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LOBBY DAY EVENTS
Looks like we had over 500 attendees today. The antis had around 50 to 60 for their lie in.
There were orange Gun Save Lives and Freedom is Not a Loophole stickers everywhere! VCDL EM John Pierce flew in from **Minnesota** to be part of this event!
People were assigned to groups of around 15 people, which would then lobby a specified group of legislators, handing out VCDL's Gun Bill Analysis document and discussing the bills with Delegates, Senators, and aids.
The VCDL rally at the Bell Tower started at 11 AM. As usual, we had excellent speakers this year: Sheriff Danny Diggs from Yorktown, Delegate Brenda Pogge, who is carrying a bill for VCDL, Patrick McSweeney, who is a constitutional lawyer, Scott Lee from the Lee Brother's on WRVA, (AM 1140) Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, and Daniel P. Cortez as a vet and proud father of a son who just joined the military who spoke passionately as a legal immigrant of his love for both this great country and the Second Amendment.
The Capitol Police, under Chief Kimberly Lettner, did a great job, keeping everything moving smoothly. Entering the General Assembly Building did not entail a significant delay from my experience.
The media was out in force at our rally and in the General Assembly building, and I was interviewed many times over the day.
The day blasted by so fast I couldn't believe it.
For those who couldn't make it, you missed a really great day. Mark those calendars for next year!
Here is some good coverage with video from Channel 6 in Richmond:
The event should be all over the media tonight as well.
GUN BILLS HEARD TODAY
There were a few gun bills heard today:
Delegate Cleaveland's Castle Doctrine bill, HB 1573, was reported out of subcommittee and is headed to full committee. The Senate version of this bill did not meet the same fate.
Senator Stuart's Castle Doctrine bill, SB 876, was recommended to be passed by indefinitely (killed) in subcommittee. The full committee will hear the bill and make the final determination, probably on Wednesday. The bill is most likely dead. I spoke in favor of the bill, but noted that it needs some language clarifying that it is not meant to interfere with common law and case law on self-defense that currently exist in the Commonwealth. I was asked by the subcommittee chair, Senator Reynolds, if I knew of any cases where someone had been sued civilly or even convicted of a crime after defending themselves in their home. I said I personally knew of no such cases here in Virginia. As I have said before, this is a tough sell because Virginia's self-defense laws are already pretty darned good as is, much better than some other states. We are a stand-your-ground-wherever-you-may-be state.
Senator Deed's bill that would make someone convicted of having a firearm on K-12 school property a *violent* felony was recommended to be passed by the Senate Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee. I spoke agains the bill explaining that making someone a violent felon for an accidental transgression on K-12 school property while armed was a really bad idea. (If you have a CHP, you can have a gun on you concealed in your vehicle and a there few other exceptions). We will probably have to kill this bill in the House or on the Senate Floor.
NEW GUN BILL INTRODUCED
SB 1395 - Senator McEachin - makes it illegal to be under the influence while carrying a loaded firearm. It specifically exempts law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, or military personnel in the performance of their duties. Anybody know of a police officer, security guard, or military personnel who must get drunk in the performance of their duties? - VCDL Strongly Opposes this bill.