Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

We have less than two weeks left until VCDL Lobby Day in Richmond on Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, January 18. If you have that day off work, or if you can take the day off, come out to Lobby Day and make your voice heard to our elected legislators. If you're not familiar with the VCDL's Lobby Day, take a few minutes and watch the video from last year's event.

http://vimeo.com/2908169

I spotted at least one VGOF member in the video. See if you find him (hint: it's not me)

You can also post with carpool requests. Let's make this year's turnout the largest yet!.

** Note: Open carry in the General Assembly building is allowed only with a CHP.

Update: Google Maps location for the General Assembly building. We will be meeting in the main lobby around 8:30 - 9AM.
http://maps.google.com/maps?source=s_q& ... 13711&z=16

*Update: Check the last post in this thread for updated information

OakRidgeStars wrote:
I spotted at least one VGOF member in the video. See if you find him (hint: it's not me)

hhhmmm, I wonder....

Speedy! (and of course, VCDLPresident)

Here's a link to the location of the Virginia General Assembly Building for those who aren't familiar (I'm not!)

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&clien ... zgS_7oTWAg

I plan to go. It will be my last VCDL event before I head to Louisiana.

My computer won't play the video even though I have the latest driver installed. What's up with that?

herohog wrote:My computer won't play the video even though I have the latest driver installed. What's up with that?

Adobe Flash might not be the latest & greatest version. Try this link to test:
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Are you using any add-ons in Firefox, such as NoScript or AdBlocker?

Nope. Plain old IE8 in Vista Home Premium 64bit

Installed the plugin yet again... still no love.

Here's a message from VCDL President, Philip Van Cleave pertaining to entry into the GA building for those that will be carrying on Lobby Day. Just make sure you have 10 guns or less when using the "express lane"

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I talked to the Capitol Police today and they confirmed that concealed handgun permit holders who do not have large items that need to be scanned will have an express entrance to the General Assembly!

Those who qualify for the express entrance will use the entrance on the west side of the building (facing 9th street). Have your permit and photo ID ready when you enter by that door. If you have items that need to be scanned, they request you use the normal south side entrance.

Anyone heading down from the Woodbridge/Northern Va area. Looking for a ride.

Good Morning!

Anyone from Charlottesville, Virginia headed for VCDL Lobby Day? I have room in the Pony for one person.

Respectfully,

Albert Shank

1. Lobby Day Purpose and Objectives
2. Arrival, Assembly, and Afterward
3. Advice and Information
4. Teams, Team Leaders, and Assignments
5. VCDL Student Delegation

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1. Lobby Day Purpose and Objectives
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VCDL Lobby Day 2010

With Virginia gun owners facing continued attacks on our rights, it is
more important than ever that we make our presence known to our
legislators. Your chance to make a difference is at VCDL's 2010 Lobby
Day which will be held at the General Assembly on Martin Luther King
Jr's birthday - Monday, January 18th. The larger our presence, the
greater our influence. That is why YOU need to be with us!

Twenty-one VCDL led teams will make rounds to ensure the office of
EVERY Delegate and Senator is aware of the bills we want them to
support or oppose. Team leaders will be presenting handouts to
legislators or their aides which provide them a helpful summary, and
asking their support.

In addition, everyone should visit the offices of their own Delegate
and Senator to provide a constituent's input on these bills.

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2. Arrival, Assembly, Entrance, and Afterward
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a. Parking will be free at street parking meters due to the holiday.
Nevertheless, because hundreds of people from many groups will be
lobbying, give yourself plenty of time to find parking and be on site
by 9:00 a.m.

b. The assembly area is the courtyard on the south side of the
General Assembly Building at the south east corner of 9th and Broad,
outside of the main entrances. Team Leaders will be on site at 8:30 to
receive briefing and packets. Members should be on site around 9:00
a.m. to be assigned to teams which will then begin moving into the
General Assembly building (GAB).

c. Everyone will be provided our orange Guns Save Lives stickers so
the huge number of gun rights supporters can be easily identified. Be
sure you get yours. VCDL coordinators wearing green VCDL safety vests
will be on site to address issues or answer questions.

d. The side entrance on 9th street has been reserved by the Capitol
police as an "express" check point for concealed handgun permit (CHP)
holders. This express line is only for those who aren't carrying
bags, briefcases, satchels , purses, boxes, containers, etc.. that
would have to be brought in through the main entrance to be scanned
and/or opened and searched.

e. If you will be armed, keep in mind that even to open carry in the
GAB you must have a CHP. The Capitol Police will require those who
are carrying firearms but who do not have a CHP to disarm and store
their firearm in a locker. If all the available lockers are in use,
then you'll have to store your firearm in your vehicle.

f. After our speaker rally at the Bell Tower from 11:00 AM to 12:00
PM, we break for self-organized lunch (small groups work best), and
then finish lobby assignments if necessary. There is a cafeteria on
the 6th floor of the GAB, and some restaurants in the nearby area.

g. Consider stopping by ongoing hearings/meetings to see how
committees and subcommittees etc. operate.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+oth+MTG
will be updated during the week with more meetings on the 18th, and
we will have the latest information available when you arrive.

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3. Advice and Information
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a. Dress nicely (business casual is suggested) but also dress warmly.
Aside from the initial assembly in the courtyard, we have a speakers
rally outside at the bell tower from 11:00 a.m. to Noon.

b. Know who your legislators are. You can find out at

http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

You can also get a pocket directory at the front desk of the GAB to
make sure you know what your legislators look like and where their
offices are.

Legislators pay particular attention to constituents (voters), so if
your team is assigned to your Delegate or Senator, be sure to let your
team leader know and introduce yourself to the legislator as a
constituent. Once your team has met with its designated legislators/
aides, go visit your own Delegate and Senator if you haven't already.

c. You can familiarize yourself with currently filed gun bills from
the VCDL 2010 legislation tracking tool from the front page of our
website:

http://www.vcdl.org/static/2010leg.html

Keep in mind the bills may change (and our position with them) in the
week ahead, so check again before you leave home on the 18th. Team
Leaders will be provided with the most current information upon arrival.

d. Anti-rights lobbyists will be holding a rally at the Bell Tower
from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. It is best if we are NOT in the proximity of
their rally, as our members in previous years have been filmed from an
angle which made them appear to add to the otherwise paltry numbers of
the gun ban supporters.

e. The press may want to interview you. While you may make your own
statements as a private citizen, no person speaks for VCDL except the
VCDL President.

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4. Teams, Team Leaders, and Assignments
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Team 1 Charles Gaman & Jeff Hamlin: Offices 301-308 (Senators
Wampler, Edwards, Newman, Quayle, Stuart, J. Miller, and Northam,).

Team 2 Robert Herron: Offices 309- 316 (Senators Vogel, Martin,
Wagner, Hurt, McDougle, Y. Miller, Barker)

Team 3 Robert Gearheart: Offices 317- 323 (Senators Lucas, McEachin,
R. Smith, Locke, Janet Howell, M. Herring, C. Petersen)

Team 4 Lindsay Trittipoe & Michael DeKeyser : Offices 326-332
(Senators Houck, Whipple, Puller, Ticer, Puckett, John Watkins, W.R.
Reynolds)

Team 5 Max Padon: Offices 401- 407 (Delegates Plum, J. Scott,
Lingamfelter, Ingram, Bulova, Anderson, Comstock)

Team 6 Leonard Harris: Offices 408-415 (Del. Cleaveland, Lee Ware,
Wright, Orrock Alexander, Morrissey, Carr, Purkey)

Team 7 Brian Uzel & WIlliamTaylor: Offices 416- 423 (Delegates
Cosgrove, Knight, J. Miller, LeMunyon, Marsden, Barlow, C. Stolle,
Joannou)

Team 8 J Allen Hollar & Tim Rarick: Offices 426-432 (Senators Norment,
Blevins, Ruff, Obenshain, Deeds, Hanger, and Marsh)

Team 9 Ric Bergstrom & Ron Lilly: Offices 501- 507 (Del. Robt.
Marshall, Ward, Nixon, May, Oder, Tyler, and BaCote)

Team 10 Chip Fetrow & Richard DeKeyser: Offices 508-515 (Del. Robin
Abbott, Gilbert, Athey, Sherwood, Algie Howell, Greason, Watts, and
Landes)

Team 11 Paul Henick: Offices 516-522 (Del. Massie, Rich Bell,
Pollard, McClellan, Loupassi, O'Bannon, and McQuinn)

Team 12 Mark Matthews, Esq.: Offices 523- 529 (Del. Morgan, Lewis,
Ed Scott, Lohr, Peace, Hugo, and Albo)

Team 13 Joe Ligon: Offices 603-635 (Del. Griffith, Sen. Saslaw, Del.
Armstrong, Sen. Stosch, Colgan, and Del. W. Howell)

Team 14 Deb McCurren: Offices 701- 708 (Del. J. Johnson, Spruill,
Sickles, T. Kilgore, Gear, Englin, P. Miller, and Surovell)

Team 15 Jan Walter: Offices 709-715 (Del. Ebbin, C. Herring, Brink,
Hope, Carrico, Morefield, and Keam)

Team 16 Charles DeKeyser: Offices 716-722 ( Del Torian, Villanueva,
Garrett, Pogge, C. Jones, Iaquinto, Cline)

Team 17 David Hicks: Offices 801- 807 (Del. Tata, Phillips, Janis, W.
Abbitt, Edmunds, Nutter, and Poindexter)

Team 18 Brandy Polanowski & Albert Shanks: Offices 808- 814 (Del.
Cole, Dan Marshall, Merricks, Byron, Robt. Bell, Dance, and James)

Team 19 Andrew Amerine: Offices 816-822, (Del. Onzlee Ware, Kory,
Toscano, Crockett-Stark, Rust, J. Cox, and Shuler)

Team 20 Pat Webb : Offices 947-948 (Del. K. Cox and Putney)
Team 21 Jay Forehand (College and University Students)

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5. VCDL Student Delegation
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VCU Student Jay Forehand will be heading a team of college and
university students who will lobby legislators as a group.
If you are a college student and would prefer to visit legislators
with this group rather than an assigned generic team, ask for Jay when
you arive by 9:00 a.m.



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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/]

From DC Gun Rights Examiner, Mike Stollenwerk on Lobby Day 2010

http://tinyurl.com/yacvvmb

SNIP

For years the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) has been rallying members to attend its annual Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly on Martin Luther King Day. In one respect this year is no different in that the League's Lobby Day is scheduled to start at 9AM on Monday, January 18, 2010 (Martin Luther King day)....

This will be my last offical VCDL event before I leave. I wouldn't miss it for the world!

VA-ALERT: Lobby Day Update!

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VCDL's meeting schedule: http://www.vcdl.org/meetings.html
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Abbreviations used in VA-ALERT: http://www.vcdl.org/help/abbr.html
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If you are coming to Lobby Day, you can now preview the VCDL Firearms
Bill Analysis paper that will be given to Delegates and Senators on
Monday by the VCDL lobby teams.

The preview is being made available so that you can familiarize
yourself with all the bills and with VCDL's position on each bill.
Hardcopies are at the printer right now and will be provided to the
teams on Monday morning for dissemination to the legislators.

Click below to download the paper in PDF format:

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/VCDL_Gun_Bill_Analysis_2010.pdf


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Here is a list of the speakers for the VCDL rally, which will be held
at 11 AM at the Bell Tower:

Delegate Bill Carrico
Delegate Mark Cole
Scott Lee, Lee Brothers talk-radio show on Richmond's WRVA 1140 AM
Donna Holt, Virginia Campaign for Liberty
Ted Deeds, Law Enforcement Alliance of America
Tricia Stahl, invocation
Philip Van Cleave, President Virginia Citizens Defense League, MC


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Cross your fingers - the weather looks like it will be very nice on
Monday! Currently it looks like it will be 58 degrees under partly
cloudy skies, with only a 10% chance of rain.


--

There is word that because the Democrats won the race for Attorney
General Cuccinelli's old Senate seat in Fairfax, they might put more
anti-gun Democrats in the critical Senate Courts of Justice committee.

That only underscores why we need a HUGE turnout on Monday. We must
get the message out that our gun rights are to be protected and
enhanced. Our legislators need to know that we will have long
memories when it comes to gun votes. (In 2011 the entire Senate and
House are up for reelection.)


--

A reminder: the antis are holding their own rally at 1 PM. We do not
recommend that any of you attend that rally as camera angles by the
press almost always make it look like we are part of the the antis
rally. Best to let their paltry numbers be seen as they are.
However, I will be there watching at a short distance, so the press
can talk to me if they want any comments from our side.



***************************************************************************
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/]

I hope everyone is having a fine time at Lobby Day today! Let us know how it went!

I'm unstickying this post so that it will show up in the "Recent" list.

Greetings Fellow Patriots and Virginia Gun Owners!

On January 18, 2010, I attended the "VCDL Lobby Day" at the General Assembly Building of the great Commonwealth of Virginia. The senior membership of the VCDL worked very hard to organize this event and to assure that our voices were "heard" in the halls of the Assembly building. President Van Cleave advises that we were over 1,000 strong! I am very proud and pleased to have been a part of this activity!

I was assigned to a Team (#18) and we were joined by 15-20 armed and enthusiastic citizens who carefully and deliberately explained VCDL's position on legislation supporting Virginia gun owners and 2A supporters. The Delegates we were able to meet were uniformly supportive of our position; one delegate called our legislation just "pure common sense", which was heartening.

Most of us got to meet with our individual reps as well; my rep was scheduled to talk to us, but we had to settle for a legislative aide (this was OK) as my rep found it necesary for whatever reason, to "duck out" on us. Yes, he's always "too busy" to face issues or concerns which make him feel uncomfortable.

We were treated to a host of event speakers and had a chance to share our resources with the "Tea Party" people who also had grievances and concerns to present. I attend "Tea parties" frequently in my home town when I am around and I recommend them to any of you highly. Tea Parties are also a good place to present VCDL viewpoints, recruit new members and get our message out to the disaffected masses.

Of course, as some of you have guessed, my concerns remain with the fact that Virginia has no "castle doctrine law", nor any real "stand your ground law" to date. There is some legislation pending now on "castle law" and very importantly, on eliminating civil liability in the event of a "good" shooting in self/family defense. Please act to support these measures by contacting your rep and urging support. Along with this, I had the chance to pick up a few additional viewpoints from members on the "castle" and "stand" laws which make for further reflection. There are some "negative" aspects to these issues which I had not thought of.

In summary, please allow me to say that I enjoyed VCDL Lobby Day immensely and look forward to some excellent enabling gun legislation in Virginia for 2010.

Respectfully,

Albert Shank

Albert - Good stuff you're doing there. Thank you for supporting the events and for helping get my thoughts and the thoughts of many of us out to the masses and to our legislators. You guys (and gals) are doing great things in VCDL and I, for one, am grateful for all you do.

Keep up the good work!

I wanted to go SO bad... I had my bus money, was dressed, packed, in the car warming it up to go catch the bus and had to bail. I simply felt bad. I didn't want to go and be a drag cause I felt like feces so I decided at the last instant to bail. It was the right thing to do but I hated doing it. Friends, I am sorry I missed seeing you one last time before I leave the state but that event was way too important to me to distract from it. Thanks to all who DID go and all you do for US.

Speedy - you've certainly done your fair share and any mention of thanks for what folks do around here and beyond would be remiss without expressing some gratitude to you as well!

Maybe you can make it back up here for Lobby Day again in the future.

I hope you're feeling better!