'Bloomberg Gun Giveaway' draws hundreds

[OneLungMcClung]

HA!!

'Bloomberg Gun Giveaway' draws hundreds

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer 31 minutes ago

ANNANDALE, Va. - Openly armed firearms enthusiasts packed a normally sedate government building Thursday night, hoping to win a pistol or rifle and at the same time send a defiant message to gun-control advocates, especially New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.


The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights group, organized the "Bloomberg Gun Giveaway" in large part to thumb its nose at Bloomberg, who accuses some shops of allowing illegal purchases of firearms that later were used in crimes in his city.

The city has filed federal lawsuits against more than two dozen shops, including six in Virginia.

Two guns were awarded Thursday, a Para-Ordnance pistol and a Varmint Stalker rifle, each worth about $900. The winners did not immediately receive the weapons — they will still be required to undergo federal and state background checks.

The first winner, Jay Minsky, responded with an obscene hand gesture when asked what message he hoped to send to Bloomberg.

"If he doesn't like people in New York having guns, he should deal with New York," said Minsky, who grew up in Brooklyn. "Just keep out of Virginia."

The event drew an overflow crowd at a Fairfax County government building, with the fire marshal aggressively enforcing an occupancy limit of 150 for the meeting hall. Others stood outside and peered through open windows. About 200 people showed.

County officials opposed the drawing but concluded they could not prohibit a group from using the community meeting room because of its political views. The gun-rights group has met in the building for years.

The event drew protests from gun-control advocates and the parents of those killed in last month's shootings at Virginia Tech.

Peter and Cathy Read, whose daughter Mary was one of those killed, held a photo of their daughter outside the building.

"We're not here to have a debate. We're here to witness for our daughter," Peter Read said. "The victims need to be witnessed to. People of the commonwealth can make intelligent decisions about what's right."

Philip Van Cleave, the league's president, said he sympathizes with the families but maintained that some of the deaths might have been prevented if somebody had been armed.

Many in attendance said they were motivated not by the chance of a free gun, but to make a point to Bloomberg and express support for the Second Amendment.

"It'd be nice if I win, but that's not what this is about. It's about my constitutional right to defend myself," said Ron Stuebing, a league member.

The event had been planned for months as a fundraiser for two gun shops being sued by New York City. But officials said that giveaway violated state gambling laws, so the league quickly organized a new giveaway, open to anybody who showed up at its Thursday night meeting.

Most but not all in attendance carried holstered handguns. In Virginia, individuals need a permit only to carry a concealed weapon. Openly visible, holstered guns are permitted without a permit.

Anybody who showed up at Thursday's event was eligible for the drawing — except Bloomberg and his immediate family.

Asked Thursday about the giveaway, Bloomberg said, "I think it's sick, is the nicest ways to phrase it."

Van Cleave responded that the members of his organization are law-abiding citizens, including many retired military, police officers and firefighters.

"If you're saying these are sick people, then I'm proud to be sick," Van Cleave said.

[RiflesRock]

Heck, yeah Virgina, you show those socialist anti-freedom and anti-gun idiots who is boss. +1000 for Virgina. To the victims of the Virgina Tech tragedy, while it is sad to see human loss of life in any form, if you think it was caused by firearms you are an ignorant fool who doesnt think. Its the person who pulled the trigger, duh. Get it through your brainwashed minds. This statement is mean to an extent but is the truth so deal with it.

[ChamberedRound]

I think this is great, I really do, 'cause Bloomberg is an ass, plain and simple. But 200 people is barely a blip on the radar.

[billamj]

Originally Posted by ChamberedRound

I think this is great, I really do, 'cause Bloomberg is an ass, plain and simple. But 200 people is barely a blip on the radar.

The problem is that the state stepped in and called it gambling when they were trying to run the raffle, anything to stop the guns don't you know, so they had to do a change up and you had to be on site. From what I understand the local Fire Marshal was playing asshat at the meeting and doing whatever was necessary to keep the room to its 150 person max occupancy, including kicking people out. 200 may very well be a short count. Especially when you consider that the information that we are working with is from the general press, real pro-2A folks.

[Withee355]

NICE FU virginia

[Emptymag]

Makes me proud to be an American.
Seriously.


And yes, Bloomberg and friends DO think it's sick to think you have the right to defend your family, yourself and your rights.

[billamj]

The really scary part here is that Bloomberg is contemplating funding his own run for Pres. as a third party candidate and running with Brownback as his running mate. If those two got in office we could seriously count on having many, many rights stolen. I firmly believe that they would be worse than Hitlery and company.

[OneLungMcClung]

Originally Posted by billamj

The really scary part here is that Bloomberg is contemplating funding his own run for Pres. as a third party candidate and running with Brownback as his running mate. If those two got in office we could seriously count on having many, many rights stolen. I firmly believe that they would be worse than Hitlery and company.

Actually................I hope he does run.

Remember Perot in 1992? Perot is the reason why Clinton won - Perot drew votes away from Daddy Bush.

I think that Bloomberg is enough of a pinko that he could draw votes from Hitlery, which would be good.

But maybe I don't quite ahve a grasp of it? Lemme know

[ChamberedRound]

Originally Posted by OneLungMcClung

Actually................I hope he does run.

Remember Perot in 1992? Perot is the reason why Clinton won - Perot drew votes away from Daddy Bush.

I think that Bloomberg is enough of a pinko that he could draw votes from Hitlery, which would be good.

But maybe I don't quite ahve a grasp of it? Lemme know

The only reason why this would backfire is that although Bloomberg is liberal, he's technically a Republican. Those that know little about him might assume him to be more conservative than he is. Worse, he could try and run on the Republican ticket.

[OneLungMcClung]

Originally Posted by ChamberedRound

The only reason why this would backfire is that although Bloomberg is liberal, he's technically a Republican. Those that know little about him might assume him to be more conservative than he is. Worse, he could try and run on the Republican ticket.

Ah...... sort of a Giulianni style "Republican": Anti-gun, big taxes, big police (*kOfF dEmOcRaT kOfF*). Got it - that would backfire.