January 20, 2020 will be the VCDL‘s Lobby Day, and thousands opposed to the massive gun people control push by the Democrats are expected to turn out. Governor Coonman is so fearful of his constituents that he has declared a state of emergency and will make Capitol Square a “gun-free” zone. He’s doing that citing some “threats” which look suspiciously like false flags designed to give him that very excuse. But I’m cynical. Or realistic; you decide.
Capitol Square will be fenced off, with a single pedestrian entrance where everyone will have to go through a metal detector. Those who wish to enter for the purpose of exercising their First Amendment right to petition the government must surrender their Second Amendment rights.
It may be a little late to coordinate this, but I have a suggestion.
First, the rally will happen. It’s time for naysayers to be quiet; adults are talking.
VCDL has arranged for organizers for specific legislators. Attendees are already being asked to make contact with them. Good; do that. But those organizers should have sign-in sheets so they document exactly how many people are there to petition their legislator. Those sheets should be given to lobbyists who are actually entering the Capitol building to speak to legislators.
Those lobbyists are the only people who should go through the metal detector. They go in, wave their sign-in sheets, and tell legislators, “Look. I’m here representing these [insert count] people who oppose your unconstitutional proposals.”
All other attendees should refuse to enter Capitol Square, and simply surround the perimeter outside of the fence. Peacefully. Your presence will still be visible, making whatever point you wanted. And you’ll be making the additional point that you won’t be disarmed.
I would have preferred that this be a Virginian operation, with out-of-staters staying away. As is, the media will highlight non-Virginians to claim that VCDL had to import protestors because not enough real Virginians oppose these bills.
They have asked that people avoid a militant appearance, because for VCDL’s intent it’s bad optics. That’s good. I hope folks go along. Tactical gear, ARs and AKs, and scary militant slogans aren’t going to suddenly persuade the Democrat delegates, Democrat senators, and Democrat governor that, “Well, gosh. We were wrong; these are just peaceable, reasonable, nonviolent people who make an excellent point.” Militant appearance and behavior at a lobbying event reinforces their belief that mere citizens are too dangerous to be trusted with arms.
If I’d been planning this, I’d have set up the rally as a silent protest outside, with everyone dressed as neatly as possible in their everyday work attire, to drive home the real point that we are just ordinary citizens, not nutjobs.
And that would make the few actual nutjobs — and the inevitable false flag types — stand out so they could be disowned and dealt with properly.
I wish Virginia the best of luck on Monday. As is, they’re going to need it.
[Permission to republish this article is granted so long as it is not edited, and the author and The Zelman Partisans are credited.]
(More Tip Jar Options) |
“Adults talking”? Please spare us your condescending attitude. In particular the most outspoken critic of the rally, Matt Bracken, has a years long history of prescient views, and has made contributions to our nation going back to his service as a Navy Seal.
A difference of opinion on tactics doesn’t give you cause to speak down to him or others who have called this rally a potential trap.
By Tuesday we will know who is right, you or the naysayers.
Thank you for making my point. The rally IS happening. Continuing to whine about that fact is childish. Adults are now attempting to discuss how best to safely conduct the inevitable rally.
correct. How to best handle it is the question now. I like the suggestions. That would counter most of what is obviously planned by the bad people.
Well dont you know, we all are just ” GOLEM ” to them… So the way they talk and act is because they also think they are our betters…
Surround richmond just my .02. Dont be where they DEMAND you to be. Screw them unless your their slave.
Please do note that there will be PLENTY of guns at the gathering. Surely you do not think that the ban applies to the Only Ones???
Will the security detail of these *preshus* government workers turn in their guns?
It’s never too late to apply your excellent strategy to other states in the queue for this kind of tyrannical oppression, Carl. Like you, I wish it could have come to the fore sooner to have been proposed to VCDL leadership for serious consideration. It has real merit.
By the way, Matt Bracken is about as beyond reproach as a patriot can be, as far as I’m concerned. Few folks with his experience, character, and commitment have stayed this (often thankless) course for years. I’m grateful to him, and I’m sure many others are, too.
I don’t really understand why people keep mentioning Bracken; I never mentioned him. In fact, if I had to point to any one specific critic who prompted me to write, it wouldn’t have been him. There’s another person who has been throwing plenty of crude insults about the rally and attendees.
To the extent that I had an opinion on having the rally at all this year, I thought lobbying a majority rabidly anti-rights House, rabidly anti-rights Senate, and rabidly anti-rights Governor was pointless. But a rally will happen. Even if the VCDL tried to call it off, people would show up, and they wouldn’t be the best face of honest gun owners. VCDL now has to make the best of a tough situation.
Well said, Carl.
As a member of VCDL I hope the leadership takes your advice.
For every person lobbying for VCDL there will be 100,000 of us grey men waiting to take up arms if Coon Man fooks with our brothers in arms . How will they ever find the grey men ? Coon Man might find out he shouldn’t poke a Honey Badger with his little Soros supplied stick .