This is nothing new.
From the NRA.
However, BATFE has acknowledged that its presence at this show was excessive and counterproductive.
In particular, BATFE has stated that it will no longer coordinate or conduct the type of wholesale, highly intrusive "residency verifications" that took place in connection with the Richmond show.
From the original VCDL alert
Steve and Annette were told by the BATFE in DC that BATFE would no longer be sending officers to people's houses who were purchasing a
firearm and that what happened in Richmond should not have happened.
It is just a paraphrasing of the original alert.
How many sources do we really have for the "facts"?
We have the VCDL alert that sites un-named individuals.
We have Mr. Lalime, who states he was detained.
We have Ms. Gelles, who states there was an increased police presence.
Are there others? If so, and they aren't people just quoting these three sources, please list them.
I don't know what happened, I want to know. If all, or even some, of the alleged illegalities took place we need to get organized and put up a united front.
Until we are sure of what happened and who did what, and why, we need to be cautious. If we start a righteous protestation of something that is not completely true, it makes us look like idiots.
If we gather the facts, not the rhetoric or ego driven beliefs of what must have happened, but the facts of what really did happen, we can be more effective in making sure it doesn't happen again.
One of the things that bothers me the most is that the only person willing to be cited as a source is Mr. Lalime. Yes, Ms. Gelles said there was an increased presence at the show, but Mr. Lalime is the only one who has come out and allowed his name to be used to testify to real abuse.
Where are the citizens who were approached? Where are the statements from the neighbors and spouses? Where is even one statement from one of the 400+ LEO's who were involved? Surely you aren't suggesting that they are all JBT's who want to take citizens rights away.
Almost all of the follow up reports have been rehashes of the VCDL alert. The CNS story was basically the same. The packing.org posting was the alert. The NRA statement is nothing new, the same information was contained in the alert and came from the people involved in putting on the gun show.
So basically what it comes down to is that something happened. We are being asked to act/react/believe based on the reports that cite un-named people. All of the information we have, comes from 3 sources; the VCDL alert (which cites un-named individuals), Mr. Lalime (who was accosted by BATFE people) and Ms. Gelles (who has a financial stake, being one of the promoters). NO, I am not saying that any of these people is not being 100% honest and candid.
Every time some source reprints or quotes from the original alert, the cry goes out, "There's your proof". I'm sorry, simply repeating something does not make it the truth.
This happened almost 2 weeks ago, the first VCDL alert came out a week ago, there has been no new information in all that time.
Why?
We keep getting promises of "more to come", "I"ll let you know as things develope" and such, but we have really heard nothing new.
Why?
I am saying that we need to be sure of the facts before we mount a national campaign to put a stop to something when we aren't exactly sure of what happened. It would appear that the man in charge of VCDL is being cautious and not releasing anymore info, until he is sure of it, this is a good thing and very responsible.
Again, I don't know what happened.
I have a problem believing in a cause that is mainly mounted on the word of un-named individuals.
Please, if you have any other sources, not the VCDL alert or Mr. Lalime's account or Ms. Gelles account, please post them.
The thing that is most upsetting about this is the rift that seems to have developed between people who believe in the RKBA.
Just because someone wants to be sure of what happened in order to form an appropriate response, does not make them the enemy.
Just because someone wants to react right now, before all the facts are in, doesn't make them the enemy.
We are all on the same side here. We are just approaching this from different perspectives and experience levels.
DM
