2015 2nd Amendment Action Day & lobbying event.

[WhiteFeather]

2015 2nd Amendment Action Day & lobbying event.


The 10th annual Second Amendment Action Day & interactive lobbying event is going to be on

Tuesday May 12, 2015 rally kicks off at 10 am on the main steps outside of the State Capitol, Harrisburg PA


Lots of information at this one location http://www.2arally.com/
*Speakers
*Issues
*Direction - Parking –maps
And much more, Please view this here before asking a question







With the 2015 Pennsylvania Right To Keep and Bear Arms Action Day quickly approaching we wanted to take a moment to highlight the most important part of the rally that we do each year: Legislator Education.

Each year after the speaking engagements for the rally, gun owners from around the Commonwealth are organized into groups broken down into groups and assigned a team leader so that they may walk the halls of our capitol speaking to legislators about issues important to gun owners.

This is one of, if not the, single most important thing gun owners can do to help preserve their rights!

As time is very short to catch Reps in their offices before session, we try to organize groups of gun owners and visit them with a team leader based on office locations with in capital.

In some parts of PA no gun owners come to see their Reps, so we ask everyone to go visit the Reps with a group. It does no good if everyone visits the same dozen of pro gun Reps offices, and no one goes to the others Reps that also get to vote on our bills. Educating ALL the Reps is the goal!

Afterward you will have time to go speak with your Reps if they are not part of your group assignments

Please note that when picking a group to join, try to go for the one with the fewest amount of people. We want to make sure that the groups are split up as evenly as possible, if everyone runs to the first group in their list, this won’t work out so well.

Once again, thank you to every gun owner who joins us in standing up for their rights and we can’t wait to see you there!



For more information about this event, confirmed speakers, parking, legislative efforts. Please visit the 2arally.com web site, Note the web site is being updated as new information becomes available, so check back often as the scheduled day approaches


http://www.2arally.com/

UPDATE anyone that attend and signs in at the rally will be given ticket for a chance to win a Smith & Wesson AR-15 (.223 semi-auto) rifle generously donated Ace Sporting Goods.

ONLY people that show up and sign will have the chance to win the firearm!

Ten Ways to Kill A Society or pro gun groups

The earliest reference found to this list was from 1919 (Bird Notes – The Journal of the Foreign Bird Club, Volume II – Series III. 1919, pg 31). It still seems applicable to today's organizations:


1. Don’t come to the meetings.


2. If you do come, come late.


3. If the weather doesn’t suit you, don’t think of coming.


4. If you attend a meeting, find fault with the work of the officers and other members.


5. Never accept office, as it is easier to criticize than to do things.


6. Nevertheless, be put out if you are not appointed on the committee; but if you are, do not attend committee meetings.


7. If asked by the chairman to give your opinion on some matter, tell them you have nothing to say. After the meeting, tell everyone how things ought to be done.


8. Do nothing more than is absolutely necessary, but when members roll up their sleeves and willingly, unselfishly use their ability to help matters along, howl that the branch is run by a clique.


9. Hold back your dues as long as possible, or don’t pay at all.


10. Don’t bother about getting new members. Let someone else do it

[WhiteFeather]

This year’s event starts on outside on the main capital steps. After the speakers are done, there is a major time delay to pass through security to get access to the capital complex.

Please note that you can only check firearms at the Commonwealth Ave. entrance on the other side of the capital from RALLY on front steps. It will take some extra time to check firearm after the event, time waking around the outside, not spent inside the capital where you can make a difference.

We strongly suggest you check your firearms before the speakers begin, and not afterward, so you can access the capital from any public entrance, instead of just one by the lock boxes. Pre Checking firearms and pre filling out paperwork before will save you time and speed up entry into capital complex.



CHECKING FIREARMS


Anyone with a handgun and a valid LTCF permit as we have in the past and will make provisions to have them safely stored by the capital police in the PO Office sized lock boxes or at another location in the building off Commonwealth Ave. . All handguns will be secured.

IF you want to OC a handgun we got you back and you are welcome, HBG is a dangerous city it’s easy to make the self-defense case for OC / CC handguns.


NO special accommodations will be made for ANY one that chooses to bring: Long Guns, SBR, SBS or AOW as the focus of this event will be to directly speak to our elected Representatives, not carrying these types of firearms to make some form of political statement.

OC Long guns at this event sends the wrong message, that can have far reaching negative unintended consequences as have occurred in other states.

WE respectful ask you to PLEASE LEAVE THEM AT HOME.

There are other venues and events where open carrying these types of long arms are appropriate and should be brought to make a political statement, this is NOT that event here on this day dedicated to lobbying the elected Reps.

Before you even post a comment….. go to FOAC-PAC web site Read OC long gun stories & Understand what other short sighted selfish individuals did in their states to undermine their cause better than even the anti-guns ever could by OC at the improper occasion sent the wrong message which the legislator s then took action on to BAN these OC activities.

https://foac-pac.org/Ignorant-Gun-Ow...News-Item/1625

https://foac-pac.org/Open-Carry-Of-A.../News-Item/974


You can have your OC Long guns rally on some other another day to promote your view points and whatever message you want to send.


IF you want to insist on bring anything other than a handgun to this legislative lobbying event, or have a problem with providing the information requested by the capital police form.

It’s your responsibility to go to the capital in advance of this event day, speak with the capital police leadership to deal with your special concerns, to your satisfaction, its not anyone else responsibility.

If you choose not not to pursue this responsible course of action prior to the day of the event, you are on your own, deal with the consequences, make some other private arrangements for storing your long guns. Contact your state Reps to solve the problem instead of anyone else ..

-JD-
The PA Capitol Building Firearms check-in form is attached. I suggest you fill it out before arriving. Go in the entrance on the fountain side of the building and tell the Capitol police that that you have a firearm to check. They'll want the filled out form and your LTCF. They have several racks of PO Box sized lockers for locking up each one individually. In my recent experiences they have been courteous and efficient.

On this link is an editable PDF form to pre fill out your firearm information to expedite your check in time at security
- see bottom of post attachment for color / updated version - .

http://forum.pafoa.org/attachment.ph...1&d=1271854880

Please note that you can only check firearms at the Commonwealth Ave. entrance.

Also since checking firearms is going to be a issue, EVERYONE please try to be patient and understand with capital police, most every officer that we have met really appreciate gun owners efforts at these lobbying event because when they take the badge off they are just like US and stupid gun control laws put them and their families at risk just like the rest of US.

If someone has a problem with capital security get the officers name and badge number Immediately after clearing security come find one of the volunteer staff helping on this event then will we deal with it that day with the Reps help it will be resolved. It will be handled promptly just don’t be a jerk about it, making a scene that makes all of US look bad.

DON'T wait to come home and post it here, resolve your problem there, that day. If its un safe handling of firearms whatever, lets US know. Let’s work together to get it fix and resolve this with capital police that day.

The capital police officer have a difficult job handling their assigned security task they don’t make the rules, the Reps do, they delegate authority to a position which they oversee. They are going to be overwhelmed with lots gun owners on May 12th, just put yourself in their shoes for a moment, they are people just like US and like I said most do appreciate of efforts to fight for our rights so give them some slack.


Anyone with a handgun and a valid LTCF permit we have and will make provisions to have them safely stored by the capital police in the PO Office sized lock boxes or optional location. All handguns will be secured.


On this link is an editable PDF form to pre fill out your firearm information to expedite your check in time at security .

http://forum.pafoa.org/attachment.ph...1&d=1271854880

Title 18, section 913:

(e) Facilities for checking firearms or other dangerous weapons.--Each county shall make available at or within the building containing a court facility by July 1, 2002, lockers or similar facilities at no charge or cost for the temporary checking of firearms by persons carrying firearms under section 6106(b) or 6109 or for the checking of other dangerous weapons that are not otherwise prohibited by law. Any individual checking a firearm, dangerous weapon or an item deemed to be a dangerous weapon at a court facility must be issued a receipt. Notice of the location of the facility shall be posted as required under subsection (d).

Title 18, section 6106 (b)

(11) Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle, which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the United States or any other state.

(15) Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and the state under section 6109(k), provided:

(i) The state provides a reciprocal privilege for individuals licensed to carry firearms under section 6109.

(ii) The Attorney General has determined that the firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws of this Commonwealth.

The section above is the area of law that is being used to deny people the ability to enter the Capitol building with firearms because of the PA Supreme Court hearing rooms upstairs. The section below is the one referenced in Section 913 and as you can see ‘carry’ is defined as those who have a valid and lawfully issued license. Perhaps it is not obvious but this does preclude LONG GUNS!





On a personal NOTE to ALL.

Since the PA Supreme Court has built an entire new building at tax payer’s expense and now moved from the capital complex. With limited use of the old court rooms that can be locked when not in use or be protected by relocation of metal detector for those rooms only much like the viewing galleries have when in session.

The court room exemption for the entire capital complex is now going to be tough to keep in the future years, and something that we are going to be asking our elected Reps why something more agreeable be put in place with those with valid LTCF permit like other states have for access. Unless someone un thinhking gun owners make a negative encounter by doing something stupid.




See NEW and Improved firearm check in form in attachment at bottom of this post

[WhiteFeather]

Till the event date This Thread is always a work in progress

The main page on PAFOA will be updated

with link directing everyone to this page

and the main rally information website


http://www.2arally.com/
.
Special note at different time at several of the past annual lobbying a few people refused to provide the additional id requested by the capital police (that is outside of the scope in the UFA requirements) and they were refused entry to the capital complex. If you have a problem with this extra requirement you now have several weeks prior to May 12, 2015 to contact the capital police to correct this to your satisfaction and / or contact your state Reps to address this problem or don’t go.

Out of respect please take that extra requirement discussion to another thread and work together to get it changed by contacting capital police leadership and or your state Reps.

If you want to push the issue, there are many other days besides this dedicated lobbying day to make a political statement, or to prove your point.

The police officers working the security detail have a very difficult job dealing with the general public are following the instructions and procedures from their superior officers on checking firearms.

Most the capital police officers are very supportive our efforts to improve and protect their firearm rights, many also like guns, so take your firearm check in problem to the ones that makes the rules or those that hold their leash, not the individual police officers working security

[WhiteFeather]

Here is the list of "some" of the legislation we are looking to move in 2015-2016 session and the related discussion on PAFOA, so you can study up on the subjects.


HB 45 Disparity of Force – Rep Saccone's Upgrade to Castle Doctrine 2015-2016
http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...15-2016-a.html


HB 230 Constitutional Carry – Rep Saccone 2015-2016 legislative effort
http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...ve-effort.html


HB 366 allow Hunting with Semi automatic Rifles in PA – Rep Saccone 2015-2016
http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...15-2016-a.html


HB 718 – Right to Transport Firearms Rep Krieger 2015-2016 legislative effort
http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...ve-effort.html


http://www.2arally.com/issues/

/\ See ISSUES at the 2ARALLY link for complete listing /\
for other legislation we are looking to move this session

this thread is a WORK IN PROGRESS

CHECK BACK LATER

Info UPDATES are "in progress" & available on 2arally web site



See link for PDF flier for the
10th Annual PA Second Amendment Action Day
http://www.repmetcalfe.com/Display/S...5%20LowRes.pdf


hint the theme for guest speakers is on PDF

video past 2nd Amendment Action Day and more info here courtesy of Rep Metcalfe
http://www.repmetcalfe.com/2ndAmendment.aspx






Abandon reading this Thread NOW!

Otherwise you might have to become personally involved in the political process to do what is required to protect your rights .

[WhiteFeather]

NEED A RIDE TO HBG on TUESDAY 5-12-2015?

work in progress

CHECK BACK SOON when group ride info become available it will be posted here


Live in western PA ? want to get a ride to HBG? so you can do your part to protect your firearm rights

we got a few choices to get you to HBG

Dear Friend of the Second Amendment,

The Annual Second Amendment Rally will be held on Tuesday May 12th. Firearms Owners Against Crime will be arranging for a bus that will leave the Heidelberg Walmart on Route 50 at promptly 5:00 AM. We will make a stop in Monroeville prior to entering the Turnpike and will leave no later than 5:30 AM. If you would like to make a reservation for the bus please email Herb Ohliger at herb138@fyi.net. We are asking for a $25.00 donation to help defray the cost of the bus.

For details on the events that are scheduled in Harrisburg please see the information below.

On Tuesday, May 12, 2015 the 10th Annual Second Amendment-Second to None Rally in Harrisburg starts at 10AM on the steps of the Harrisburg Capitol (plan on being there at 9AM). We will be there to celebrate our constitutionally protected right to bear arms and to ‘reject’, IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS, the agenda of some in government that criminals and their actions can dictate how we exercise ‘our’ freedoms!

• Are YOU tired of anti-2nd Amendment legislators and organizations holding hostage law abiding citizens freedoms for criminal acts committed by those who should be in JAIL?
• Are YOU tired of elected leaders, who swore an oath to our constitution, selectively shredding our freedoms because of prejudice, fear or a desire to expand governmental power at OUR expense?
• Are YOU tired of being subjected to legislation from legislators who have not ‘even’ read the Constitution?
• Are YOU tired of local governments enacting laws in defiance of state law?

Then PLEASE join with us to send our message of Freedom around this state and the nation by attending this rally! It is our fervent desire to advance our freedoms BUT we cannot get there without your help! We are ALL volunteers and this is YOUR rally for YOUR FREEDOMS!

This year [2015] is ‘absolutely’ a critical year for gun owners. Anti-gun groups, well funded by individuals like anti-gun Bloomberg ($50M) and Soros and out of state entities such as the Joyce Foundation are focused on a campaign of greatly restricting PA Constitutional Freedoms. It is imperative that we have an overwhelming presence in Harrisburg to impress upon legislators that we will not tolerate these laws. It is important to remember that PA is graded by anti-gun organizations as being the 10th most restrictive state in the nation for gun ownership. An example of the validity of that grade is that PA citizens cannot carry a concealed firearm on their OWN property if they do ‘not’ possess a valid License To Carry Firearms a violation of which is a Misdemeanor 1 crime!

PLEASE do not miss this golden opportunity to interact with Pennsylvania’s top elected leaders and be part of a special gathering of citizens from around our state as we raise our voices together in support of the rights bequeathed to us by our forefathers!

If you are in Southwest PA please contact Herb Ohliger (Herb138@fyi.net) for travel arrangements on the FOAC bus leaving from Pittsburgh. (Seats will go quickly so please do not delay in contacting Herb!) For additional arrangements please e-mail FOAC at info@foacpac.org and one of our officers will get back to you with further information. You can also visit our Facebook page at - https://www.facebook.com/2aRally - to share your thoughts and opinions with fellow Pennsylvanians who share your passion about Freedom!

**Please join with us on May 12th - We look forward to your HELP in restoring and defending our Freedoms!

With Deepest Regards and Appreciation,

Kim Stolfer
Firearms Owner’s Against Crime, Chairman
E-Mail – kimstolfer@foacpac.org

**Agenda of Events on May 12th:
9:00AM Sign up, get your second amendment materials and organize into groups under team leadership.
10:00AM Rally/Press Conference with legislators and second amendment leaders (lasting approximately about 1 hour).
11:00AM After the rally everyone will break up into smaller groups under team leadership. Your team leader will take you to specifically assigned state reps so that each hears from gun owners across the state. Once these assigned legislators are visited then each team will reach out to other Representatives in the Senate and House including each person’s personal representatives. The MOST important point is that ALL 203 Representatives and 50 Senators hear from gun owners, especially the anti-gun legislators that introduce these bills intended to strip your rights away. Your team leader will break around lunch time, after lunch meet up with your team leader to finish up. We plan these legislative efforts to run between 9am and 3pm.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 mark the 10th annual 2nd Amendment Rally in Harrisburg.

These rallies have proven successful in helping to make several improvements to Pennsylvania gun laws, such as making it possible for those with a License to Carry Firearms to legally carry a defensive handgun while hunting and enhanced Castle Doctrine with civil immunity for those who lawfully resist attack. More importantly, these events have helped to prevent Bloomberg and his many anti-rights allies from forcing Pennsylvanians to suffer under oppressive gun laws such as they have enacted in our neighboring states of New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Why are the rallies held on weekdays?

Answer: because that is when the legislature is in session - to be effective we must be there when lawmakers can see us and that after the speeches we go into the capitol in groups and meet with them.

How do I get there?

If you live in Butler or Allegheny County you can get a seat on the NSSA bus that Glen Beattie risked his own money to fund.

North Side Sportsmen's Association
325 Mt. Pleasant Rd.,
Warrendale, PA 15086
http://northsidesportsmen.com

contact Glen Beattie to make a reservation (email contact preferred)
Volunteer@northsidesportsmen.com
724-816-3950

The cost is $42 per seat. Northside members will receive 6 hours of volunteer credit, which will reduce your 2016 membership dues by $50.

The Action Day keynote speaker will be Sheriff Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona.

http://www.amazon.com/The-County-She.../dp/B002PKCMFO

Sheriff Mack sued the Clinton Administration and won a US Supreme Court case that cut back on federal infringement.


Rally Website: www.2ARally.com

Northside Side Sportsmen's is sponsoring a BUS

Who: Glen Beattie volunteer@northsidesportsmen.com 724-816-3950

What: Bus from Warrendale to 2nd Amendment Rally.

Where: 325 Mt. Pleasant Road; Warrendale, PA 15086

When: 4:30 AM (boarding at 4:15). Departing from Harrisburg at 2:45

Cost: $42 per seat. Check requested by 04/21. 402 Hampton Ct; Mars, PA 16046-8020








2nd Amendment Action Day
Tuesday, May 12, 2015





The goal of Action Day is to rally thousands of lawful gun owners to Harrisburg to listen to some great pro 2nd Amendment speakers and to meet with our elected representatives.



The Action Day keynote speaker will be Sheriff Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona. He is the only sheriff in American history to sue the federal government and win a landmark case that stopped national gun control laws.



For the second year in a row, there will be a bus from The Northside Sportsmen’s Club to the steps of the Capitol Building. It’s the most convenient and least expensive way for you to participate in this important event.



The bus has a restroom on board.



We will make :20 minute stops at the Sideling Hill Rest Area in both directions. There are no other stops. This bus is exclusive to Warrendale.



The cost is $42 per seat. Northside members will receive 6 hours of volunteer credit, which will reduce your 2016 membership dues by $50.



If you are interesting in joining us, please contact me by email (preferred) or by phone.



NSSA Bus Contact Information

Glen Beattie

Volunteer@northsidesportsmen.com

724-816-3950


Rally Website:



www.2ARally.com


Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

IF you live in western PA and you got the time to go on HBG on May 12, but are short on cash

Thanks to Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League (BCSCL) they made the ride to HBG very affordable. can you afford totally

FREE, no cost, nothing

http://bcscl.org/images/2A%20Action%...Bus%20Info.pdf

/\ see details here at (BCSCL) website /\

Its FREE because of all of the generous donations that were raised at the Feb 2015 event


Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League

http://bcscl.org/

If you can't go?

How about Sending BCSCL a donation to help someone else fill the seat in your place.

2nd Amendment Action Day

Starting in 2010 Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League sponsored its’ first bus to Harrisburg, PA. By 2013 with the help of a number of other clubs, the League organized three buses to the rally. And then in 2014 this similar group of clubs, plus the League organized and sent four buses. Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League represents over 14 clubs and 11,000 Firearms owners in Beaver County not counting Firearm Owners Against Crime and all their membership.

This rally was well attended by hundreds of 2nd Amendment supporters from all over the State. It was a soaking wet rainy day but we hunt in that weather so we can certainly defend our 2nd Amendment Rights in the same weather. We stayed the course.

This 1 of the 67 county sportsmen's league have been carry a lot of the load for the rest of the states sportsmen's organization, If you can afford it, Throw them a donation to help get their buses full of activist gun owners

update Feb 9, 2015

Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League 2nd Amendment Action Day Banquet




Date: 03/7/2015

5:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Location: Monica Turners

Address: 1700 Old Brodhead Rd., Monaca, PA 15061 15061

Latitude: 40.6775897 Longitude: -80.2915525


The Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League (BCSCL) is the most active Beaver County Organization standing up for and defending your 2nd Amendment Rights. This is crucial to all aspects of our freedom including the hunting tradition we hold so dearly.

The Harrisburg, 2nd Amendment Action Day is coming up in May this year, and to prepare for this event, BCSCL is having a Fund Raising Banquet Saturday, March 7th at the Monaca Turners. Please see the flyer and a copy of a ticket for complete information.

Please consider attending the banquet. You’ll enjoy a great dinner with over 200 others who hold freedom dear and work to keep that freedom and be able to pass it on to the next generation, as well as numerous chances to win various prizes including other firearms.

For tickets, send a check and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Craig Holdren

316 Leopard Lane

Beaver, Pa 15009

For tickets and additional information contact:

https://foac-pac.org/Events/37


IF you live in western PA and you got the time to go on HBG on May 12, but short on cash

Thanks to Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League (BCSCL) they made the ride to HBG very affordable. with a price you can afford totally

FREE see details here at (BCSCL) website

http://bcscl.org/images/2A%20Action%...Bus%20Info.pdf

[Just1more]

Is there a link for the 2015 rally with info re speakers etc.?

[WhiteFeather]

Is there a link for the 2015 rally with info re speakers etc.?

Since we got no money to pay people or even finding a few coins from passing the hat to help pay to cover their out of pocket cost of speakers its always a matter who can we get to come on their own dime or even if the scheduled date fit in the busy lives to come speak.


The actual "big name speakers" (if any) won't be known till the date drawer much near

Wanted to post on PAFOA with as much advance notice of the May 12th date so everyone can't say they didn't know. Also all that wish to go and make a difference that they could make arrangements to be in HBG with as much advance knowledge so they can support the cause they are so passionate about.


To contrast PA efforts as a comparison

here is some activity from south of mason-dixon line to contrast why some state are improving the RKABA and other don't have much pro gun activity, as it up to the individual gun owners willing to help supporting the legislative efforts.

Virginia Lobby Day highlighted effective gun rights activism - video

http://www.examiner.com/article/virg...alerts_article

Wednesday, this column published the text of the speech I delivered at the General Assembly in Richmond on Monday for Lobby Day. Now that a video has been released, it's embedded above. I’d been invited by Virginia Citizens Defense League, which participates every year to promote bills that advance the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose those that restrict it. What follow is are experiences and impression from the trip.

After a drive that started in Ohio at 9:30 that morning, and took eight-hours over unfamiliar highways and connections, I arrived at the hotel in late afternoon. There was just enough time to check in, unpack, and plot the course to the VCDL pre-Lobby Day dinner meeting at a downtown hotel. Taking surface streets, I promptly got introduced to Richmond road patterns. Being prevented from making right or left turns at intersections throughout the town would thwart me throughout the trip, but there was one familiar traffic truism—jaywalkers everywhere do so with the same sense of entitlement.

That meeting was my first real introduction to the inner workings of VCDL, and it was impressive. I've participated in lots of grassroots activities before, and have to say the organization, focus and openness were all impressive. President Philip Van Cleave and other officers were knowledgeable and patient explaining what Lobby Day was about and how the day would be organized, with lists and summaries of “good” and “bad” bills, and a time-tested tactic of breaking activists into teams to make sure coverage with legislators would be comprehensive and unified in message.

I finished the day going back to my hotel, taking advantage of relatively mild weather to get comfortable on the room's balcony with a good cigar. Later that evening it was time to call in to Armed American Radio and give a report on what was happening in Richmond.

On Monday, I made it to the General Assembly building at around 10 a.m. The weather was as perfect as one could hope for this time of year, sunny and warming into the 50s. VCDL teams had already been busy meeting with legislators since 8:30, and the rally with speakers was scheduled to start at 11. In contrast to the hysterical reactions we saw recently in Washington State, many of the activists were armed, and those with concealed carry permits could even open carry inside the building as a matter of course and without causing a massive freak-out. This year though, police were not allowing continuation of the tradition of speaking from the steps of the Old Bell Tower (legend item 40 on the Capitol site plan), reportedly on orders from the governor’s office as a way to express disapproval. In fact, any speaker’s stand over four inches in height was to be disallowed without a building permit of some sort, leaving the only option a small plywood platform you can see in the photo accompanying the above-linked speech transcript. We were curious to see if the same restrictions would be placed on the antis when they held their scheduled event later that afternoon.

Subjectively speaking, the speech itself went OK — there were a couple places where I had to struggle to stay on track and find my place in the text, and there was one outright goof: When talking about a “monopoly of violence,” I couldn't for the life of me recall the name the “Coalition to Stop Gun Violence,” and it came out “Violence Policy Center.”

There were several hundred people there, and the crowd was receptive and attentive. Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America, who was one of the expected speakers, unfortunately could not attend. That was a disappointment, because not only does he always have something to say that’s interesting and important, but he’s just a really neat guy to be around and talk with. I did get a chance to finally meet the other speaker, journalist and author Emily Miller, chief investigative reporter for Fox 5 DC, who has done such great work exposing the way the District government wages a calculated harassment campaign against gun owners exercising the right to keep and bear arms.

Everyone has read her book, “Emily Gets Her Gun,” right? If not, you really need to go rectify that oversight. The lady is knowledgeable, has a writing style that keeps you engaged, which is no small task when the subject matter involves maddening bureaucracy, and just seems very down-to-earth and nice.

Miller’s speech also precipitated my only major disappointment of the day, because I didn't get to hear it and needed to wait for the video to come out (and here it is). That’s because after speaking first, people came up to talk to me, including a reporter for The Virginia Pilot. After answering a few questions, I then put a few to the reporter.

After confirming she was also going to cover the Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws demonstration, the reporter was informed I could find no record of the group on the nonprofit reporting website Guidestar, it did not appear to be registered with the Virginia Secretary of State, and its website was registered through a proxy. She admitted identifying the party financing a group trying to change laws is something in the public’s interest to know, regardless of where one stands on any issue. Whether she follows up on that remains to be seen, but such an inquiry apparently has not made it into any of the news accounts to date.

One quick aside, while talking with people there, one guy approached whom I've met before on a few occasions and always enjoy seeing again – Dick Heller, of the landmark Supreme Court Second Amendment decision fame. He wanted to “borrow” some of the terminology from the speech, and so i gave him my printed copy, complete with last-minute handwritten revisions.

As VCDL had a board meeting later in the afternoon, and as I wanted to check out the anti-rally we were expecting to begin at 2 p.m., a bunch of us went to lunch, including Van Cleave and attorney John Pierce of OpenCarry.org, among others. Afterward, walking back with my friend and WarOnGuns Correspondent “Mack H,” we saw the General Assembly property blocked with yellow police tape, and State Police officers keeping people from entering the grounds.

It seems someone reported a “suspicious package,” and that meant the VRGL folks had to move several blocks away. I decided at that point it would be better to retrieve the car, which was several blocks down the hill in the opposite direction, and after doing so, saw the tape line had been extended another block outward. With that development, the prospect of an all too rare obligation-free afternoon became too attractive to pass up. Surprisingly, as discovered on the way back to the hotel, in Virginia, they evidently even card geezers to buy beer -- I hadn't had that happen in many moons. Then it was time to take advantage of a sunny afternoon, my room balcony, and something else I love but have regrettably little time for these days, reading well-written fiction just for pleasure.

It was a very worthwhile experience, absolutely time well spent. If you’re a Virginian and you don’t belong to VCDL, you’re hurting yourself and you’re hurting volunteers who could really use your help. Not only do they stand guard protecting and advancing all of our rights, but there are some great individuals I'd happily welcome more opportunities to learn from, to work with, and just to hang around with.

[LifeInPa]

It's too bad the event is on Tuesday, that's a long haul for a lot of us during a work week and it would be nice to line up the event on say Friday. At least you don't have to worry about work the next day..

JMO

[Jhaydeno]

Please count me in! As in years past, I'm open to others with longer rides parking at our place just off I-83 and heading in together (15 minutes to the capitol).

[WhiteFeather]

It's too bad the event is on Tuesday, that's a long haul for a lot of us during a work week and it would be nice to line up the event on say Friday. At least you don't have to worry about work the next day..

JMO

First Monday of Deer season the woods are full of gun owners that can some how manage to get a day off to do something fun.

its ALL about what is a priority in your life and IF they decide ban or restrict gun ownership were is your time better spent...

Is the right to gun ownership not worth one day a year to protect it, after many gave so much in the past for US to enjoy the 2nd A in the future.

Each you have to decide what's you gun rights real worth is by your actions and deeds


The objective is to actually speak FTF with the elected Reps, can't have that opportunity IF they are somewhere else that day ....

They typically are only in the capital on Mon Tuesday & Wen

unless its spending tax money doing the budget in June its only possible on scheduled session day to catch them all together.

Spring 2015 Schedule session days

January 27 , and 28
February 2 , 3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 23 , 24 , and 25
March 2 , 3 , 4 , 30 , and 31
April 1 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 20 , 21 , and 22
May 4 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 12 HBG Action Day , and 13 June 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , and 30

An advance A-TEAM (A= Activist) will be there at the HBG capital on Monday May 11th causing some waves and solving other problems, IF you wish to tag along with the A-TEAM let us know