Important: VCDL statement about Lobby Day

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Craig_AR

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The VCDL Statement below can be found at
https://mailchi.mp/62523c1723d5/va-alertimportant-vcdl-statement-about-lobby-day
It is a bit long, but important for all who plan to be in Richmond on January 20 to read.

I am starting this as a new topic, instead of as an add to the Virginia's next move thread because that thread has reached 10 pages, and many THR readers may think there is nothing new to read on that lengthy discussion.
We need all interested in the Lobby Day effort to be aware of this VCDL statement.
If a moderator chooses to close this thread, please continue the discussion in Virginia's next move.

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Monday, January 20, is VCDL's Lobby Day. It is not VCDL's Protest Day.


There is a distinct difference between the two.

Lobby Day is about, well, lobbying - sending a message to the General Assembly and to the Governor, Attorney General, and the Lt. Governor. That message is simple: no more gun control that in any way, shape, or form negatively affects law-abiding gun owners. Bills that go after criminals or bills that are beneficial to gun owners are fine.

While there have been some verbal threats by the Democrat leadership to push major gun control down the throats of Virginia's gun owners and some very bad bills already filed to back up that threat, NOTHING has happened yet and won't until after January 8. And perhaps it won't happen at all, if we press hard enough.

The sanctuary movement, with its absolutely massive turnouts of gun owners, is sending a deafening message to lawmakers ahead of Lobby Day. On top of that, we now believe the size of the crowd on Lobby Day could be absolutely incredible, possibly historic, if gun owners from around the state follow through and attend as we believe they will. You will absolutely want to be a part of this!

Militias

Various militia groups from Virginia and nearby states have graciously volunteered to provide security. With a large Capitol, Richmond, and State police presence, not to mention enough citizens armed with handguns to take over a modern mid-sized country, we have the security base covered nicely. That said, we welcome our militia brothers and sisters to be part of making the day a success! Some militia groups are looking to take canned food donations during Lobby Day and deliver them to a Richmond Food Bank.

Long Guns

If you are asking how you can help with VCDL's mission, carrying long guns at Lobby Day is not helpful - it is a distraction. VCDL's important messages inevitably get lost as the press rushes to get pictures of anyone carrying an AR or AK. The stories then become about the rifle, not VCDL's agenda. You can set your watch by it. Long guns are not easy to carry in a crowd, either. VCDL needs its voice heard loud and clear in order to able to stop the onslaught of gun-control bills.

Laws you need to know for carry in Richmond

You can't have a magazine in a centerfire rifle or pistol that holds more than 20 rounds unless you have a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). You must also have a CHP if the centerfire rifle or pistol has a threaded barrel or a folding stock. Click here to see the code section, which also covers similar restrictions on shotguns: 18.2-287.4

Open carry without a CHP is legal in Virginia, but watch the restrictions in the previous paragraph.

You need a CHP to carry in the General Assembly or Capitol Building. Once through security, you can carry openly or concealed in the buildings. You cannot carry in the gallery over the Senator Floor. Keep an eye on these alerts. Should any of this change, we will notify you here.

VCDL Lobby Day is a peaceful event about gun rights and NOTHING ELSE

We are NOT there to have arguments with the other side. They lobby, we lobby, and never the two shall meet. Just ignore them.

And we are not there to push any other agenda. Our total focus is on protecting our right to keep and bear arms. Period. This is not about flags, statues, history, etc. Just guns.

If you somehow find yourself being harassed by the other side, don't engage them. They could well be baiting you and recording what you do for propaganda purposes. If necessary, go find a police officer and let them take care of the person causing the disturbance. Otherwise, just ignore them and go about your business.

VCDL has a great relationship with the Capitol Police, the Richmond Police, the Virginia State Police, and most other law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth. We welcome their presence and are glad they are there to keep everything peaceful, while we work on the job at hand.

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This should be a great event, with freedom-loving Americans from all walks of life standing should-to-should to protect our most precious civil right - the right of self-defense. See you there!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
That tracks what I've been saying, so it makes sense to me.

However, the VCDL statement is not being well received among the activists over at ar15.com. Most are planning to defy the VCDL guidelines, or else withdraw entirely from participation.

The concept of "lobby day" worked as long as the legislature was controlled by the Republicans, or at least was divided. Now, not so much.

Division among the pro-gun activists, combined with the possibility of "false flag" operations by the antigunners, could turn the event into a real mess.

We are not in a good place right now.
 
And now this - https://www.virginiamercury.com/201...nsidering-a-capitol-gun-ban-for-2020-session/

If this passes, will attendees comply? Should they? It is a rather small infringement after all...
 
And now this - https://www.virginiamercury.com/201...nsidering-a-capitol-gun-ban-for-2020-session/

If this passes, will attendees comply? Should they? It is a rather small infringement after all...

It depends on when they pass it, whether it is a law or a legislative rule, if a law when the governor signs it, and in either case when it becomes legally effective.

Best practice is to sign up for theVA Alert email newsletter. They will keep you apprised of the status.
VCDL does not share the mailing list with ANYBODY and it is easy too unsubscribe. They also will not solicit you beyond sending the VA Alert
.
 
Personally I dont think something like that could pass in time to be legally effective for the rally.

But I will say without hesitation that if it does I will not be participating. And I know that's what they're aiming for but I dont go anywhere unarmed, unless I absolutely have to.

This is shaping up to be a crap show and I certainly will not go unarmed.

If this ends up happening then I'll contribute to the cause in other ways for the day in discussion.
 
It depends on when they pass it, whether it is a law or a legislative rule, if a law when the governor signs it, and in either case when it becomes legally effective.
What is being discussed (a ban on guns on the capitol grounds), is not a law, but an internal housekeeping rule. (The legislature has immediate control over its own buildings and grounds.) As such, it doesn't need the governor's signature, and it can go into effect immediately. Normally, such rules are adopted at the beginning of the session -- in this case, Jan. 8 or soon thereafter. So, it could be in place well before Jan. 20.

Advance planning is a double-edged sword. The VCDL is making its plans known in advance, but by the same token the other side, taking note of those plans, can take its countermeasures.

The question remains about what happens if 25,000 armed people show up in defiance of such a ban. What does law enforcement do when it becomes clear that they're outnumbered?
 
The question remains about what happens if 25,000 armed people show up in defiance of such a ban. What does law enforcement do when it becomes clear that they're outnumbered?
If the ban is legitimately in effect on Jan 20, no matter if as a legislative rule or other form, I expect the VCDL folks actually coming to lobby their delegates and Senators will abide by it, while those coming just for the rally or as a protest, will remain armed outside the building (legally).
 
An antigun demonstration has been approved at the Bell Tower overlooking the state capitol grounds, for 10 a.m. on Jan. 20.

Things are starting to get interesting. That puts Antifa in an overwatch position.

Tell ya what. I'm a very long ways away from Virginia, but the 20th is an off-work day for me, so I'm going to be watching all the news outlets I can. Hope it doesn't live up to the hype.
 
This is one of those "have to" situations.


Not at all. And if they do implement a ban carrying on the grounds outside or I have any doubt you will not see me there. PERIOD.

The way things are shaping up I may not go anyway. I'm not going to willingly be corralled into a tight urban area where the enemy has the high ground.

As we get closer I'll have a better sense of what things look like. As I said if I dont go I'll contribute in other ways.
 
The closer we get, the more I hear of people backing out. To each their own, but if it this easy for them to get us to stay home, pretty soon we will have nothing left to fight for. I don't know the circumstances that will be in place when I get to Richmond, but FOR DAMN SURE, I will be there, fighting for my rights, at what I see as the last chance for a peaceful resolution. If passing a"gun-free zone" ordinance can make an effective wall between us peons and our overlords, what possible influence can we maintain in the future?
 
The latest news is that Anfifa is gearing up for a provocation at the Jan. 20 event. Now, keep in mind that Antifa is not against guns, per se. This actually led to chatter from some people on our side about making common cause with Antifa, the John Brown Gun Club, the Pink Pistols, etc., since all these groups, each in its own way, are pro-gun. But tribalism looks like it's prevailing. If Antifa shows up, it's not for action for (or against) guns, but for action against gun owners. Gun owners are seen as Antifa's class enemies. Given the history of the organization, there's no telling what nasty tactics they might use. Unlike at Charlottesville, they're going to come armed. (The armed pro-gun groups are actually and unwittingly giving Antifa cover for this.)
 
The latest news is that

What's the source for this "latest news"?

BTW, the president of Pink Pistols is a buddy and she's planning on being there (Lord willing and the creek don't rise) to support VCDL and the 2A. Any and all 2A supporting groups are common cause for RKBA so I'd expect anyone with an IQ above room temperature to be overjoyed to see Pink Pistols, NAAGA, JPFO and others that break the Anti script to show up to support the cause that we all have in common.
 
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Looks like VA's 2020 budget includes an increase of a quarter of a million dollars anticipating putting us in jail.
https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/item/2020/1/hb30/introduced/1/402/

"Q. Included in the appropriation for this Item is $250,000 the first year from the general fund for the estimated net increase in the operating cost of adult correctional facilities resulting from the enactment of sentencing legislation as listed below. This amount shall be paid into the Corrections Special Reserve Fund, established pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, Code of Virginia.

1. Allow the removal of firearms from persons who pose substantial risk to themselves or others -- $50,000

2. Prohibit the sale, possession, and transport of assault firearms, trigger activators, and silencers -- $50,000

3. Increase the penalty for allowing a child to access unsecured firearms -- $50,000

4. Prohibit possession of firearms for persons subject to final orders of protection -- $50,000

5. Require background checks for all firearms sales -- $50,000."
 
, at what I see as the last chance for a peaceful resolution


And therein lies the problem. This is shaping up to be every single other thing than "peaceful".

If you want to willingly go unarmed into a situation like that then have at it.

I'm all for peaceful negotiations but that doesnt look like what's going to happen here.

Theres a fine line between peaceful lobbying and revolt. And when the opposition has preplanned aggressive plans and then requires you to come with no way to defend yourself it's a recipe for disaster.

Tactics are a real thing as anyone familiar with them on a real basis will tell you. And this is shaping up to severely limit ours.
 
Looks like VA's 2020 budget includes an increase of a quarter of a million dollars anticipating putting us in jail.
I wouldn't ascribe too much importance to that. There's probably a rule that says that every introduced bill must have a budgetary impact analysis. They don't have the vaguest notion of how much these antigun bills will cost, so they're just throwing some figures out as placeholders. The numbers will be refined as they get into the process.
 
It can be important in that it allows us to copy and distribute to show that they are anticipating people not complying and that they are estimating additional costs due to anticipated bills that haven't even been formally proposed yet. Cost to taxpayers is a good subject to bring up when advocating for or against legislation.
 
If you want to willingly go unarmed into a situation like that then have at it.
I didn't say I was going to be "unarmed". There are many ways to take that. "The best weapon is the mind", "weapons of opportunity", etc. At this point, we need all hands on deck. Staying at home because "my voice won't make a difference" is the same thing that put us here on Election Day. As big as this thing is shaping up to be, someone with trouble on their mind would have to be completely stupid to think that 10K gun owners won't put up some kind of resistance. Again, to each their own, but there is too much riding on this, and too many excuses, IMHO.
 
Everyone that lives or works in VA should find out who their legislators are before the session and should be politely texting and emailing and writing them saying that you do not support any additional restrictions on firearms owners. Keep it just that short.

"As a constituent I do not support any legislation making additional restrictions for firearms owners."
"As someone that works in Virginia I do not support any legislation making additional restrictions for firearms owners."
"As someone with family in Virginia I do not support any legislation making additional restrictions for firearms owners."

If you can find a way to meet with them and give them this message before the first session you should. If you can do it more than once, try. Making sure they get this message before the second Tuesday in January sets in their minds what the opposition is to added restrictions on gun-owners.

It is important for them to know your name even if you have to look theirs up.

If you can show up at VCDL Lobby Day you should. If you can show up at the NRA rally you should (best if that's not a flop). If you can only make one, make the VCDL on the 20th.
 
If I was in virginia i would go. My family of 18 will all be there ranging in age from 16 to 95.
We wont be armed or carrying just to be on the Semi-safe side of being arrested because of some silly gun law!
 
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