The following VA-ALERT snippets illustrate the history of The Republican Roundup anti-gun controversy
October 15, 2005
********************************************************************
19. Action Item: Anti-gun site chosen for Republican 'Round-up' !
********************************************************************
I received an invitation in the mail and a phone call to see if I would attend the Republican Roundup held at the Innsbrook Pavilion in Richmond. VCDL Board member Dennis O'Connor said he wanted to go, as well, so we went after the Richmond gun show on Saturday. Since there was going to be alcohol, we decided to play it safe and open carry.
Some deputies at the gate courteously said that they would have to check with management to see if we could carry inside. A lady who identified herself as the manager came over and said that the Innsbrook Pavilion is private property and they NEVER allow guns for ANY event and usually search people entering. I was a little surprised to hear that such policies were not up to the lessee, as is usually the case.
At that point Dennis and I said, "OK," and turned to leave. One of the deputies made a point of thanking us for being so courteous under the circumstances. That was nice of him and we were not upset at the deputies who were just doing their job and who acted professionally during the five minutes we were there.
As we walked away, the manager said, "Don't hold this against the Republican Party."
November 5, 2005
***********************************************************************
6. The Henrico Republican Party Chairman has his priorities WRONG!
***********************************************************************
Many of you have sent emails to the 7th District Republican Party Chairman, Linwood M. Cobb III, about not holding the Republican Roundup at Innsbrook any more because of their anti-gun policies.
His answer?
Our sacred right to defend ourselves is nice, but the Republican Party's convenience is more important!?!
No, I am not kidding.
Here is the form letter that Mr. Cobb is sending out:
--
Thank you for your form letter concerning the Republican Roundup. I can assure you that the Republican Party of Virginia supports very strongly yours and others 2nd amendment rights guaranteed in our great Constitution. Republican party activist like myself work every day to help elect men and women to positions in government that will always defend and support the 2nd amendment.
We chose the Innsbrook Pavilion for our event based on size, cost, ease of access, and location. These will always be the main factors in choosing our event locations.
Linwood M. Cobb III
7th District Republican Chairman
August 6, 2006
*******************************************************
1. Republicans to gun owners - "Let them eat cake!"
*******************************************************
Shortly before losing her head, Marie Antoinette made those words famous when, completely oblivious to things around her, she responded to starving peasants who had no bread to eat.
Enter Linwood Cobb - AGAIN.
SHORT BACKGROUND (OR DEJA-VU ALL OVER AGAIN):
The Republican Party is sending out flyers asking for people to attend the 2006 Republican Roundup in Richmond in October.
There is a major snag however - the facilities that the Republicans are using are as ANTI-GUN as they can be. I know because Dennis O'Connor and I took off work last year to attend, only to be turned away because we were legally armed. In fact, the facility (Innsbrook
Pavilion) is so anti-gun/anti-self-defense that even off-duty police are banned from carrying guns on their property.
Last year you guys pounded Innsbrook and Linwood M. Cobb III, a Republican Party chairman.
Flash forward one year and here we are AGAIN.
MONEY AND CONVENIENCE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR RIGHTS
Upon getting the mailing last week, I immediately called Congressman Eric Cantor in whose district (the 7th) this is being held. I complained to an aide of the hypocrisy of this whole situation. They said they would get back to me. Nothing yet.
Then I called the VA Republican Party headquarters and was eventually given the number of Linwood Cobb, who is the person who made the decision to use Innsbrook yet again.
When asked why the Republican Party would give money to a company that had nothing but contempt for our most important right, Mr. Cobb whined that he couldn't find anywhere else at the price that had such a good location and facilities. When asked if he had even tried to negotiate with Innsbrook to allow gun owners to carry at the event, he said he hadn't.
Well, Mr. Cobb is consistent with putting your rights and your safety in second place. Here is what he wrote back to many of you last year, over this same thing (emphasis below is mine):
"We [Republican Party] chose the Innsbrook Pavilion for our event based on size, cost, ease of access, and location. These will
**always** be the main factors in choosing our event locations."
In other words, your rights be damned.
Does Mr Cobb forget that going to the polls to vote can be inconvenient and can cost money?
"YOU DON'T NEED TO BRING A GUN TO THIS EVENT! HAVE SOME CAKE INSTEAD"
When pressed, Mr. Cobb said that no one needs to bring a gun to the event nor does anyone even need to have a gun in their car in the parking lot (e.g., leave it at home)!
He said that supporting the Republican Party, who stood up for gun owners, was important and that leaving one's guns behind wasn't much to ask of gun owners to attend such an event.
With that hypocrisy and mind boggling contradiction, he had just frosted my piece of cake and hadn't even realized it.
I told him that my personal security and my rights are not up for debate with him or anyone else. I also told him that I certainly wasn't going to be disarmed by Republicans when attending a political event that THEY invited me to!
October 9, 2006
******************************************************
1. Don't bother attending the Republican Roundup in Richmond on Saturday
******************************************************
I have learned that Representative Eric Cantor's people, under pressure from VCDL, contacted anti-freedom Innsbrook Pavilion to see if Innsbrook would waive their 'no guns' policy for the Republican Roundup this weekend.
Innsbrook, clearly distrustful of those who rent or use their property, wouldn't waive it, not even for permit holders carrying concealed. (Great company, huh?)
Of course it didn't help that the request was coming at the last moment, long after the Cantor Campaign had paid for the use of the Pavilion.
VCDL was offered a booth at the Roundup, a nice gesture, but one that I flatly turned down. I could not in clear conscience ask VCDL volunteers to give up their basic human right of self-defense just to work a VCDL booth at some political event.
The Republicans are hiding behind their decision to hold the event at this anti-freedom location because the price and location are right (not to mention that they can serve alcohol there).
A quote from Gone With the Wind comes to mind, "Frankly, I don't give a damn."
Next year if the Republicans (the self proclaimed party of the 2nd
Amendment) hold their Roundup at this anti-2nd Amendment, anti-freedom location, don't be surprised if I call on you to picket the event. I have already researched the area and know exactly where we can legally stand with our signs.
I am giving Eric Cantor the benefit of the doubt that he personally did not know of the anti-freedom policies of Innsbrook. The benefit of the doubt will be gone for future Roundups held at the Innsbrook Pavilion.
I want to thank Sheriff Wade of Henrico, who is a Republican, but who nonetheless was honorable enough to help me identify just where we could stand if we picket the location next year. He knows that VCDL does not want to violate any laws, including trespassing onto private property. Sheriff Wade was not happy about the thought of us picketing the event, but he was professional enough to not let his personal and political feelings get in the way of doing his job. It was Sheriff Wade who ultimately convinced the Cantor campaign to ask Innsbrook about waiving the 'no guns' policy.
September 26, 2008
Dear VCDL Member,VCDL is a non partisan group of gun owners who band together to protect our Second Amendment rights.
We support and encourage the idea of our membership being involved in the political process with all parties, Democrat, Republican and Independent.To the extent that we become aware of a policy banning the lawful carry or firearms at a public political event, we have a responsibilty to inform our members in the hopes that they will not be inconvenienced or otherwise surprised at a particular event.
The private property owner, Innsbrook After Hours, has excercised their private property rights and does not allow for the otherwise legal carry of firearms on their property. We can exercise our right to spend our money where we please and not patronize any of their events.
The Republican Round up is aware of Innsbrook's policy and has chosen to hold a major public gathering at this facility tomorrow, Saturday, September 27, any how. To that end, the sponsor, the 7th District Republican Committee of VA has sent out an email blast across the state requesting an RSVP to their event.Please respond to the following email addresses with your RSVP saying that, regretfully, you will not be in attendance.
We want to send a simple message: there are a lot of us who would come, but we won't come if they don't respect our rights.
Let's keep the message simple and short - PLEASE USE THE FORM EMAIL BELOW and fill in the blanks appropriately.
LET'S FLOOD THEIR MAILBOX SO THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WON'T BE THERE!
October 16, 2008
**************************************************************
2. Now THIS is how to hold a political rally! ¬.CHP holders are specifically welcomed!
**************************************************************
As you might recall VCDL has been at odds with the Henrico County Republican Committee for years over the "Republican Roundup," which has been held for Congressman Eric Cantor at the gun-owner-unfriendly Innsbrook Pavilion.
In response to that defacto gun ban, the Goochland County Republican Committee earlier this year passed a resolution requiring that their rallies and meetings will always be at a place that respects the rights of Virginia's gun owners.
Obviously the Henrico County Republican Committee didn't get the word and the "Republican Roundup" was held yet again at the Innsbrook Pavilion this year. :-(
Now, flash forward. The Goochland County Republican Committee is holding a rally for Eric Cantor this Saturday.One of the ads for the rally that ran in local newspapers specifically said, "CHP welcome!"
Nice breath of fresh air!
September 21, 2009
The VCDL protest against the 7th District Republican Party holding their "Roundup" event every year at the anti-gun SnagAJob/Innsbrook Pavilion is now officially called the VCDL Freedom Rally.
The GOP 7th District has strung us along every year and then ultimately ignored our complaints about gun owners being barred and even evicted from their selected location. It is past time that they understand that our rights are not negotiable.
Major components of the protest are now locked down and in place.
The event will be from 2 PM to 7 PM, Saturday, October 17th, followed by the opportunity to purchase dinner and enjoy a rally with keynote speakers.
Trust me when I tell you that this is a MUST attend event that is not only going to be fun and is going to get a lot of attention, but it will have strong implications for the General Assembly session this year!
Here is what we have already arranged with the Innsbrook Shoppes mall (yes - this a freedom-friendly mall located at the intersection of Cox and Broad in Henrico County near Richmond):
1. VCDL has a large staging/event area, with wonderful backup facilities in case in case of bad weather. Our backup facility can hold 500 people by itself.
2. We are going to have guest speakers, including talk show personality Doc Thompson of WRVA here in Richmond. If you attended the 912 Project rally in DC, you got to hear the powerful and moving talk that Doc gave the crowd. We will be announcing the names of even more exciting speakers as we confirm them.
3. We are going to have a large number of professionally prepared signs, which will be carried by members on private property at one of the busiest intersections in Richmond. We will also be carrying signs on public property near the Republican Roundup.
4. The restaurants at the staging/event area are specifically
welcoming VCDL members to their restaurants at the end of the rally!
We will have a list of participating restaurants later, but these are absolutely excellent restaurants. What a message THIS ARRANGEMENT is going to send to the General Assembly next year when they consider our Restaurant Ban Repeal! I can't wait until Senator Saslaw tries to tell the General Assembly this time that restaurants don't want gun owners as patrons! ;-)
5. Parking will NOT be an issue - we have this base covered nicely.
6. We have begun coordination with the Henrico Police Chief Stanley and with Sheriff Wade's office.
The location of the staging/after event area is at one of the busiest intersections in Richmond and we have permission to DOMINATE that area!
In January we got 600 people to come to Lobby Day. Let's shatter than number and absolutely pack this event in preparation for Lobby Day 2010!
Please note: this is a peaceful protest - we will not be blocking anybody's access to the Republican Roundup, either by foot or by vehicle. The people attending the Roundup are really our friends and probably have no idea that the Republican leadership has been keeping gun owners out of this event for years by picking an anti-gun location. Our job is to educate Roundup attendees and the general public about Eric Cantor and the 7th District Republican Party not standing on principle, and we will - in spades.
September 30, 2009
**************************************************
1. VCDL Freedom Rally on October 17th is a "must attend" event!
**************************************************
I find myself in the frustrating position of telling you that you really, really don't want to miss the VCDL Freedom Rally, while at the same time not being able to share ALL the details. The problem is that some of it is to be a surprise, so you're stuck having to take my word for it on blind faith. :-(
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 17th from 2 PM to 7 PM. The rally will be at two locations during the day: 1) the Innsbrook Shoppes mall (Cox and Broad) and 2) near the Republican Roundup being held by the GOP 7th District at the SnagAJob Pavilion (Nuchols Road and Lake Brook Drive).The two locations are about a mile apart and parking should not be a problem at either location. VCDL members in orange vests will be coordinating the effort, helping with such things as parking and directions.
We will have professionally made signs with various messages on them for members to carry.
Doc Thompson of WRVA (AM 1140 in Richmond) will be one of our guest speakers.Afterwards, various restaurants at the Innsbrook Shoppes will be welcoming gun owners onto their premises for a meal before you head home. We will have a list of restaurants and whether they will be offering any discounts to VCDL members in a future update.We expect national and local TV coverage of this rally. EM Matt Gottchalk will also be filming the event for the VCDL web site.
Be sure to bring your whole family, friends, co-workers and other like- minded people (like those from other liberty groups). So far we have over 125 people who are coming, that's a great start but let's really dwarf that number and absolutely flood the place!
*** Oh, and bring a camera. ;-) ***
I am keeping a rough count of attendees. If you are coming and have NOT already done so, send an email to:FreedomRally@vcdl.org
Make the subject line "YES" with a dash and the number of attendees, like this: "YES - 4"
We will NOT read the body of the email itself, but will simply count attendance by looking at the subject line.
**Please respond ONLY if you are ABLE to attend.**See you Saturday, October 17th from 2:00 PM to 7 PM!