A Publication of Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.

Summer 2010

CONGRATULATIONS, VCDL MEMBERS! YOU DID IT!

By Philip Van Cleave, VCDL President You will probably want to keep this article, as it describes the new Virginia gun laws GOING INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1. There are some items here you most likely are unaware of, so I highly recommend that you read this article in its entirety. Areas affected by the new laws: RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS THAT SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Starting July 1, CHP holders can carry concealed in restaurants and clubs that serve alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption, however the CHP holder cannot drink alcoholic beverages while carrying concealed. (Police officers, on and off duty, as well as Commonwealth Attorneys, can carry concealed and drink responsibly.) There is no requirement to notify anyone you are carrying concealed in a restaurant or club, and VCDL recommends taking a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The restaurant or club has the right to notify customers that guns are prohibited, or that a particular type of carry is prohibited (such as "no open carry" or, perhaps, "open carry only"). Regardless, if there is no obvious signage posted or you are not told verbally that guns are not allowed, you are NOT required to ask permission and I suggest that you don't - just go about your business. Open carry remains unchanged by the new law and allows for responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. MOTOR VEHICLES AND VESSELS For those who do not have a CHP, starting July 1 they can have a loaded handgun with them concealed in their motor vehicle or vessel as long as the handgun is secured in a container (such as a zipped bag, closed gun case, closed briefcase, etc.) or in a compartment (glovebox, console, etc.). NOTE: Remember that if you don't have a CHP, you generally can't carry a handgun in such a closed container outside of your motor vehicle or vessel. K-12 SCHOOLS The new vehicle carry law has an additional benefit for both CHP holders and non-CHP holders. Under the law effective July 1, a loaded handgun can be kept in a secured container or a secured compartment in a motor vehicle while on K-12 school property. The new vehicle carry law (18.2-308 B 10) is in the list of general exemptions from the concealed weapon law. Police officers and Commonwealth Attorneys, for example, are listed in 18.2-308 B. The key is that in the third paragraph of the K-12 school weapons law (18.2-308.1) it says that anyone exempted from the concealed weapon law is also exempted

from the ban on guns on K-12 school property. Thus, as long as your loaded handgun is in a secured compartment or a secured container before you pull onto school property and remains secured in that compartment or container UNTIL after you pull off the property, you are legal. In case those of you with CHPs are wondering why you can't carry outside of your vehicle on K-12 school property, that's because the CHP wording (18.2-308 D) is NOT in the list of exemptions to the concealed weapon law (18.2-308 B and 18.2-308 C). Instead, you can think of your CHP as a "get out of jail free" card. You are not actually exempted from the concealed carry law, but you have an affirmative defense against any prosecution. I think we should be working to exempt CHP holders from the concealed weapon law. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS IN COURTHOUSES A few County Boards of Supervisors, such as in Sussex, currently hold their public meetings in a courthouse at night, which thus prohibits the otherwise lawful carry of self-defense handguns. During the session a not-to-be-named Delegate told me about a bill that was totally unrelated to firearms that would help with that problem. Upon reading the bill I smiled and kept a watch on it from a distance. The new law, effective July 1, prohibits public bodies from meeting anywhere that photographing, filming, recording, or otherwise reproducing any portion of an open meeting is not allowed That may make several public bodies move their meetings from courthouses to a more gun-friendly environment. CHP RENEWALS Starting July 1 you can renew your CHP through the mail. Send your notarized application, a photocopy of your current CHP, and the fee, and your application
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Upcoming Public Meeting Dates 08/05/10 - UNO's Restaurant 13933 Hull Street Road Midlothian VA 09/16/10 - Mason District Govermental Center - Large Conference Room 10/20/10 - Mason District Govermental Center - Large Conference Room 7:30-8:00Informal gathering 8:00-9:30Meeting 9:30-??? - Local restaurant visit

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS FOR DINNER ON JULY 1ST

As concealed carry in restaurants will be legal as of July 1st, VCDL is planning celebratory dinners throughout the state. Consider joining your friends, neighbors, and fellow gun owners for a dinner. Carry (open or concealed), or dont, as you choose.
Here's what we have currently: Norfolk, Mona Lisa Pizza, 9583 Shore Drive (East Beach Shoppes) http://www.monalisaspizzaov.com/ Richmond O'Charley's, 9927 Mayland Drive (intersection with Gaskins Road), Yorktown Country Grill, 1215-a George Washington Hwy. Rt.17 http://countygrill.net/ Reston Champps Americana 11694 Plaza America Drive Charlottesville Topeka's (Pantops), 1791 Richmond Road Woodbridge Uncle Julio's, 14900 Potomac Town Place, Suite 150 If your area isn't listed, line us up with a restaurant there. If you plan to attend, let Philip Van Cleave know. The best way is an email to president@vcdl.org, with a location and the total number of people in the subject line, and your full name in the message body, thus: SUBJ: Charlottesville3 BODY: Freddy Gunowner

The Presidents Pen

All Death-Star Subcommittees Need To Go
First let me say that we had an excellent year in the General Assembly the restaurant ban repeal will be history come July 1, with the caveat that you cant drink while carrying concealed. NonCHP holders will be able to legally secure their loaded handguns in a glove box, console, or container within their vehicle. Non-CHP holders and CHP holders will be able to leave their loaded handguns secured in a compartment or container in their motor vehicle while on K-12 school property. CHP holders will be able to renew through the mail and Circuit Court Clerks will be able to sign off on CHPs as long as there arent any problems with the application. But for all that success, we lost a load of important pro-gun bills to a Senate Courts of Justice subcommittee that was created at the last minute for the sole purpose of killing pro-gun bills. That subcommittee violated the Senates own rules by killing our gun bills without a hearing by the full committee. So why isnt the committee chairman (Senator Marsh) being reprimanded? Because the Senate Leadership, led by antigunners, would be the ones to do so. Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse! The House of Delegates has similar subcommittees, but at least the House has a rule that allows killing bills without a full committee hearing. VCDLs position is that both Houses need to get rid of their death-star subcommittees. We do NOT like the idea that only three people can kill a bill. Thats just too much power for three people to have. While VCDL has benefited from the House having such subcommittees, as thats where most anti-gun bills end up

dying, we could kill those bills in full committee just as easily. VCDL has never been in favor of such subcommittees, regardless of whose ox is getting gored. A lot of the legislative successes we had this year are due to having large Lobby Day attendance. In order to get rid of death-star subcommittees in both the House and the Senate in 2011, we need to beat Lobby Day 2010s record turnout. Mark your calendars NOW for January 17th, 2011 and give your boss 6 months notice that you want that day off.

LAW CHANGES
Continued from pg 1

will be processed and your new CHP mailed to you. You might want to check with your local Circuit Court Clerk's office in case they want something else included - Fairfax is notorious for that. REMEMBER: renew between 90 and 180 days before expiration of your old permit so your new permit will become effective on the day your old one expires. If you renew when there are less than 90 days left on your old CHP, the new permit will become effective whenever it is issued, possibly causing you to lose weeks that you had previously paid for on your old permit. CHP ISSUANCE If the judge agrees, Circuit Court Clerks will now be able to issue permits as long as there are no problems with the application or the background check, etc. This should speed up getting permits from many localities. Judges will be happy to shift the CHP issuance to the Circuit Court Clerks. Clerks like the idea as they can serve the public more efficiently.

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Renewal season is coming. Save VCDL money by making sure your address is current and renewing promptly. You'll get the fastest turn around renewing on-line and if you are really concerned about your card "never" expiring, renew now.

GUN SHOW NEWS

Between January 2 and April 25, 2010, VCDL operated recruiting and information tables at 27 gun shows and events throughout the state. Volunteers signed up 228 members to VCDL and added 1003 people to the VA-ALERT email list. The recruiting tables also collected $459.00 for the VCDL Political Action Committee and $10,963.75 for VCDL. As an all-volunteer organization, VCDL depends on its members to donate their time at our area events, where we recruit new activists and keep gun owners informed. The following volunteers came forward to work for the defense of YOUR rights at these events: Al Bougard, Al Shank, Al Steed Jr. and family, Alan Konkle, Alek Paulson, Audrey Muehleisen, Bill Belsches, Bill Brown, Billy Donald, Bob Kanary, Bob Mortensen, Bob Sadtler, Brent Meyer, Brian & Debra Weidman, Brian Fowler, Brian Gilbert and his son Brandon, Brian Weidman, Bruce Garris, Bruce Jackson, Bruce Powers, Butch Nunley, Carey Lamb, Carl Shuler, Cary Nunnally, Chris Sturgill, Chuck Williamson, Clairia Jackson, Craig Smith, Dan Torres, Danny Paulson, Dave Knight, David Crosby, David Park, Dean Ashman, Deborah Jane Anderson, Dennis O'Connor, Dexter Guptill, Dianne Franklin, Don Beheler, Don Childs, Don Kemp, Dorian Smith, Dorn Peterson, Doug & Linda Peterson, Doug Dunham, Doug Kelsey, Dr. Jerry Coffey, Ed Burton, Edward N. Martin Jr., Emy Conrad, Eugene Swilley, Gary & Irina Moeller, Gary Mann, Gary Manning, Gene Byer, George Lawson, Glen Foster, Greg Bellamy, Harold Dobbs, Hugh Cain, Hugh Conway, Ingo Haas, Jack Dougherty, James Kiser, Jeff

Fuller, Jeff Morrow, Jennifer & James Disharoon, Jerry Brunner, Jessie White, Jim Collins, Jim Dacey, Joe Eiermann, Joe Seiffert, John Everette, John Fenter, John Greene, Josh Kellogg, Kathy Smith, Keith & Tori Dingwall, Ken Hall, Ken Laughman, Ken Modica, Kim Barton, Larry Korn, Leonard Harris, Les Puckett, Leslie McGerald, Lou Centorcelli, Margaret Marcus, Mark Anderson, Mark Jones, Mark Spruill, Max Padon, Merlin Billings, Michael Durig, Mike & April Hill, Mike Bell, Mike Donatello, Mike Irvin, Mike Piper, Mike Vance, Monty Oakes, Neal Jefferis, Paul Gwyther, Paul Henick, Pete Clark, Philip Van Cleave, Randolph Hannah, Ray Dinger, Richard McGerald, Rick Coss, Robert Martin, Robert McRae, Robert Price, Ron & Jean Hyson, Ron Lilly, Ron Pearson, Ron Thayer, Roscoe Primrose, Russell Krull, Sam Childress, Sam Work, Sandy Ferris, Scott Byer, Scott Elston, Shannon & Philip Honaker, Shawn Sloan & Jennifer Johnson, Sherrill Smith, Steve Layman, Steve Shifflett, Terrell Prude' Jr., Thomas Wagner, Tim McElhannon, Todd Locke, Tom Pietras, Vin Miragliotta, Wanda Richards, Wayne Sarapata, and William Jennings We look forward to have you join us for a shift. No experience is necessary; we will pair you with a veteran volunteer. VCDL depends on you, our members, to help with gun shows, activities, and events. As an all-volunteer organization, we can't do anything without you. To help at any event, contact the appropriate coordinator or call (804) 639-0600 to be put in touch with one. Members without email should call Al Steed, Jr., at (543) 890-0970 and leave your name and number. UPCOMING GUN SHOWS ================== RICHMOND http://www.cegunshows.com, July 10-11 SALEM http://www.cegunshows.com, July 17-18 CHANTILLY http://www.cegunshows.com, July 30August 1 DALE CITY http://www.olddominionshows.com, August 7-8

RICHMOND http://www.showmasters.us, August 7-8 ROANOKE http://www.showmasters.us, August 2122 FISHERSVILLE http://www.showmasters.us, August 2829 RICHMOND http://www.guns-knives.com, August 28-29

COORDINATORS ============ Central Virginia Audrey Muehleisen and Paul Henick CentralVAgunshows@vcdl.org Fredericksburg Robert Herron Fredericksburggunshows@vcdl.org Northern Virginia Danny Paulson, Sam Childress and Barry Graves NOVAgunshows@vcdl.org Shenandoah Valley Bob Schmidt and Mike Piper Shenandoahgunshows@vcdl.org Southwest Virginia Al Steed, Jr. SWVAgunshows@vcdl.org Tidewater/Norfolk Ed Burton Norfolkgunshows@vcdl.org Tidewater/Peninsula Ron Lilly HamptonRoadsgunshows@vcdl.org Tidewater/Virginia Beach Ron & Jean Hyson VBgunshows@vcdl.org State Gun Show Coordinator David Park gunshowcoord@vcdl.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

HOW A VIRGINIA BILL BECOMES LAW

Philip Van Cleave recently used an intriguing analogy to describe a bill becoming law in Virginia its like a baby turtle racing from land to the ocean across the beach. With every step, death looms in the form of birds and other animals trying to eat the turtles during that race. Only a small number actually make it to the ocean. So is it with a bill in the General Assembly. The bills are voted on at least four times, usually six times and can be voted on much more than that. With every vote, the bill can be killed. That is a GOOD thing, as we don't want too many laws and we only want laws that have been well vetted. Executive Member Bob Sadtler provides this description: Prefiling - A Senator or Delegate sponsors a bill, frequently at the behest of a constituent Drafting - Legislative Services crafts the language Introduction - Senator/Delegate introduces bill to their respective chamber Chamber Leader directs to subcommittee - Note: The Speaker of the House of is the most powerful Speaker in the nation, controlling every aspect of committee assignments, from who sits on which committee from BOTH parties, to which subcommittee handles which bill. He also has no obligation to assign a bill at all. If no committee sees a bill, it dies. This is called a Pocket Veto Subcommittee - Debates, amends, and votes on whether or not to report a bill to the full committee. On a vote, IF IT TIES, IT DIES. This is the mantra throughout the legislative process Full Committee - Repeats the process of the subcommittee. If the measure is passed, then it goes to the House floor First Reading - Bill is printed in the legislative calendar or read by the Chamber Clerk Second Reading - Bill is debated and possibly amended Third Reading - Final vote is taken Crossover Day - The entire process is repeated in the other house. If the bill is passed in it's original wording (good luck with THAT one), it goes to the Governor's desk. If the bill is amended, it must go back to the original house for approval Conference Committee - Three members of each chamber meet to resolve the differences if one or both Houses insist on their version of a bill that has passed each House with different wording. The Conference Committee can kill the bill or send it with their recommended compromise for a straight up or down vote by both Houses. Either House can vote down the bill and kill it Compromise - The Governor can make suggestions or changes and the bill returns to both houses for approval with an up or down vote Governor's Action choices: 1) Sign the Bill so it becomes law with the Governor's endorsement, or 2) Amend and return the bill to the General Assembly for a vote or 3) Veto the bill. BOTH Houses must have a two-thirds majority to override the veto or 4) Do nothing. The bill will become law WITHOUT the Governor's endorsement Enactment - Bills become law on July 1st, unless otherwise specified in the bill.

VERIZON VELOCITY SUPPORTS VCDL

If you plan to order new Verizon products, please keep this offer in mind. If you order a new Verizon product from the list below, you may earn a donation for VCDL. For example, if you order a new Verizon FiOS Triple Freedom with TV, Internet, Phone, and Long Distance, we earn $65. You must place your new Verizon order by calling 1-888-695-5299, the special Verizon Velocity sales number. Orders are taken Monday through Friday, 10 am to 9 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 6 pm. You must provide this five-digit tracking code when you place your order: 12639 The qualifying products (Remember, this must be a new order) are: Verizon FiOS Internet - $25 Verizon High Speed Internet 3.0 Mbps $25 DIRECTV Service - $20 Verizon FiOS TV - $20 Verizon Freedom Calling Plans - $10 Verizon Long Distance - $10 Additional Line - $10 For additional information, visit verizon.com/velocity. Donations are paid on new product orders that remain with Verizon a minimum of 30 days from the order date. Changes or upgrades within product categories does not constitute a new sale. Specifically, moving from one Verizon Freedom plan to another, from one Verizon long-distance plan to another, from 68Kbps to 3.0Mbps Verizon High Speed Internet or from 5/2 Mbps to 15/2Mbps Verizon FiOS do not constitute a new sale. A term commitment may be required.

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

UNDERSTANDING THE SECOND AMENDMENT

By Bill Mashburn, Sr. With several Supreme Court decisions now in the mill, it is important to have a good understanding of the second amendment. First we must know the Founding Fathers of the new American Republic had all been rigorously educated in the classical European tradition and were not just backwoodsmen with a love of guns. They had studied the writings of great philosophers like Nicollo Machiavelli, Cesara Beccaria, Hubo Grotus, and Charles Montesquieu, who, without exception declared a democracy could not exist without the right of the citizens to have and bear arms. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. This is the second amendment. The wording has caused confusion in the interpretation. The meaning of such words as militia, keep arms, bear arms, and well regulated was the meaning of these words as they were used in the English common law of the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries not as they are used to day. They cannot be interpreted safely except by reference to this common law and to the British institutions as they were when the instrument was framed and adopted. Some believe because the word militia is used, this should apply only to the National Guard. However, guardsmen are prohibited by law from keeping their own military arms. Nationwide there are more than 20,000 gun-control laws that regulate everything from who can own a gun and how it can be purchased to where one can possess or use it. In one of his writings Beccaris states, The laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm those only who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Can it be supposed that those who have the courage to violate the most sacred laws of humanity, will respect the less

important and arbitrary ones. Wellintended laws often disarm potential victims. A report in the Wall Street Journal states, Crimes are stopped with guns about five times as frequently as crimes committed with guns. To be disarmed by ones government is tantamount to being enslaved by it. When Romania fell to the communist after WW 11, citizens were first asked to register their guns. Then they were asked to bring them to the police station when dignitaries were visiting. Then they were told to leave them there. They lived for the next forty years under a dictatorship that deprived them of all rights. The FBI has recently declared Detroit Americas most dangerous city. It also reports that over 80% of children there are born to single parents. Other reports show that violence by young men has increased as male authority figures such as fathers- have vanished from their lives. This combined with a constant barrage of murders shown on TV programs has caused our society to seek the lowest level. Yet we still blame guns for all crime. They are the weapon of choice for criminal minds at least in this country. In the Middle East it appears to be suicide bombs. Guns are also the weapon of choice for those who wish to provide the first line of protection for themselves and family. The Supreme Court has ruled more than once that the police have no legal responsibility to protect individuals who are in immediate danger from violent individuals even though they risk their lives to try. Those who want a gun-free culture are not interested in whether their desire is constitutional. They just want guns removed. Guns may not make us feel particularly safe, but a strong Constitution does.
Bill Mashburn, Sr. Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech, Mechanical Engineering Used by permission

A PATRON SAINT FOR MARKSMEN

St. Gabriel Possenti (1838-1862) Feast day: February 27 By Thomas J. Craughwell

Saints who were crack shots are extremely rare. Yet it appears that St. Gabriel Possenti was not only a man of great faith and deep piety, but also quite a marksman. He was born in Assisi and christened Francescothe Italian form of Francis. Francesco was the eleventh of thirteen children; his father was a government official in the Papal States, a swathe of territory in central Italy that in the 19th century was ruled by the pope. Francescos mother died when he was four, but in spite of this early tragedy all accounts agree that he grew up to be a cheerful, friendly kid. He had lots of friends among the boys in his town, lots of girls found him attractive, and the teachers at the local school regarded him as a bright, hardworking student. Francesco was devout, but not excessively so. And somewhere along the line he learned how to shoot. When he was 18 Francesco Possenti entered the seminary of the Passionist Fathers at Isola di Gran Sasso with the intention of becoming a priest. He took as his name in religion Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, which seems at odds with his upbeat personality. It was while he was a seminarian that Gabriel displayed his gifts as a marksman. In 1860 a ragtag band of soldiers from the army of Giuseppe Garibaldi stormed into town, pillaged some houses, set fire to a few others, and terrorized the inhabitants. With the permission of his superior, Gabriel went out to confront the raiders. In the central piazza he found a young woman fighting a soldier who was trying to drag her away. Gabriel stepped in, and during the struggle the seminarian managed to get the pistol from the soldiers
5

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

holster. Raising the revolver Gabriel ordered the would-be rapist to back away. Meanwhile, more of the raiders arrived in the piazza. They hooted at the sight of one of their own pinned down by a boyish-looking 22-year-old in a cassock. Then, just as they began to close in on Gabriel, a small lizard darted across the square. Taking aim Gabriel shot the lizard right through the head. The raiders fell silent. Gabriel ordered them to drop their weapons, and then at gunpoint he marched them out of town. This is the sole dramatic incident in the life of St. Gabriel Possenti. Once the raiders were gone he returned to the seminary where he continued with his studies. Sadly, his dream of becoming a priest went unfulfilled: in 1862 Gabriel contracted tuberculosis and died. He was only 24 years old. This story has become well-known thanks to The St. Gabriel Possenti Society of Arlington, Virginia, whose members promote St. Gabriel as the patron of marksmen, self-defense, and the right of private citizens to own firearms. The society has petitioned the Vatican for a formal declaration to that effect, but such official designations are rare. Which saint gets to be patron of what cause has always been a grassroots movement. From time to time the popes have officially appointed a patron saint, but by and large associating a particular saint with a particular need is a manifestation of popular devotion among the Catholic faithful. In other words, St. Gabriel Possenti is already the patron of marksmen and gunowners.
Thomas J. Craughwell is the author of Saints for Every Occasion (Stampley Enterprises, 2001) and Patron Saints Catholic Cardlinks (Our Sunday Visitor, 2004). 2010; used with permission

THE GUN IS CIVILIZATION

By Marko Kloos

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, thats it. In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that wed be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the muggers potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiatit has no validity when most of a muggers potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and thats the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then theres the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that other-

wise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones dont constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon thats as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldnt work as well as a force equalizer if it wasnt both lethal and easily employable. When I carry a gun, I dont do so because I am looking for a fight, but because Im looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I dont carry it because Im afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesnt limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equationand thats why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
2007, Marko Kloos, used by permission Editors note: This piece circulated around the Internet for quite some time, attributed to Maj L. Caudill, USMC (Ret). Blogger Marko Kloos claims to be the original author; he published the article in March, 2007. Many of the internet versions omit the word gay in the third paragraph. It is published here in the original.

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to George Washington, 19 June 1796)

"There exists a law, not written down anywhere, but in our hearts; a law which comes to us not by training or custom or reading; a law which has come to us not from theory but from practice; not by instruction but by natural intuition: I refer to the law which lays it down that, if our lives are endangered by plots or violence or armed robbers or enemies, any and every method of protecting ourselves is morally right."
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC-43 BC) Roman Orator and Statesman at the trial of T. Annius Milo in 52 BC

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

National Training Week

By Jeff Knox

National Training Week, July 4 through 11, is set aside in conjunction with Independence Day to remind people that liberty and independence are closely tied to responsible possession of firearms. Every American owes a debt of thanks to our forebears who saw fit to enshrine the right to arms in our Constitution and to use that right to defend our liberty for the past 234 years. National Training Week is an opportunity to exercise that right and to share it with others. There are endless reasons for getting involved: Manufacturers, resellers, and range operators can grow their businesses by promoting this event and then making firearms, ammunition, training, and shooting facilities more affordable and accessible leading up to and during this special week. It is an ideal time for ranges to host the National Shooting Sports Foundations First Shots program and for clubs to invite the public to Open House days. Firearms enthusiasts get an excuse to burn through some of that ammo thats been stacking up and dust off those neglected guns. Its also a great time to ask a friend and coworkers to go shooting and introduce them to the fun and history of firearms. National Training Week also happens to fall just a few weeks before the deadline for voter registration leading into the all-important November elections. This makes it a perfect time to try and make sure that every shooter and gun owner is registered to vote and is reminded of their duty to cast a ballot. The site www.GunVoter.org is prepared to assist in that effort with voter registration information and links as well as information on the candidates and races around the country. National Training Week is a grass roots idea initiated by Alan Korwin of Bloomfield Press, the people who print the gun law books. It has been endorsed by most national gun rights organizations including The Firearms Coalition, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Gun Owners of America, and the Second Amendment Foundation along with dozens of state and local organizations and clubs. Talk to your favorite groups about participating! The Appleseed Project will be hosting at least 15 of their tremendous shooting/training/history events around the country over the two weekends of National Training Week so theres likely to be one near you.
(NOTE: Will change 1 July 2010)

The key to making National Training Week a success is getting the word out and the key to getting the word out is you. Go to the NTW page of the Bloomfield Press website at www.gunlaws.com/NationalTrainingWeek to download fliers to post in store windows and on club bulletin boards. Copy this article and send it to everyone you know. Talk with gun shops about planning discounts and specials. Talk to ranges about offering free gun rentals and having factory rep days during the week. Be sure to talk to your club about using National Training Week as a recruiting tool to bring in new members and to showcase facilities for the community. And of course, when you get something lined up, send an announcement to the local media to generate publicity. What a great way to celebrate Independence Day week at the range with family and friends exercising your rights. To preserve the hard-won liberty entrusted to us we must remember our past as we look to the future and unite to ensure that the very best among us are in the lead in these troubled times. National Training Week gives us an opportunity to forge bonds between the past and the present and build bridges to the future. Take your grandkids shooting and save the republic during National Training Week!
Permission to reprint or post this article in its entirety is hereby granted provided this credit is included. Text is available at www.FirearmsCoalition.org. To receive The Firearms Coalitions bi-monthly newsletter, The Knox Hard Corps Report, write to PO Box 3313, Manassas, VA 20108. Copyright 2010 Neal Knox Associates The most trusted name in the rights movement.

For a handy gun law reference card, cut along the dotted lines on the right hand side of this page.
KNOW THE LAW, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS Open carry is legal in Virginia in most places with or without a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP). Concealed carry requires, with a few exceptions, a CHP, However, other restrictions may apply. Places where carrying is prohibited -Federal Property (concealed w/CHP and hunting exempted in National Forests) -Courthouses ( 18.2-283.1) -General Assembly Building & Property (open or concealed carry OK for CHP holders only) (JRC rule) -Virginia Commonwealth University (8VAC90-10-50) -George Mason University (8VAC35 -60-20) -Detention Facilities ( 15.2-915) -Places of Worship during a service without good and sufficient reason( 18.2-283) -Restaurants & clubs serving alcohol for on -premises consumption (concealed carry prohibited, open carry NOT prohibited; owners and employees exempted)( 18.2-308.J3) -Air carrier airport terminal buildings ( 18.2-287.01) -K-12 school property (unless unloaded, in a closed container, and in a motor vehicle) (18.2-308.1) -K-12 school buses ( 18.2-308.1) -Property used exclusively for K-12 school-sponsored functions ( 18.2-308.1) -Private property when prohibited by owner ( 18.2 308.O) For more information Virginia State Police Firearms & Concealed Handguns page: www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

BOOK REVIEW To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrants Face

Reviewed by Bill Mashburn

Robert Churchill has written a detailed, comprehensive history of the militia movement in the Unites States. Because of its detail, unless one is a militia history buff, it may best be read by skimming and highlighting important events and statements. Militia is defined as an organization that has a membership and conducts paramilitary training. On April 19, 1994, twenty-eight men met in the woods of northern Michigan. Alarmed by the events at Ruby Ridge and Waco and the use of paramilitary equipment in those events, these men

agreed to associate as the first brigade of the Northern Michigan Regional Militia. Norm Olson was elected their commander, and he laid some basic principles under which they would proceed. First, the militia would operate publicly. If they believed the government was a threat to their liberty, then it was their duty, as patriots and as men, to shake their guns in the tyrants face. Second, the militia would be open to men and women of principle regardless of race or faith. This was the first of hundreds of citizens militia formed around the nation in 1994and 1995.

the Revolution through the Bush administration and found that most followed the basic principles laid out by Norm Olson, Some were extremists like the Klu Klux Klan, and the Nazi, but these were rejected by the mainline militia. Even though they do have the assertion of a right to take up arms to prevent the exercise of unconstitutional power by the federal government, their main objectives are to protect three amendments to the constitution - the first, the right to free speech, the second, the right to bear arms, and the fourteenth, citizenship rights. With the advent of greatly expanded communication technologies, the militia groups throughout the country are well organized but rise and diminish with each new administration. Generally it rises with Democratic administrations and declines with Republican. When Bush was elected, groups declared our man is now in power and the militia went into submission until 9-11 of 2001. After that, anti-terrorism laws began to propagate that could affect individual freedoms and concerns were again raised. . Churchill concludes with no work or deed from ages past can in and of itself justify the recourse to violence in the present. For legitimacy of our acts, we must all seek judgment in a different realm. The book does not go into the present administration, but the steep increase in firearms and ammunition sales is a good indicator that the militia is reforming Bill Mashburn is Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech

Both events at Ruby Ridge and Waco were started with the violation of minor gun laws. Both were set up by undercover federal agents. Randy Weaver sold a sawed off shotgun to a BATF agent, and in attempt to arrest him, he retreated to his cabin on Ruby Ridge. Federal By Robert H. Churchill agents using paramilitary The University of Michigan Press equipment surrounded 370 pages $35.00 the cabin with snipers who eventually killed his wife and fourteen year old son. The tragedy at Waco had an identical beginning with agents The Constitution of Virginia trying to arrest David Koresh with a Article I, Section 13 That a well regulated militia, similar gun law violation. Seventy five people died in the fire resulting from the composed of the body of the peo- attack with armored vehicles.

ple, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed

It's a Right, not a Privilege!

This Right is guaranteed, not granted, by the Constitution!
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials." George Mason, June 16 1788
8

As Churchill explains, as he began to do research on the militia movement, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the explanations. He was struck by the lack of evidence behind the charge that racism had played a significant role in the emergence of the movement. The news media was more interested in reporting real or perceived extremist acts. Militiamen often expressed an identity that was firmly grounded in personal and professional accomplishments. Churchill reports that two small surveys found that militia members were significantly more likely than the general population to hold a bachelors degree. He follows the militia movements from

At least once every human should have to run for his life, to teach him that milk does not come from supermarkets, that safety does not come from policemen, that "news" is not something that happens to other people. - Robert A. Heinlein

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

ENJOY YOUR STAY

You open your eyes. You are looking up at the sky and see white clouds scattered across a pale blue background. Something's wrong...you shake your head and look down to see that you are bleeding as the effects of momentary shock wear off. Tilting your head around you see others lying in pools of blood; some crying in pain, others staring up at that same blue sky with lifeless expressions. Memories of recent events flood into your mind and you see the flare of gunfire and the panic of innocent victims running in terror. It was just a short time ago but now seems like a lifetime away as a cold feeling begins to creep under your skin. My son, my daughter where are they?! you scream out in your mind but it comes out as only a gasp barely audible in the ensuing chaos. You try desperately to stand but fall back down and roll slightly to one side and see every member of your family lying quietly next to you. A single tear rolls down your cheek and before you can even feel the first pangs of grief your mind goes blank and the cold feeling envelops you. What you didn't have time to think of before that last moment are the events that led up to your tragic death. You were at the local elementary school. You were there to pick up your kids with your wife. Walking across the parking lot you were greeted by a teacher and your children ran over to join you. As you exchanged idle conversation with the teacher and your wife, across from you, in the background, some maniac with intentions unknown pulled two semi automatic pistols from a backpack and began firing into a crowd of nearby students. Instinctively, you ducked to the ground trying to grab for your children. You reached for something just then...wait its not there...with sudden horror it dawns on you that you left your gun at home because this was a school and as everyone knows you aren't allowed to have guns there. So, like a good law abiding citizen you voluntarily disarmed to comply with the law and went off to pick up the kids. After all, what could happen? Immediately, after you reached for the

non-existent sidearm you began to see the crazed individual turn toward you and begin firing. The teacher was first to go and then as a smile widened across a disturbed face you felt two hammering blows hit you in the chest. Welcome to a gun free zone. I hope you enjoyed your stay.
Timothy Havener, Lock Haven, PA. Timothys blog is http://mentalbrushfire.blogspot.com/

position at a target while our weak arm is above, but in front of the muzzle (the weak hand is "spearing" across the bad guy's upper chest to keep him from getting close to our gun). A retention position is where the gun's grip is against your strong-side hip and the gun and hip are twisted back and way from the reach of the bad guy. At close range you can shoot plenty accurately from retention no sights needed. That's because the gun is "indexed" to the target from your hip. If you want to learn more about PFT, here is a link: www.pgpft.com EM Dave Vann discovered the wonders of PFT and has been lining up this training, which runs over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each year. SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR: FORCE-ON-FORCE At the group's request, Pat arranged that our Saturday training would be "forceon-force", where students would shoot, and be shot with, paintballs and AirSoft guns. The idea is that by actually shooting at each other with these guns that, at best, sting, and at worst, cause you to bleed a little, a person will get a very real education in how to survive and win in a real gun fight. You really want to avoid being shot and thus you will act more like you are in a real gun fight. Our training was at a K-12 school building that is scheduled for demolition in a few months. I learned some very important lessons from the five realistic shooting scenarios we did. I think many of you would like to hear what we did and learned from the various force-on-force shooting scenarios. I will share one lesson now and the other four in future issues. I will start by saying this: I survived two shootings, was killed twice, and severely hurt once.
Continued on page 10

PRACTICAL FIREARMS TRAINING REVIEW

By VCDL President Philip Van Cleave

This is the first in a five-part series where I share experiences from some extremely realistic firearms survival exercises that I was involved in. For the last five years, a dozen or so VCDL members have taken advanced tactical training at PFT (Practical Firearms Training) in West Virginia. Pat Goodale owns and runs the training school. The training is fantastic, and we have been able to practice things you can't do at an ordinary range. Even police ranges don't allow some of the training we have received. In fact our training over the last five years has far exceeded what the average police officer (with the exception of a SWAT team member) will ever get. We have practiced shooting at night (outside, nonetheless), shooting while laying on our side or back, shooting from inside a vehicle, shooting outside a vehicle using a vehicle for cover, clearing a house using a 360-degree live-fire shoot house, shooting while moving, shooting at moving targets, shooting at a target coming quickly straight at you, single-handed shooting (including racking the slide and clearing jams using only one hand), and much, much more. The range is a 360-degree hot range. Our classes are for advanced students and everyone's gun is loaded at all times. We draw from the holster and shoot at targets while standing elbow-to-elbow. In one case we actually shoot from a retention

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

PFT
Continued from page 9

talk with him at this point to try to defuse the tension. But in a minute or so the patient gets agitated again and goes back to the receptionist and demands again to see the doctor immediately. When the receptionist says, "no," the patient shoves everything on the receptionist's desk onto the floor, clearly more agitated and angry by the second. My eyes are now glued on the patient. In my left hand I am holding the magazine I was looking at when the patient came into the room. I was thinking I could throw in his face as a distraction if things get dangerous. Still, nothing he has done would justify any defensive actions on my part, much less brandishing or even unconcealing my handgun. To say I was uncomfortable would be an understatement.

That wouldn't work - he was younger, taller, and much stronger than me. I decided I only had one chance of survival with someone this dangerous and unpredictable. In a sudden sweeping motion I hit the inside forearm of his gun arm with the outside forearm of my left arm, causing his gun to be deflected off my chest and away from my body. At the same instant I was doing that, I drew the Glock paintball gun from its concealed holster with my other hand and fired three shots into his chest from a retention position. Realizing the shots were fatal, he dropped his gun and fell to the ground, never getting off a single shot. Even if he had fired, the shots wouldn't have hit me, as I had deflected his gun.

SCENARIO #1, A DOCTOR'S WAITING ROOM A room in the school was configured to be like a doctor's waiting room. There was a sofa, some chairs, a table, magazines, and a receptionist's desk. In this scenario, two students were armed with holstered and concealed paintball guns that looked like Glock 17s. (The two students also had masks that protected their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears) and the rest of the people in our group were "unarmed observers," who wore shooting glasses just in case they were to get hit by a stray shot. The scenario was repeated until each student had a chance to be armed with a paintball gun. However, the exact scenario changed each time it was run so no one could anticipate what was going to happen. It was possible a scenario might not require a gun be used at all. Our judgment was a key part of what was being tested. Some scenarios left us with two choices bad and worse. In the scenario where I was one of the two armed "good guys", a person played by one of the instructors ("the patient") came into the waiting room acting agitated. He went up to the receptionist and demanded to see the doctor now. The receptionist (played by another instructor) said the other people in the waiting room were ahead of him and to please sit down. The patient started to get more agitated and belligerent, saying he was "off his medicine," and I was watching him like a hawk. About this time, Pat Goodale, playing an "old codger," tells the patient in a loud and obnoxious voice, "Shut the [expletive deleted] up! I'm on the phone." I casually walk over to the old codger and in quiet voice tell him to please not agitate the patient as he seems to be unstable. Finally, the patient takes a seat on the sofa and picks up a magazine. One of the unarmed students attempts to make small
10

As I stood there coming to grips with what had just happened - that I had actually survived, I didn't even notice that my left hand The patient, now extremely agitated and was still clutching the magazine I had been belligerent, was pacing back in forth reading - now in a death grip. very near me. Afterwards I was told by several of the obIn an instant, before I even knew what servers that I briefly had an "Oh, crap!" look was happening, he said something (I on my face as that gun was put to my chest. don't know what it was now), pulled out They said that an instant later I deflected his a handgun and stuck it in my chest. gun, drew and fired three shots at an amazing speed. What seemed like eternity to me, I remember it clearly. Time slowed was only a second or so in real time. way, way down as my brain began to realize my grave predicament. While I It is said that action beats reaction. It surely had a powerful sinking feeling in my does, and it was proved twice in the exerstomach, I felt no panic. My focus cise: dropped down to, and locked on, that gun over my heart. My hearing disap- * The patient drew his gun and put it in my peared, as did everything else in the chest before I realized what was happening, room as my vision narrowed. much less before I could draw my gun and shoot him. Lucky for me that he didn't shoot It was too late to get away now - I was me immediately, but hesitated stuck. One squeeze of that trigger and it was over for me. * I deflected his gun and shot him so fast that he couldn't react quickly enough to stop In my mind I wondered if I could draw me. Had I hesitated in shooting him, my the Glock from under my concealing chances of surviving would have dropped shirt and shoot him before he realized off precipitously what happened and could shoot back.. I decided that such a thing would be too Future installments: risky - if the gun snagged on the cover garment, the element of surprise would * Death walks into a convenience store be gone forever and so would I. * Danger on steroids - clearing a room * The longest minutes of your life: waiting I asked myself if I could grab his gun for an armed invader to enter your room and wrestle it away from him. * Stopping an active shooter in a school

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

VCDL Membership Application

____ New ____ Renewal (Member # ___________)

Method of payment
____ Cash (Do not send cash through the mail.) ____ Check (Make checks payable to VCDL ) ____ Charge: ____ American Express
____ MasterCard ____ Visa

Name _____________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ City _____________________________________ State ____________ ZIP ____________

Credit Card Number: _____________________________ Expiration Date: _____________

Phone (______) _______________________ Email _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Name as it appears on the card _____________________________________________ Signature of Card Holder

____ 1 VCDL membership: ____ Donation to VCDL: ____ Donation to VCDL PAC Total Enclosed:

$ 25.00 $ ______

Mail to: $______ $ ______ VCDL Membership Processing Center P.O. Box 5123 Arlington, VA 22205

Contributions, gifts, or membership dues are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes.

DO YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT? Ed Levine, VCDL Member Discounts Manager, discounts@vcdl.org Many times in today's world we are asked the question. It comes in many forms including "Do you want to Super size?", "Buy one get ONE free", "For only a quarter more, would you like the larger popcorn?" It's about adding value. Your paid VCDL membership is no different. VCDL wants you to see even more value for having a paid membership. Not just the leadership team but the grassroots folks too. The guys and gals who work the gun shows, who write and call public officials, the folks who organize and set up events all of the people of the VCDL team and truly believe that being in the VCDL is valuable, worth even more than the $25.00 per year cost. So I thought to myself, how can we increase even further the value of being a member. Pass the restaurant ban bill? Ok.. we did that (July 1st).. but I mean real money in your pocket, so I started talking to the places I frequent. I explained what VCDL was and asked them if they would be willing to give a discount to VCDL members just for showing a VCDL membership card. The first such place I asked was The Safety Footwear & Apparel store in Sterling, VA. They said sure! Offer everyone 10% off! I told them how grateful I was and they immediately changed it to 15%. That's 15% off in person and on the web. These guys are "Premiere" 5.11 tactical clothing store. So figure this... if you buy 2 pair of pants at $49.99 each and take off 15%, you are saving $15.00 on that one purchase just by being a VCDL member. That $15.00 is 60% of the annual membership rate! That's VALUABLE!
Continued on back page 11

VCDL Member Don Masingo owns a stock car that is raced at Langley Speedway in Newport News. The Super Street Class is for street cars converted into race cars. Masingo is showcasing VCDL on the #10 car, driven by Ritchie German.

Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. P.O. Box 513, Newington, VA 22122 www.vcdl.org

VIRGINIA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE, INC. P.O. Box 513 Newington, VA 22122 (804) 639-0600 (703) 372-3285 (757) 271-3705 (540) 446-5783 www.vcdl.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League Officers Philip Van Cleave President president@vcdl.org Jim Snyder Vice President vp@vcdl.org Dennis OConnor Secretary Secretary@vcdl.org Collin ONeill Treasurer treasurer@vcdl.org Virginia Citizens Defense League Board of Directors
Al Steed, Jr John Fenter Dennis OConnor Bruce Jackson Dale Welch Jim Snyder Philip Van Cleave al@vcdl.org fenter@vcdl.org Dennis@vcdl.org jackson@vcdl.org dale@vcdl.org jim@vcdl.org philip@vcdl.org

DISCOUNTS
Continued from page 11

The discount list continues to grow. It is too big to list everyone here, and that's a good thing! Here is the thing... use the list and save money, or use the list and help us grow it by talking to the people who own places you frequent. Send them to the discount page and ask if they want to be on it. As we grow the list, we you will save even more money. Hopefully, we will grow the paid membership base by adding even more value to being a paid member. The members discount list can be seen by going to the VCDL home page. Scroll down the right side of the page and click on "Member Discounts". I ask again.. Do you want fries with that?

The Premier Firearms-Rights and Pro-Liberty Organization in Virginia

All Directors and Officers: leadership@vcdl.org Please feel free to contact any of the Officers or Directors should you have any questions or would like to volunteer your services in VCDL.

VIRGINIA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE PO BOX 513 NEWINGTON VA 22122

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PAID
PERMIT NO. 513 MERRIFIELD, VA