WAGCEVP
November 12, 2003, 07:38 PM
"We don't normally respond to public comments, but we will in this case..."
The above words were spoken by the Chairman of the Hopewell School
Board to 10 VCDL activists at a school board hearing, Tuesday. The
school board was thinking of disbanding their JROTC rifle team and
VCDL came to protest.
What is significant about those words? Read on.
First, I would like to thank those members who came to the school
board meeting. The majority were from the Hopewell area, but a few,
like EM Leonard Harris, came from about 40 minutes away.
After about an hour, the school board called for public comment. I
spoke first.
After thanking the school board for allowing me to be heard, I
proceeded politely to explain that there was tremendous irony in the
fact that their meeting was being held on Veteran's Day! I told them
that disbanding the JROTC rifle team would be doing great harm to the
proud history of both gun ownership and military service that has
helped make this country great. I said that taking air rifles from
the hands of fine young people who want to serve their country when
they get older would NOT stop gang-bangers from murdering each other
on street corners. I said that Hopewell schools were not creating
thugs in the JROTC, but fine, young, RESPONSIBLE, ladies and
gentlemen that would someday do things like serve on a school board
or protect the country. I finished by saying that if they really
want to save lives, allowing the JROTC to teach young people gun
safety and the responsibility of gun ownership was the way to go.
Dennis O'Connor spoke next, giving a powerful speech on trust and
honor. Dennis cut them no slack in pointing out the terrible
implications of their actions. Politely, but firmly, he said that
the school board's actions were demeaning and distrustful toward the
JROTC students, the military, and the military instructors (who know
a lot more about guns and gun safety than anybody on the school
board).
When Dennis finished, I pointed out the others in the room who came
to show support for the JROTC (we made up about 1/2 the audience!)
The Chairman then spoke the words in the title of this article. He
proceeded to thank us for coming and sharing our thoughts on the
matter (actually he thanked us at least 5 times). He said that the
school board stood fully behind the JROTC and its rifle team. He
said that they just wanted them to practice outside of the normal
school setting - totally missing the key point that both Dennis and I
had made about not villainizing guns and gun owners. He spent about 5
minutes emphasizing their support for JROTC - clearly we hit a nerve.
He said that the VFW Post in Hopewell was considering offering a
shooting facility for the students and that would solve the problem.
Since I already had spoken, protocol prevented me from responding to
the above comments. Meetings like this are not a place for a debate,
so I let the chairman have the last word on the matter. I think the
school board got most of our message.
After leaving the meeting room, Dennis was interviewed by a local
reporter. The reporter asked Dennis if he liked the idea of the VFW
providing a range off school property. Dennis told the reporter that
it was cowardly of the school board to force a third party to either
supply a range or face disbanding of the rifle team. Especially when
the school already had a facility.
After we left, Dennis and I dropped by the VFW to see if they had
decided what, if anything, they were going to do. To their credit
they have decided to fully support the JROTC and supply a range and
facilities for the students!
Hats off to the VFW for yet again serving their country!
Oh, the significants of those words in the title? I have heard them
before. And the chairman was right, it is not usually done. Why so
often for VCDL? Because we show up in numbers, we are clearly the
kind of people who vote, we deliver our message politely but with
undeniable passion for our rights, freedoms and country, and we have
unflinching logic on our side. If I was sitting where they are, I,
too, would feel a compelling need to explain my actions.
The above words were spoken by the Chairman of the Hopewell School
Board to 10 VCDL activists at a school board hearing, Tuesday. The
school board was thinking of disbanding their JROTC rifle team and
VCDL came to protest.
What is significant about those words? Read on.
First, I would like to thank those members who came to the school
board meeting. The majority were from the Hopewell area, but a few,
like EM Leonard Harris, came from about 40 minutes away.
After about an hour, the school board called for public comment. I
spoke first.
After thanking the school board for allowing me to be heard, I
proceeded politely to explain that there was tremendous irony in the
fact that their meeting was being held on Veteran's Day! I told them
that disbanding the JROTC rifle team would be doing great harm to the
proud history of both gun ownership and military service that has
helped make this country great. I said that taking air rifles from
the hands of fine young people who want to serve their country when
they get older would NOT stop gang-bangers from murdering each other
on street corners. I said that Hopewell schools were not creating
thugs in the JROTC, but fine, young, RESPONSIBLE, ladies and
gentlemen that would someday do things like serve on a school board
or protect the country. I finished by saying that if they really
want to save lives, allowing the JROTC to teach young people gun
safety and the responsibility of gun ownership was the way to go.
Dennis O'Connor spoke next, giving a powerful speech on trust and
honor. Dennis cut them no slack in pointing out the terrible
implications of their actions. Politely, but firmly, he said that
the school board's actions were demeaning and distrustful toward the
JROTC students, the military, and the military instructors (who know
a lot more about guns and gun safety than anybody on the school
board).
When Dennis finished, I pointed out the others in the room who came
to show support for the JROTC (we made up about 1/2 the audience!)
The Chairman then spoke the words in the title of this article. He
proceeded to thank us for coming and sharing our thoughts on the
matter (actually he thanked us at least 5 times). He said that the
school board stood fully behind the JROTC and its rifle team. He
said that they just wanted them to practice outside of the normal
school setting - totally missing the key point that both Dennis and I
had made about not villainizing guns and gun owners. He spent about 5
minutes emphasizing their support for JROTC - clearly we hit a nerve.
He said that the VFW Post in Hopewell was considering offering a
shooting facility for the students and that would solve the problem.
Since I already had spoken, protocol prevented me from responding to
the above comments. Meetings like this are not a place for a debate,
so I let the chairman have the last word on the matter. I think the
school board got most of our message.
After leaving the meeting room, Dennis was interviewed by a local
reporter. The reporter asked Dennis if he liked the idea of the VFW
providing a range off school property. Dennis told the reporter that
it was cowardly of the school board to force a third party to either
supply a range or face disbanding of the rifle team. Especially when
the school already had a facility.
After we left, Dennis and I dropped by the VFW to see if they had
decided what, if anything, they were going to do. To their credit
they have decided to fully support the JROTC and supply a range and
facilities for the students!
Hats off to the VFW for yet again serving their country!
Oh, the significants of those words in the title? I have heard them
before. And the chairman was right, it is not usually done. Why so
often for VCDL? Because we show up in numbers, we are clearly the
kind of people who vote, we deliver our message politely but with
undeniable passion for our rights, freedoms and country, and we have
unflinching logic on our side. If I was sitting where they are, I,
too, would feel a compelling need to explain my actions.