“... to be honest … [VCDL has] been really successful in preventing our legislators from passing any meaningful [gun-control] legislation on this issue [universal background checks].”
Stephanie Soechtig, Director "Under the Gun"
Newsbusters.com – June 2, 2016
“VCDL, which prides itself on being more radical than the National Rifle Association (NRA) with stickers that say 'guns save lives,' supports allowing guns on school grounds, on college campuses, in libraries and government facilities and in bars. They oppose closing the gun show loophole and universal background checks.”
State Senator Mark Herring (currently the Virginia Attorney General) August 2, 2013
“... the Virginia Citizens Defense League, the commonwealth’s dominant gun lobby.”
Roanoke Times Metro Columnist Dan Casey - Jan 6, 2013
“The law was a victory for the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights organization that makes the NRA look moderate.”
Eleanor Clift – Politics Daily – July 5, 2010
“[VCDL] campaigns for the right of gun owners to tote firepower in all kinds of places … including outdoor festivals and college campuses.”
The Daily Press – Oct 20, 2007
“Virginia Citizens Defense League . . . is on a mission to root out every nugget of gun control it can detect in Virginia. It has been behind campaigns to make sure concealed weapons are allowed in local government buildings, even civic centers, and fought to open up state and local parks to concealed weapons.”
The Daily Press – Nov 27, 2006
“They’re pretty effective, I have to give them credit.”
Jim Sollo, Chairman of Virginians Against Handgun Violence
Virginian Pilot – Nov 11, 2002
