back then cockpits were 'gun-free.' After 9-11 we
tragically learned this policy made the situation more dangerous for
everyone except the bad guys.

Stupid Laws:

Guns are not the problem -- ineffective laws are. Our laws are
targeting precisely the wrong people, forcing good guys to become easy
prey for evil killers. We must stop this madness before one more
innocent life is needlessly lost.

Brave people willing to act can stop rampaging killers. We shouldn't
be forced to be helpless when facing evil.

Let our precious sheepdogs be armed!

**************************************************
8. LTE: Neither candidate is right on guns in bars
**************************************************

So, if her neighbor's 21-year-old son had died because of a drunk
driver, would Ms. Enderle have said, "Their son died thanks to Ford
Motors and the autoworkers union"?

http://tinyurl.com/mdegyv

roanoke.com
Neither candidate is right on guns in bars

Dan Casey's column "Get ready for guns in bars" (June 21) is
excellent. Do the two men running for governor -- Creigh Deeds and Bob
McDonnell -- know the definition of a bar, which is where people
gather to consume alcohol. That's how the bar owner makes a living.

The bill they want to sign into law making it legal for people going
into a bar to bring a loaded weapon, as long as they do not consume
alcohol, is without doubt the stupidest idea I've heard in 50 years.

Only a year ago in January, my neighbor's 21-year-old son was shot in
a bar in downtown across from the City Market, thanks to the NRA and
the Second Amendment.

Either Deeds and McDonnell are totally brain dead or they think that
the voters are brain dead. I wish there were a third party I could
vote for if this is the way Deeds and McDonnell plan to govern Virginia.

JOYCE ENDERLE
ROANOKE

**************************************************
9. Two LTEs respond to misplaced fears
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/kjocsq

roanoke.com
Misplaced fears about gun laws

I am appalled that intellects such as editors and university
professors use so little of their intellect when discussing gun laws.
Proposed legislation to allow holders of permits to carry a concealed
weapon in establishments that serve alcohol is designed primarily to
allow carry in restaurants. Carrying in bars is not the major intent.
In fact, people who inhabit bars may not pass the rigid requirements
to get a permit.

Most people who have permits do not carry except in their car when
traveling. There has never been a violation of gun laws by a person
with a permit to carry in the state of Virginia, nor elsewhere that I
know of. All are reputable people -- not paranoid.

To get a permit, a person must undergo training that includes laws
pertaining to that right. One leaves the session believing it might be
better to take the first bullet than face the criminal and civil
charges.

It does seem with gun legislation, as with many other things, persons
who make their decisions based on emotion rather than facts do
sometimes succeed in certain fields.

BILL MASHBURN SR.
BLACKSBURG

------

Second Amendment didn't cause shooting

Re: "Neither candidate is right on guns in bars," June 24 letter:

Joyce Enderle wrote that making it legal for people to carry guns in
bars is "the stupidest idea I've heard in 50 years." She then implies
that the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment are the
reason her neighbor's son was shot last year. In my opinion, that
implication is the stupidest thing I have heard in 50 years.

I suppose Enderle would like to see the Second Amendment removed from
the Bill of Rights. While we are at it, let's just trash the whole
Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

I have no patience for narrow-minded people who exercise their First
Amendment right yet want to deny us our Second Amendment rights.

PAUL BISBEE
BEDFORD

**************************************************
10. OpEd: No logic to gun fears
**************************************************

Thanks to Matt Stromberg for the link:

http://tinyurl.com/pnsodd

insidenova.com
Simpson Column: No logic to gun fears

JAMES SIMPSON

Published: July 3, 2009

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 4, we celebrate American independence! During
this time I hope that Americans will take a few minutes to reflect on
how we gained our independence ... while so many, to this very day,
are still unable to achieve liberty.

The fact is, we can thank our success on one thing -- the individual
right to bear arms. If it were not for the firearms owned by private
citizens in the late 1700s, the British would have easily defeated us.

Yet so many today are willing to give up this basic right in the hope
that government will be there to protect them and will never become
oppressive.

Thomas Jefferson wrote "... that even under the best forms, those
entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted
it into tyranny ..."

A couple weeks ago the issue of limiting private gun ownership reared
its ugly head again when a piece of human excrement -- who I will not
give the honor of mentioning by name -- got drunk and killed a duck
next to Tim's Rivershore Restaurant.

This act elicited an Our View editorial by the News & Messenger that
queried: "It makes one wonder why people should be allowed guns in
restaurants, period." With the follow-up rhetorical question "Do we
really want a criminal and a patron exchanging gunfire in a crowded
restaurant?"

I have heard many accounts of murders in restaurants -- I still
remember the incident (late '70s I believe) of a massacre that took
place inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant on Rt. 236 (Duke
Street) next to Interstate-95. Someone walked in and killed many
patrons, and no one was armed and able to stop him. Or the event where
unarmed people were massacred in a New York subway train, again where
the citizens were unable to defend themselves. So yes ... I would
rather have a fighting chance than be a helpless victim.

Criminals are going to obtain weapons. If more laws are passed
reducing private ownership, crime will increase as evidenced in places
like Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. Even in countries
where private ownership is outlawed, criminals acquire weapons.

If guns were the problem, then thousands of deaths would be reported
at gun shows. Anyone who takes a minute to shrug off the fear
indoctrinated into many by the liberal media will rightly conclude
that most gun violence occurs in areas where people have been disarmed
-- universities, public schools, places of employment, restaurants, etc.

The Our View piece from June 20 also states that "Guns should be
banned from restaurants, plain and simple." It goes on to suggest that
if the government won't ban guns, then restaurant owners should post
signs banning guns as the law provides for establishments to prohibit
them if they desire.

This would only serve as an invitation to anyone wanting to rob a
restaurant or its patrons.

The fact that we need a "permit" to carry is already a serious
infringement of the Second Amendment. We don't need to ask the
permission of government to practice a religion, speak our minds and
peacefully assemble. Every step that is taking to remove our God given
right to protect ourselves moves us one step closer to tyranny. Many
are fighting very hard to remove the private sale of guns, requiring
the government become involved in every transaction ... as well as
requiring that all individuals register their guns. The latter has
been used numerous times throughout history to confiscate guns once
those governments realized that their tyrannical nature was inciting a
citizen revolt.

From a document issued by the Second Continental Congress on July
6th, 1775 titled Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up
Arms: "From thence the troops proceeded in warlike array to the town
of Concord, where they set upon another party of the inhabitants of
the same province, killing several and wounding more, until compelled
to retreat by the country people suddenly assembled to repel this
cruel aggression."

These people did not reply to tyranny by throwing stones. Our
government is currently diving headlong into financial ruin. You can't
just magically produce trillions of dollars and not have significant
repercussions. You can't have the government take over huge parts of
the private sector and not have significant repercussions. It will not
be long before our government turns oppressive.

Freedoms, once lost, are very difficult to regain. Please try and
remember why we celebrate July 4 as you are watching the fireworks.

James Simpson lives in Lake Ridge.

**************************************************
11. OpEd: Concealed weapons are for safety
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/nlcx36

roanoke.com
Concealed weapons are for safety
Bill Henderson

Henderson, of Roanoke, is retired from the federal prison system.

I once again find myself at odds with your paper. Because the column
"Get ready for guns in bars" by Dan Casey (June 21) appeared in the
Virginia section instead of the editorial pages, I can only assume
your editors saw it as a newsworthy story rather than the hit piece it
is. You present your ideology on this issue in a twisted and biased
way, which has become common practice for The Roanoke Times --
specifically, when you print material on the concealed-carry
legislation for carrying a concealed weapon into an establishment
serving alcohol, restaurants included.

If you were honest, you would have reported the facts and mentioned
that the real reason for this bill was to allow lawfully licensed
concealed-carry holders to enter any establishment serving alcohol,
i.e., Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, etc. The laws prohibit the
consumption of alcohol and carrying any weapon.

To qualify for my permit I had to prove that I was a safe and
responsible citizen. I was given a background check, reviewed and
approved by my county sheriff, and approved by a judge. I don't
patronize bars now, but I do enjoy eating in the nicer restaurants.
Prior to retiring I had concealed-carry permits in previous states of
residence -- Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. I
underwent classes, security checks and weapons testing in some cases.

I believe it is my right and obligation to protect myself and family
wherever I may be. I believe my family deserves a man who is as
capable of protecting them as an evil person is capable of destroying
them.

I also believe that a lawfully armed citizen in the right place at the
right time can turn the tables on a tragedy. I have heard it said if
only one student or teacher at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, had a
concealed weapon, the number of those killed would have been fewer.
Imagine if two good guys had weapons. Imagine if a lawfully armed
citizen discovered this evil man in the moments before he began his
killing spree.

When I was in high school in California, a gang member placed an ice
pick against my throat and threatened to stab me. That was many years
ago, and it still haunts me. I have felt a duty since then not to let
evil sweep my life away.

The Times' tactics to marginalize concealed carry permit holders is un-
American because it attacks a select group of us who have taken on a
huge responsibility to protect ourselves and the community if the need
arises. It is a moral responsibility to protect all life. Gun owners
don't hide their guns so they can drink in bars. The weapons are
concealed for defensive purposes only.

Again, it is only for law-abiding, responsible citizens. If you aren't
either of these, don't get a permit.

**************************************************
12. Paranoid nation?
**************************************************

"What has happened to us as a reliant nation in the last half century
that nearly 190,000 citizens in the great state of Virginia, for
example, feel unsafe to the extent they have acquired permits to carry
a concealed weapon?"

So, FBI statistics on crime are just a government conspiracy to make
us think that there is actually such a thing as crime? And I guess the
media must be in collusion with the government in using actors to
depict dead bodies on the nightly news.

Ah, how those Ivory Towers of academia can take an emeritus
distinguished professor out of reality and leave him immersed in a
make-believe and very naive world:

http://tinyurl.com/np7hur

roanoke.com
Paranoid nation
G.V. Gibbs

Gibbs, of Blacksburg, is an emeritus distinguished professor in the
departments of Geosciences, Material Science and Engineering and
Mathematics at Virginia Tech.

It is gratifying to know that it is easier in Virginia and in many
other states to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon than it is
to obtain a permit to drive a car. It is also gratifying to know that
one can obtain a firearm of choice at a Virginia gun show without a
check of one's criminal record.

It is further gratifying that the guns-in-bars legislation, passed by
both the Virginia House and Senate, and vetoed twice by Gov. Tim
Kaine, will at long last likely become law under the governorship of
either Creigh Deeds or Bob McDonnell, both strong advocates for giving
Virginians their Second Amendment-given rights, as deemed members of a
well-regulated militia, to carry concealed weapons in bars.

Indeed, according to Larry Pratt, the esteemed president of Virginia
Gun Owners of America, when one is having a friendly drink in a bar,
it would be gratifying to know that when you're carrying a concealed
weapon there would be a greater element of surprise than if you were
carrying the weapon openly.

It is even more gratifying to hear his assertion that a concealed
weapon would give one an edge over any attacker. In effect, when in a
bar, keep your pistol loaded, cocked and concealed.

As aptly point out by Dan Casey, "With burning cigarettes banned from
most restaurants, perhaps the most likely kind of bar smoke we'll see
is the smoldering wisps that emerge from a hot pistol barrel after
some permit-holding, gun-hiding patrons get into a face-off" ("Get
ready for guns in bars," June 21 column).

Such potential face-offs may well be gratifying to Pratt and to some
of the sophistic members of the Virginia House and Senate, together
with Deeds and McDonnell, but it would hardly be gratifying to the one
at the end of the smoking gun barrel.

When I was in the Navy in the 1940s, sometimes but not often I
experienced altercations in bars that sometimes resulted in a black
eye or perhaps a bloody nose, but I never experienced anyone being shot.

What has happened to us as a reliant nation in the last half century
that nearly 190,000 citizens in the great state of Virginia, for
example, feel unsafe to the extent they have acquired permits to carry
a concealed weapon?

In short, are we fast becoming a nation of paranoids? If so, is the
solution more concealed weapons?

**************************************************
13. Taking to the air in defense of open carry
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/ngcu5g


**************************************************
14. Politicizing the Holocaust Museum shooting is important
**************************************************

VCDL member Jack Sherman writes:

I must disagree with the Washington Times (EDITORIAL: Politicizing
tragedy, 6/14/09). Politicizing the tragic Holocaust Museum shooting
is of the utmost importance. The guard killed is the son of a member
of my wife's church and I am of the Jewish faith and so this shooting
touches home all the more.

Let us not forget that the shooter was stopped by two armed and
trained carriers of firearms. Had they and their guns not been
available, imagine how high the number of victims might have been. The
museum was filled with visitors on that day. The killing of one
individual was tragic but it could have been equal to or even worse
than the Virgina Tech massacre. Bear in mind that the police only
responded after the shooting. They were not there to prevent it.

Gun free zones are nothing less than potential killing zones in this
upside down world of ours. Whether it be armed guards or armed
citizens, we must continue the fight for the right to self defense.

**************************************************
15. Good experience with FCPD
**************************************************

A VA-ALERT reader recounts a positive experience being pulled over in
Fairfax County:

I just wanted to report a pleasant encounter I had with a Fairfax
County PD officer who stopped me a couple weeks ago (for a burned out
headlamp). Even though I know we CHP holders aren't required to
notify, I choose to do so, as I have a number of friends who are cops,
and from their testimonial -- and my own personal experience -- the
more "at ease" an officer feels, the less likely I am to get a ticket!

As the officer approached my window, I handed him my license and CHP,
and informed him I was armed. His immediate response was a casual:
"Oh, that's fine." He handed the CHP right back to me, asked for my
registration, and went back to his vehicle to run my info. After
returning (and giving me a verbal warning about the burned-out light),
he and I had a pleasant chat about his experiences with CHP holders,
how his system reports that we have them, and the upcoming gun show in
Chantilly.

**************************************************
16. Police: Man killed in Suffolk break-in had no gun
**************************************************

Remember that in Virginia you aren't allowed to use deadly force to
protect property, only human life. Of course if you interrupt a
burglary in progress and they point a gun at you, that would change
everything:

http://tinyurl.com/nsrwns

HamptonRoads.com
Police: Man killed in Suffolk break-in had no gun
SUFFOLK

A man who was shot to death early Sunday by the owner of the store he
had broken into did not have a gun, a police spokeswoman said Monday.

James Howard Durden Jr. fired from outside his convenience store and
in through a window at Ernest Scott Roop, 38, after he was alerted
from home in the early morning hours Sunday to the break-in at his
nearby business.

Debbie George, the police spokeswoman, said Durden told police that
Roop "pointed something at him," but she said she did not know if that
was when Durden fired. In the store, police found a tire iron that
they think Roop used, but it was not near his body, she said.

Meanwhile, police tested Durden's blood for alcohol after they noted -
and a breath test confirmed - the presence of it on him shortly after
the shooting, according to a search warrant filed Monday in Circuit
Court.

Those details, as well as a review of surveillance camera footage, are
part of an investigation into whether Durden, 46, was justified in
firing his .45-caliber handgun at his J&L Food Mart in the rural
village of Whaleyville.

The case then will be sent to the commonwealth's attorney to decide
whether it warrants criminal charges, George said.

In general, the law is very grudging on private citizens' use of
lethal force, but it is more clear on the right to kill to protect a
life than on doing so to protect property, said Anne Coughlin, a
criminal law professor at the University of Virginia.

Such cases are rare, and there is no recent Virginia case law on the
topic, Coughlin said. Details such as how threatened Durden felt will
come into play, she said.

"This is a tough, tough call for a prosecutor," she said.

Durden did not respond to a message left at his store Monday, and no
one answered the door at his home.

He was badly shaken by the incident, said Mike Fowler, a friend who
was with Durden's family the day after the shooting. He said he was
confident Durden did what he felt he had to do.

The friends both own businesse s and have talked about how they would
handle a burglary. Their consensus, Fowler said, was to shoot only if
their life depended on it.

"There's no way in hell James Durden would have fired on somebody
unless he felt 100 percent his life was in danger," Fowler said. "If
anybody thinks he went up there like John Wayne and started shooting
through the window like a damn fool, they're crazy."

The window, at the side of the store, had four bullet holes. Two men
from Suffolk Glass Inc. replaced the 3-foot-by-7-foot pane Monday. One
of them, Sam Morris, said he replaced the same window about six months
earlier on another burglary attempt.

Durden had been the victim of multiple break-ins, Fowler said. None
had been reported to the police within the past two years, according
to the department's crime analyst, George said.

Less than half a mile down the road, Michele Dunning said her general
store has been broken into four times since September. A suspect in
two of th e cases was being prosecuted, she said.

Few other businesses operate on the road that runs through
Whaleyville. At the Food Mart, farm fields border two sides of the
parking lot. Durden's home is just across the street.

Inside the store, business seemed to run as usual Monday. Three men
smoked cigarettes at a small table between the soft drink coolers and
the racks of bread. One of them, Emmett Jessee, said he felt sorry for
the man who was shot but believed Durden was in the right.

Over by the register, at least three surveillance cameras looked down.
Another pointed out toward the gas pumps through the window Durden
shot into.

The call to police came at 4:04 a.m. from someone from Durden's home,
according to the search warrant. Minutes earlier, a device similar to
a baby monitor had crackled to life in the house, alerting the Durdens
to the break-in, George said.

Fowler said the couple kept the device by their bed. Durden's wife
went along to check on the store, saw the man inside and yelled at him
through the window to leave, Fowler said.

About two minutes into the call to police, the caller said shots had
been fired, George said. The search warrant said the caller told
police an unknown man was dead in the store.

That man was Roop. To friends and family, he was "Scotty."

He had struggled for years with drug addiction, his parents said
Monday from their home, where Roop had been living.

He had a criminal record, including a felony burglary conviction in
2003 that earned him jail time and was revoked twice, according to
online court records.

He also had an energetic, playful way about him and a 13-year-old
daughter whom he adored, his parents said. He had recently befriended
a 6-year-old neighbor boy who has cystic fibrosis.

"Whenever he was sober, he was a sweetheart," said his mother, Diane
Roop.

Scott Roop recalled the time his son insisted on camping out on the
side of a mountain, way up past where his family's hunting party spent
the night. Then there was the time his cheap reel broke on a big
catfish, so he stripped to his underwear and jumped into a cold pond
to pull the line in by hand.

The Roops said their son tried to quit his drug habit several times.
He'd get clean and start eating right and exercising for a few months,
but inevitably he'd falter.

"He was a kind guy," Scott Roop said. "That's the thing about it
that's so disturbing."

**************************************************
17. Kansas AG moves to recognize non-resident carry permits
**************************************************

This means that those of you with Florida permits can carry in Kansas
now.

http://tinyurl.com/krb4kf

nraila.org
Kansas Attorney General Moves to Recognize 'Non-Resident' Carry Permits
Monday, June 29, 2009

Kansas Attorney General Steve Six today concluded that the State of
Kansas will now recognize 'non-resident' right-to-carry permits issued
by any of the 22 states already recognized.

"NRA has maintained for years that language in the Kansas statute
indicates that 'non-resident' right-to-carry permits should be
recognized," said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. "This decision is
a victory for gun owners as it expands right-to-carry laws and
provides permit holders additional freedoms in Kansas to protect
themselves and their families."

At NRA's urging, Six re-evaluated the language and determined that the
statute indeed supports 'non-resident' permit recognition. The
training, safety and proficiency standards and process required by
applicable states are equal to or greater than the standards imposed
by Kansas, therefore, it is possible to extend recognition. States
affected by this allowance include: Arizona, Florida, Minnesota,
Nevada, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas.

"Right-to-carry laws decrease crime and this measure will continue to
provide law-abiding people options to protect themselves," concluded
Cox. "On behalf of NRA members and gun owners throughout the country,
we'd like to thank Kansas Attorney General Steve Six for his support
of our Second Amendment freedoms."

**************************************************
18. Second Amendment includes parks, too
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/nhce22

durangoherald.com
Second Amendment includes parks, too

Article Last Updated; Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Wayne Hare goes to some pains to establish his credentials as a "gun
lover" in his op-ed ("The Right to Bear Qualms," Herald, June 7).
Then, he launches into an attack on the recent change in law that
acknowledges that U.S. citizens have a right to possess operable
firearms when traveling in our national parks.

He finds nothing unreasonable in the prior regulations that required
everyone entering a national park to disassemble, unload and keep guns
out of reach. He mocks the idea that "tourists visiting the parks are
feeling so unsafe in the great outdoors that they are clamoring for
the right to tote arms in their RVs and handguns on their hips." "If
so," he says, "I haven't heard about it."

Hare needs to read more. It's not bears and mountain lions that
concern visitors to the parks, but human predators.

The very remoteness of many park campsites and trails leaves visitors
vulnerable to such predators. The murder of a mother and her daughter
on a trail in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on July 11, 2006,
is a case in point.

Crime doesn't stop at the park's edge. Crime and violence are
increasing in our national parks. Regulations prohibiting firearms
will likely be observed only by citizens who represent no threat to
their neighbors and totally disregarded by those who do. The law-
abiding are more vulnerable if criminals can be confident prospective
victims will always be unarmed.

It's difficult to quantify how much crime is deterred by lawful
possession of firearms. Knowledge that the potential victim may be
armed can be deterrent in itself. Crime may also be deterred by the
mere display of a weapon. Unless a firearm is actually discharged in
self-defense, you'll never read about these instances in the newspaper.

Ware exhibits a curious animosity toward the National Rifle
Association for its political action. What great prize has the NRA
wrested from Congress other than acknowledgement that, like crime, our
Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms doesn't end at the park's
edge?

Virgil R. Pulliam, Durango

**************************************************
19. Flying with firearms, a primer
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/lpcfod

Packing & the Friendly Skies
What You Need to Know About Flying With Firearms
by Deviant Ollam

In 2002, privacy activist John Gilmore gained national press attention
when he attempted to fly to Washington, DC without showing
identification in the airport. It didn't go well. He was prevented
from boarding his aircraft, denied passage to our nation's capital,
and ultimately prevented from having a meeting with one of his
Congressional representatives. Thus, in one instance, this successful
businessman and noted critic of bureaucratic interference was denied
the full extent of protections afforded to him under the 1st and 4th
Amendments to our Constitution.

In 2007, I began attempting to fly to various destinations while in
possession of firearms. I have faired rather better than Mr. Gilmore
in terms of my encounters with government functionaries and am pleased
to say that while many of our freedoms have suffered unconscionable
assaults in recent history, the right to keep and bear arms has proven
rather resilient... even when exercised in an environment that most
people incorrectly consider to be the pinnacle of a "gun free" zone.

The plain fact is, in the United States of America we have the right
not only to possess firearms but also the right to travel with them to
any destination we see fit. The Firearm Owner's Protection Act of 1986
contains the Safe Passage provision, which explicitly elucidates that
citizens have the right to journey state to state with firearms as
long as they are locked and unloaded. This freedom of travel is
unquestionable... even in instances where a party may cross borders
and pass through jurisdictions with varied rules and regulations. As
many of us who live along or near the Eastern seaboard know, we can
drive through a state like New York with firearms even if they are not
legal in the state of New York... the jumble of incongruous and
sometimes draconian local laws is not a concern for the people who are
merely passing by.

Air travel is accorded the same treatment under Federal Law, with the
national carriers being treated more or less like interstate highways.
No matter where the on-ramps and off-ramps are located, as long as gun
owners have their steel locked and unloaded, nothing is off-limits.
There are some tips and pointers, however, of which one should be
aware in order to make the process and painless and straightforward as
possible.

Federal Standards

The Federal Government, primarily in the form of the Transportation
Security Administration, sets forth a series of guidelines and
policies concerning how passengers my fly with firearms. For the most
part, these standards are rather loose. The government leaves it up to
the airlines to specify any additional considerations that they see
fit. That can sometimes be an issue (that is a topic which we will
cover shortly) and while I'm never a champion of government
interference with private entities, I wouldn't be averse to one single
"armed passenger's rights" standard imposed across all airlines. As
common carriers, they are subject to some regulation. Keeping all
parties in line with the bare minimum of rules as specified by the TSA
would be a fine thing, in this author's opinion.

According to federal policy, passengers may travel with firearms as
long as they are unloaded and packed in a fully hard-sided case that
is locked and cannot be accessed by anyone except the passenger who is
checking said bag. Federal law also allows for eleven pounds of
ammunition. The TSA policies do not say much about how your ordinance
is to be packed, save for a prohibition of any "exposure" of the
rounds. Ammunition is a key sticking point with many of the airlines,
however, and we will cover this shortly.

What to Expect at the Airport

The actual procedure is surprisingly painless and uncomplicated, at
least on paper. Passengers whose luggage contains firearms show up at
the airport like any other traveler. They proceed to the check-in
counter for their airline and have their bags weighed and processed in
the routine manner. However, the luggage is not immediately taken back
to the bowels of the airport.

During check-in, you inform the airline that you are traveling with
firearms. This should, naturally, be done sometime at the onset of the
affair... before someone signals a bag-thrower to toss your luggage on
a conveyor belt to be whisked away. When you alert your check-in agent
that you are traveling with firearms there is a bit of paperwork to
handle. A "declaration form" (typically, just an index card with a
carbon copy sheet affixed to the back side) is filled out with minor
details, such as the date and flight number. The passenger signs this
form and it is placed inside of the luggage bearing firearms. The
legal text on this paper simply indicates that you have alerted the
airline to the presence of firearms and assure that they are unloaded.

Please note, while some of these declaration forms have the appearance
of a baggage tag (occasionally they even bear loops of string) they
are NOT to be affixed to the outside of one's luggage EVER. This is a
violation of Federal Law, not to mention a terribly stupid invitation
for theft or baggage tampering. These forms belong INSIDE your
luggage... preferably on the very top where TSA officers or others
would immediately see them, indicating the presence of a firearm, no
matter how deeply it may be packed amid folded shirts and sundry
supplies.

On occasion, you will be asked to demonstrate your firearm's safe
status. I have more than once had the pleasure of dropping magazines,
racking slides, or breaking open the action on a piece of steel in
front of many other passengers. The pleasure I derive from this is not
visceral, and has little to do with bringing about a small, horrified
look of shock on any hoplophobes nearby (something that hardly ever
happens, I'm pleased to say) but comes from a deeper sense of
citizenship and civic duty that I shall discuss later.

Where the process diverts somewhat from routine practice is the next
step. While most travelers would bid farewell to their bags at this
point, you instead proceed to a TSA screening area. These are
typically nearby... you may have seen them as you stroll through
airport check-in halls. Often these roped-off areas are seen
processing "special" baggage like oversized sports equipment, pet
carriers, and the like. However, while those bags typically sit idle
until a TSA officer is prepared to act on them, your luggage will
receive immediate treatment.

Because of the fact that firearm-bearing bags may not travel through
the airport system unlocked, you stand by while the TSA performs some
cursory tests on your luggage. In my experience, they typically just
run things through a Rapiscan x-ray machine or perform an explosive
residue swab test and if nothing alerts you're on your way. If there
is a need for additional inspection, you are asked to unlock the
luggage and stand by while a brief hand-scan takes place. I should
note that in my experience, the TSA officers are much more respectful
of someone's belongings when that passenger is standing right next to
them, observing their actions.

When everything is all clear, you are asked to ensure that your
luggage is locked properly and it is sent on its way through the
airport and ultimately to your final destination. No matter how many
layovers, plane changes, and other interruptions your journey
involves... the bags remain locked and no one is allowed to open them
until they make their way to your hands at the final baggage claim.
This is because of the fact that "TSA compliant" locks are not to be
used. Proper, heavy-duty padlocks are what one should employ in this
situation. Naturally, I have some models that I'm happy to recommend.

It is important to understand just how vulnerable your typical
"hardware store" padlocks are and how unsuited they are for this task.
Picking attacks, bump keying, shimming, and other methods of entry are
easy to do and, contrary to your typical street criminal attempting
home invasion, the people stealing from luggage are skilled enough to
attempt some of these tactics. Beyond this, the "TSA compliant" locks
are all master-keyed. In addition to being very weak and susceptible
to most common picking attacks, the master keys for these locks are
poorly controlled and copies exist in great number. I would never
trust my firearms with anything other than a "high security" padlock
obtained from a locksmith or online dealer.

Personally, I always secure my belongings with Abloy Protec locks.
This style of rotating-disk mechanism is not only the closest I come
to using the word "unpickable" but they are of significantly robust
construction and operate smoothly under the most punishing conditions.
While heavy-duty models are available (and I sometimes will use these
on certain baggage) the Abloy 321 padlock, commonly known as their
"executive" model offers the same level of pick protection in a small,
economic package. The splendid web site securitysnobs.com offers them
for a mere $25 each.

Full disclosure - while I have no direct professional affiliation with
Mitch, the individual who runs this business, he is a friend and we
have an established relationship of past commerce. He imports many of
his items from Dutch locksmiths, some of whom are also acquainted with
me through the physical security consulting world. I am happy to see
Mitch gain exposure and business, but I receive no financial reward
from your patronage of his site or my mention of it in this piece. If
you can find better prices elsewhere, please feel free to seek them.
Heh, but I'll tell you right now... you can't.

An interesting fact of which many people are not aware pertains to
what constitutes a "firearm" that must be declared to the airlines and
locked. It is not just lethal guns used for self-defense that fall
under the purview of these regulations. Any device which expels a
projectile by means of a combustible propellant is a "firearm" in the
eyes of the Fed. As you may know, attempting to rob a bank with a
flare gun or recklessly discharging blanks from a starter pistol in
public can get you slapped with a gun charge just as if you were
brandishing a lethal weapon. The same holds true for air travel...
flare guns, blank guns, and even various related items are all
considered to be "firearms" under the law. All such hardware is to be
declared and locked properly.

While I have not personally flown with bare, stripped receivers or NFA-
tracked items like suppressors, other individuals have. It might not
be understood by airline staff initially, but these items require the
same treatment. As many persons who shop on gunbroker.com are aware,
anything that requires an FFL to transfer between states is a
"firearm" subject to all relevant policies. While historical arms
buffs may be aware that black power items manufactured before the turn
of the century are not legally "firearms" I would not expect airport
staff or TSA officers to understand this distinction. If flying with a
Springfield Model 1842 or a Brown Bess, for the sake of easy travel
and to protect such fine pieces of history, follow these procedures,
declare them as firearms, and lock your luggage fully.

Some of you may have realized from the above text, that it is quite
possible to leverage these "nonstandard" firearms as a means to allow
locking of your luggage even if your ultimate destination is in a
region of the country unfriendly towards firearms. Flare guns are
legal in all fifty states with no paperwork and even high-quality
models are available as cheaply as $50. Google for the German Geco
Flare pistol to find listings from Sportsman's Guide and similar
outfits.

Problems That Sometimes Arise

I wish I could say that this is how things work one hundred percent of
the time, and that it has been nothing but smooth sailing through calm
seas when people have flown with firearms. Sadly, there are a number
of hiccups that can arise. For the most part, however, they are easy
to handle.

Uninformed Staff

Airline staff (and to a much lesser degree, TSA staffers) are
sometimes unfamiliar with the rules surrounding transportation of
firearms. The most common difficulties concern attempts to mark the
outside of luggage (either by affixing the declaration tag or by
writing on one's computer-printed luggage tag) or restrictions on how
locks should be applied to luggage. Such matters can be corrected by
standing one's ground and politely requesting a supervisor. Having a
copy of the pertinent rules and showing them often helps. I have made
a two-sided sheet summarizing these rules available on my web site.
Some travelers I know find it comforting to keep a copy (sometimes
laminated) with them when flying.

It is almost self-evident where such uninformed staff are likely to be
encountered. Rural parts of the country have a rich firearms heritage.
Small airports in these regions are almost never a problem. Employees
in major urban centers where gun laws are strict and individuals
servicing flights to foreign destinations with repressive laws are
less likely to have encountered armed citizens in the past.

Airline Policies

Here is a matter of significant concern for me and a cause of many
needless headaches for countless armed travelers. A number of carriers
impose regulations and restrictions that go well beyond the Federal
standard, and violation of their rules can lead to large financial
penalties or denial of baggage outright. Most often, issues
surrounding the number of firearms being transported or the inclusion
of ammunition are what cause difficulty. As a helpful guide to sorting
the dizzying array of red tape, I have prepared a write-up on my web
site that shows each specific way that all airlines deviate from the
basic TSA standard. How their policies can affect you is outlined, and
(to simplify matters further) a basic "letter grade" is assigned to
each carrier as a reflection of how their rules are written and how
they treat the firearm issues in public statements.

The carriers with sensible and accommodating policies include US
Airways, SouthWest, and Continental's stateside service. Among the
worst airlines are AirTran and especially Jet Blue and NorthWest
Airlines. The extent of these last two carriers' dislike of firearms
is hard to imagine. You can read full accounts of their public
statements and an analysis of their awful policies in the "Airline
Report Cards" section of my web site.

Distant Screening Areas

In most airports, the "secondary screening area" (where TSA officers
will give your luggage a once-over before you leave it in their care)
is relatively close to your check-in desk. To the end of a row of
counters or sometimes across the arrival hall just behind where you
are standing is typically the farthest you have to walk. If you've
shelled out three dollars for a Smart Carte or employed a skycap for
assistance, it's best to keep them around just in case a longer
journey is necessary.

On occasion (particularly in the international wing of airports) there
simply is no secondary area. Bags are taken (locked) right at check-
in, and you will be paged if something alerts and you need to open
things up. (This can lead to awkward requests by TSA officers asking
you to surrender your key or combination to them so they can take it
to a secure area where your bag is waiting. This is NOT legal. Do not
part with your key, as it should remain in your possession at all
times. Escalate matters to a supervisor if necessary.)

Methods of Locking Bags

Here is where the greatest confusion presents itself concerning flying
with firearms. Depending on who you talk to, what web sites you
consult, and how a particular individual has been trained one can
encounter a litany of advice. The following is the best that I can
offer given both my research as well as my experience.

If you are traveling with handguns, there is nothing particularly
wrong with using a small gun case. PLEASE NOTE, however, that while it
may be legal to place a small, locked gun case into a larger, unlocked
luggage item... this is NOT recommended. Every instance of theft of a
firearm from baggage of which I am aware has taken place in
specifically this type of scenario. Even if you have a small pistol
case, I beseech you to place it in a large hard-sided case and place
your lock on that case.

I should mention... even if your smaller pistol case is able to be
locked, do not secure it. It is not unheard of for airport staff or
TSA officers to tell travelers that a locked inner case precludes the
need to lock one's outer case. I go a step farther and make certain
that my locks cannot even fit on my inner pistol cases. Never give a
bureaucrat an opportunity to request that you leave your outer bag
unlocked. (That means no soft-sided luggage... not even partial hard-
sided bags are acceptable.)

Local Law Enforcement

On very rare occasions, police officers at airports (particularly
highly specialized units like port authority police or airport-
specific departments) are unfamiliar with the "Safe Passage" rights of
travelers under the FOPA. While this is highly atypical, a handful of
passengers have been detained if firearms in their possession are
prohibited by local law. Google the Gregg Revell case of 2005 for more
information about the worst such incident on record. Again, this is by
no means the norm, but you would be well-served by familiarizing
yourself with those facts and having the contact information of a good
lawyer.

(It is beyond the scope of this article, but in this age one would
almost consider knowing an experienced firearms lawyer to be part of
responsible gun ownership. The defensive use of a firearm, even when
fully-justified, will all but guarantee you a long line of legal
issues. For the sake of your family, your property, and your well-
being... be prepared for any eventuality.)

No matter what happens, remember... you are following the law and you
have a right to travel with your firearms. While the bulk of my
travels have been blissfully incident-free, once in a while I will
notice an aghast expression or quiet aside comment from nearby
travelers. In my mind, this is both a good thing and a bad thing.

Molon Labe

I am proud of the firearms that I own. I am proud of my right to
travel with them. I am proud to be seen with them in public. I like
the fact that other citizens can see one of their ranks casually
waiting in a line or proceeding to a destination while clearly armed.
Now, I will admit that part of this involves the acute thrill of
knowing that one or two anti-gun types are quietly wringing their
hands... confronted with the plain reality of a freedom that they do
not understand or support. But there is something more, something much
more.

Most of all, I enjoy traveling with firearms not because of the
occasional chagrined emotion it stirs up in the small-minded, but
because of the lack of emotion it so often elicits from those around
me. The way I see it, this is a very healthy aspect of a free society.
Witnessing people simply going about their lives while in possession
of firearms is a good thing, in my view.

There is a very powerful image (left) that stuck with me from the
first time it scrolled across my screen. It is a photograph taken in a
grocery store in Switzerland. Looking down an aisle lined with canned
goods and produce, one sees a young man strolling away from the
camera. He is in the service (as are all able-bodied Swiss males aged
between 19 and 31) and returning home from a day of drills and
exercises.

Slung across his back is his Sig 550 assault rifle. And around him,
amid the handful of citizens pushing shopping carts and squeezing
loaves of bread and reaching for jars of peas, all is normal.

To me, that is the true sign of a society with healthy attitudes
toward gun possession. And that is what we contribute to every time we
announce to co-workers that we're going to the range after five
o'clock... every time our concealed carry piece peeks out from under a
shirt when we place a library book back on a high shelf... every time
a family of four headed to Disney World sees us with an M-14 or a 1911
laying in an open Pelican Case at the airport check-in desk.
Normalizing gun ownership is something I take pride in, and I will
continue to do so... until I can stroll into the local WaWa for a hot
dog with a rifle slung over my shoulder and no one around me raises an
eyebrow.

**************************************************
20. Pastor urges his flock to bring guns to church
**************************************************

http://tinyurl.com/nzgd8j

nytimes.com
June 26, 2009
Pastor Urges His Flock to Bring Guns to Church
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church
here, is passionate about gun rights. He shoots regularly at the local
firing range, and his sermon two weeks ago was on "God, Guns, Gospel
and Geometry." And on Saturday night, he is inviting his congregation
of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary
to "celebrate our rights as Americans!" as a promotional flier for the
"open carry celebration" puts it.

"God and guns were part of the foundation of this country," Mr.
Pagano, 49, said Wednesday in the small brick Assembly of God church,
where a large wooden cross hung over the altar and two American flags
jutted from side walls. "I don't see any contradiction in this. Not
every Christian denomination is pacifist."

The bring-your-gun-to-church day, which will include a $1 raffle of a
handgun, firearms safety lessons and a picnic, is another sign that
the gun culture in the United States is thriving despite, or perhaps
because of, President Obama's election in November.

Last year, the National Rifle Association ran a multimillion-dollar
advertising campaign against Mr. Obama, stoking fears that he would be
the most antigun president in history and that firearms would be
confiscated. One worry was that a Democratic president and Congress
would reinstitute the assault-weapons ban, which expired in 2004.

But there is little support for the ban. Mr. Obama and his party have
largely ignored gun-control issues, and the president even signed a
measure that will allow firearms in national parks.

Still, the fear remains that Mr. Obama, and his attorney general, Eric
H. Holder Jr., will crack down on guns sooner or later. That -- along
with the faltering economy, which gun sellers say has spurred
purchases for self-defense -- has fueled a record surge in gun sales.

"Every president wants to be re-elected, and gun bans are pretty much
a nonstarter for getting re-elected," said Win Underwood, owner of the
Bluegrass Indoor Range here. "What I suspect is going to happen is,
Obama's going to cool his jets until he can get re-elected, and then
he'll start building his legacy in these hot-button areas."

When Mr. Obama was elected in November, federal instant background
checks, the best indicator of gun sales, jumped 42 percent over the
previous November. Every month since then, the number of checks has
been higher than the year before, although the postelection surge may
be tapering off, as all surges eventually do. While the number of
checks in April increased 30 percent from the year before, the number
of checks in May (1,023,102) was only 15 percent higher than in May
2008.

The National Rifle Association says its membership is up 30 percent
since November. And several states have recently passed laws allowing
gun owners to carry firearms in more places -- bars, restaurants, cars
and parks.

"We have a very active agenda in all 50 states," said Chris W. Cox,
legislative director of the N.R.A., widely considered the country's
most powerful lobby. "We have right-to-carry laws in over 40 states;
20 years ago, it was in just six."

Of the 40 states with right-to-carry laws, 20 allow guns in churches.

Public attitudes also seem to be turning more sympathetic to gun
owners. In April, the Pew Research Center found for the first time
that almost as many people said it was more important to protect the
rights of gun owners (45 percent) than to control gun ownership (49
percent). Just a year ago, Pew said, 58 percent said gun control was
more important than the rights of gun owners (37 percent).

Gun-control advocates say they feel increasingly ineffective,
especially after a recent spate of high-profile shootings, including
last month's murder, inside a church in Kansas, of a doctor who
performed late-term abortions.

"We've definitely been marginalized," said Pam Gersh, a public
relations consultant here who helped organize a rally in Louisville in
2000, to coincide with the Million Mom March against guns in Washington.

"The Brady Campaign and other similar organizations who advocate
sensible gun responsibility laws don't have the money and the
political power -- not even close," she said. "This pastor is
obviously crossing a line here and saying 'I can even take my guns to
church, and there is nothing you can do about it.' "

Ms. Gersh said she was not aware that a group of local churches and
peace activists were staging a counterpicnic -- called "Bring your
peaceful heart, leave your gun at home" -- at the same time as Mr.
Pagano's event.

But news media attention -- some from overseas -- has focused on Mr.
Pagano, who has been planning the event for a year, in celebration of
the Fourth of July. Cameras will not be allowed in the church, he
said, to protect the congregation's privacy.

The celebration will feature lessons in responsible gun ownership, Mr.
Pagano said. Sheriff's deputies will be at the doors to check that
openly carried firearms are unloaded, but they will not check for
concealed weapons.

"That's the whole point of concealed," Mr. Pagano said, adding that he
was not worried because such owners require training.

Mr. Pagano said the church's insurance company, which he would not
identify, had canceled the church's policy for the day on Saturday and
told him that it would cancel the policy for good at the end of the
year. If he cannot find insurance for Saturday, people will not be
allowed in openly carrying their guns.

Arkansas and Georgia recently rejected efforts to allow people to
carry concealed weapons in church. Watching the debate in Arkansas was
John Phillips, pastor of the Central Church of Christ in Little Rock.
In 1986, Mr. Phillips was preaching in a different church there when a
gunman shot him and a parishioner. Both survived, but Mr. Phillips,
51, still has a bullet lodged in his spine.

In a telephone interview, he said he found the idea of "packing in the
pew" abhorrent.

"There is a movement afoot across the nation, with the gun lobby
pushing the envelope, trying to allow concealed weapons to be carried
in places where they used to be prohibited -- churches, schools,
bars," Mr. Phillips said.

"I don't understand how any minister who is familiar with the
teachings of the Bible can do this," he added. "Jesus didn't say, 'Go
ahead, make my day.' "

Mr. Pagano takes such comments as a challenge to his faith and says
they make him more determined.

"When someone from within the church tells me that being a Christian
and having firearms are contradictions, that they're incompatible with
the Gospel -- baloney," he said. "As soon as you start saying that
it's not something that Christians do, well, guns are just the foil.
The issue now is the Gospel. So in a sense, it does become a crusade.
Now the Gospel is at stake."

**************************************************
21. Montel Williams wants tracker chips in guns
**************************************************

Maybe they should imbed tracker chips in television personalities in
case they decide to commit a crime?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiDVxUTXlaU&NR=1

**************************************************
22. UK is violent crime capital of Europe
**************************************************

Here we go again: GUN CONTROL DOES *NOT* REDUCE CRIME! It has the
opposite effect:

http://tinyurl.com/l5quws

telegraph.co.uk
UK is violent crime capital of Europe

The United Kingdom is the violent crime capital of Europe and has one
of the highest rates of violence in the world, worse even than
America, according to new research.

By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM BST 02 Jul 2009

Analysis of figures from the European Commission showed a 77 per cent
increase in murders, robberies, assaults and sexual offences in the UK
since Labour came to power.

The total number of violent offences recorded compared to population
is higher than any other country in Europe, as well as America,
Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Opposition leaders said the disclosures were a "damning indictment" of
the Government's failure to tackle deep-rooted social problems.

The figures combined crime statistics for England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland.

The UK had a greater number of murders in 2007 than any other EU
country - 927 - and at a relative rate higher than most western
European neighbours, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

It also recorded the fifth highest robbery rate in the EU, and the
highest absolute number of burglaries, with double the number of
offences recorded in Germany and France.

Overall, 5.4 million crimes were recorded in the UK in 2007 - more
than 10 a minute - second only to Sweden.

Chris Grayling, shadow home secretary, said: "This is a real damning
indictment of this government's comprehensive failure over more than a
decade to tackle the deep rooted social problems in our society, and
the knock-on effect on crime and anti-social behaviour.

"We're now on our fourth Home Secretary in this parliament, and all we
are getting is a rehash of old initiatives that didn't work the first
time round. More than ever Britain needs a change of direction."

The figures were sourced from Eurostat, the European Commission's
database of statistics. They are gathered using official sources in
the countries concerned such as the national statistics office, the
national prison administration, ministries of the interior or justice,
and police.

A breakdown of the statistics, which were compiled into league tables
by the Conservatives, revealed that violent crime in the UK had
increased from 652,974 offences in 1998 to more than 1.15 million
crimes in 2007.

It means there are over 2,000 crimes recorded per 100,000 population
in the UK, making it the most violent place in Europe.

Austria is second, with a rate of 1,677 per 100,000 people, followed
by Sweden, Belgium, Finland and Holland.

By comparison, America has an estimated rate of 466 violent crimes per
100,000 population.

France recorded 324,765 violent crimes in 2007 - a 67 per cent
increase in the past decade - at a rate of 504 per 100,000 population.

The Home Office says there has been a downtrend in overall violence
for the past decade.

But last October it emerged that levels of violent crime in England
and Wales had been underestimated for more than a decade because of a
blunder in recording methods.

Ministers admitted that some police forces had not been recording
offences of grievous bodily harm with intent as serious violent crime.
When the offences were included violent crime figures immediately
increased by a fifth.

Separate figures disclosed in May showed that the number of people
requiring hospital treatment after being seriously hurt in street
fights or assaults has risen 50 per cent in five years.

More than 20 people a day were taken to hospital accident and
emergency departments in England last year after being hit, kicked,
scratched or bitten. Alcohol is blamed as a factor in half of the
incidents and raises further questions over 24-hour drinking.

Researchers admit that comparisons of crime data between countries
must be viewed with caution because of differing criminal justice
systems and how crimes are reported and measured.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "These figures are misleading. Levels
of police recorded crime statistics from different countries are
simply not comparable since they are affected by many factors, for
example the recording of violent crime in other countries may not
include behaviour that we would categorise as violent crime.

"Violent crime in England and Wales has fallen by almost a half since
a peak in 1995 but we are not complacent and know there is still work
to do. "

**************************************************
23. Delegate "Janus"?
**************************************************

Ah, the never ending saga of my misspelling of Delegate Bill Janis's
name in a previous alert. But this time my head is really spinning.

VA-ALERT reader Mandy Komar writes:

I thought I would pass along that Janus was the God of Beginnings and
Doorways... his image was often displayed over doors. He is one who
looks back to the past and forward to the future. I would imagine this
to be a good quality of a politician! So don't feel too bad [about the
misspelling].

--

But then another member sent me an email saying that the god doesn't
have two heads, but two faces. And, he points out, that being two-
faced does not make the best politician.

Sigh.

**************************************************
24. Who's afraid of driving alone? Not 89-year-old Rachel
**************************************************

Yes - this video is about guns - be patient - it's worth the wait:

http://tinyurl.com/mdth3m

-------------------------------------------
***************************************************************************
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

[zephyp]

Some really great articles in this one. Captivating!!!