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1.  Yesterday's Portsmouth protest had to first overcome gun ban in City Hall
2.  VCDL members-only meeting in Roanoke January 26th
3.  Chatham Star Tribune continues to publish permit holder information for Pittsylvania County

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1.  Yesterday's Portsmouth protest had to first overcome gun ban in City Hall
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Yesterday 24 VCDL members showed up at the Portsmouth City Hall to support VCDL urging the Mayor to drop his membership in the disgraceful Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) - a front for generic gun control run by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The first problem we had was a requirement that you sign in and show photo ID.  Board member John Fenter is working to get that fixed.  Under the Freedom of Information Act they cannot turn someone away from a public meeting because they didn't bring any ID.

John and I went up to the City Hall chambers to work that issue, only to be told by a police officer that guns were not allowed in City Hall chambers!

WHAT?!?!?!!  My reaction was to break into laughter and to tell John that this would be one heluva law suit.  We explained 15.2-915 to the officer.

The officer, to his credit, realized that perhaps he had best check this out.  He told the other officers to just wait a minute and not turn away any armed citizens.

Upon checking with the City Attorney, the officer returned in a couple of minutes and sincerely apologized for his error and he said we were more than welcome to enter the chambers.

Dennis O'Connor was also involved and approached Sheriff Watson on the issue and filed this report:

"Apparently, no one had ever carried firearms to a Portsmouth city council meeting before, because the security and police seemed not to know how to handle it, and at one point a city officer was attempting to deny us entrance.  This was resolved by the city attorney, but thankfully, Portsmouth Sheriff Watson was also on site and was very aggressive about ensuring no one's rights were infringed. He was a shining example of a professional law officer who was well versed in both the law and the constitution, even making making numerours pro-second amendment statements throughout.

He stated that as an elected constitutional officer, he would not allow anyone's right to bear arms to be violated.  Sheriff Watson related to me that when someone initially approached him, exitedly exclaiming that people were coming in who had guns, he simply replied 'so do I.'

Sheriff Watson make a point of giving me his personal cell phone number, saying if any of our group were excluded or harassed in any manner for carry of firearms to call him immediately and would intervene and correct the problem."

Thank you, Sheriff!

We had no further issues with the police or the Sheriff's deputies and we thank them for their professional handing of the event.

Once inside 3 of us spoke, asking the Mayor to resign from MAIG.

The Mayor did not comment, nor did anyone from City Council, but I'm sure Council, and perhaps the Mayor, didn't realize until last night the implications of the Mayor being a part of MAIG.

As far as Portsmouth's illegal gun ban on their lakes and surrounding properties, Ken Richards got this email from the City today after contacting them about that ordinance:

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Mr. Richards,

Thank you for bringing this concern to the members of the Portsmouth City Council's attention.

It is the intention of the City Council to consider repealing the referenced ordinance at it's November 24th Meeting.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Portsmouth City Council.

Thank you, Thank you for bringing this concern to the members of the Portsmouth City Council's attention.

It is the intention of the City Council to consider repealing the referenced ordinance at it's November 24th Meeting.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Portsmouth City Council.

Thank you,
Debra White
City Clerk

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2.  VCDL members-only meeting in Roanoke January 26th
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SW Virginia VCDL is planning a super meeting at 7 PM on Tuesday, January 26th at a small neighborhood restaurant in SALEM.

The restaurant will be open ONLY to VCDL members for this meeting.

We need advance reservations from our members so we can get the price for the meals quoted. We expect the meals to be around $12-$14.00 each, cooked especially for our meeting.

Please reply ASAP so we can get the details worked out.   We hope to have at least one political speaker to address our group.

RSVP to Board member Al Steel Jr. if you are coming:

al@vcdl.org

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3.  Chatham Star Tribune continues to publish permit holder information for Pittslyvania County
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James Brooks sends me a photo each month of the current issue of the Chatham Star Tribune showing the recent recipients of concealed handgun permits in Pittsylvania County.

This will be plenty of ammunition to completely ban the ability of Circuit Courts to give out that information - thanks for that, Chatham Star Tribune!