Huffington Post seems to be having kittens over the lack of a "militarized overwhelming police presence" on the scene. Apparently no one else missed it.

"Reporters said there were few police in plain sight - a stark contrast to the militarized police presence often seen at other rallies and demonstrations, including those on college campuses.

"'What is so striking about the scene at the gun rights rally in Richmond is what you don't see: almost no cops. Just that little cluster of state police there. No lines of riot cops. No law enforcement in riot gear. Lois Beckett@somethingortheother'"

Oh, and apparently the excuse for the Governor's hyperventilating overreaction is that a half dozen neonazis were reportedly planning to shoot up the event to create chaos. Uh-huh. Let's see the perp walk.

http://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/...mists-142024623.html

Love the third photo in the post above from DSGrouse. Young man has an M1 Garand slung on his shoulder!

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:
....
It was a good day. I have to say, first class effort by our LEO's. Just a prime example of the quality of people we have working in our state.

Yes it was. It was nice to meet you in person, as well as 10-7_Leo, Architect, and Thunderson. Sorry I missed you 95flhr.

Great job guys showing up!

Likewise, Sorry we were not able to stick around long.

This one made me laugh

Sorry I missed you as well.

It was a great day, everyone stayed peaceful and friendly. Hell I spent the better part of an hour this morning talking and joking around with a couple of State Troopers from VA Beach. Great guys.

The peaceful protest was a good public display of responsble gun owners and that's a valuable PR message that should be played out every day but here's the reality of the VA situation.

Because VA conservatives didn't think this shit mattered all that much if Dems ran things, gun owners in VA are fucked and will be fucked for the foreseeable future, just like Repubs didn't work to keep the House and now we see the Pelosi shit show. Elections have consequences.

So into the VA future, the only thing you can count on is these proposed gun bills passing as written or subtantially as written.

From there you have legal challenges but those are out of the hands of the electorate.

On a simultaneous front you can't recall the Dems and not recall the governor too. Where there are swing districts you must remove them and keep in mind the first rule of a politician is to make sure they stay employed. Remove that from them.

Even if the recalls are successful, the laws will be on the books and the newly elected replacements will have to commit to overturning these laws but the problem is tht unless you control the heads of each legislative branch, those votes might not be called for a vote. I'm not sure how the process works but things typically have to be get out of committee and then to the floor but who controls the floor decides whether something is called for a vote. Voters need to flip control and make sure the governor doesn't veto the bills or the legislative bodies must be veto proof.

VA needs to stay strong but there's a tough road ahead. Legal challenges and recall of the governor and legislators too. The dynamic of sheriffs and sanctuary counties is interesting but I think the state will withhold release of funds to the counties to enforce agreement on state supremacy on the law. Whether the counties enforce the laws is another story.

I know what happens if you don't stay strong and fight - I'm from CA.

What does it usually look like on Lobby day there?

^ About a thousand or so in years past.

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:

This West Virginian stands ready to welcome our new beach friends.

I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

quote:

Originally posted by thunderson:
^ About a thousand or so in years past.

Yep. When I lived in VA I attended 3 rally's over the years. The most I've seen was about 600 to a thousand. Not my count, but counted by other VCDL members.

quote:

Originally posted by SteadyHand:
I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

Steadyhand. Could you not post this shit on a good positive day where 10's of thousands of people just showed up to have our voices heard. In fact if you are going to have that attitude, just stay out of the thread all together.

Today was a major victory, let us enjoy it.

quote:

Originally posted by SteadyHand:
I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

Similar here. We came to Virginia from NY ~15 years ago leaving all the liberal BS behind. We’re not packing up just yet because this cancer will reach everywhere eventually if we all just run. We’ve decided to give it until the next election cycle here, if we can’t flip the state back then it probably is lost for good. Until then we plan on doing our best to get Virginia back to the right.

quote:

Originally posted by SteadyHand:
I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

I thought you were 'shakeyhands' now?

If you don't have anything positive to say, GTFO.

I have to admit...looking through all the WONDERFUL pictures, my monitor got a little blurry. Must need another damned new laptop!! That was really AWE-inspiring!

Question for those in attendance...was there a visible presence of ANTIFA and if so, what was their attitude? Did they even "engage" in protest, hold up 2A signage, mingle/converse with VCDL folks, or anything like that?? And did the NRA have a presence there?

GREAT job, my Virginia neighbors (though it's a long stretch to Houston. ).

quote:

Originally posted by SteadyHand:
I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

Shh. Let people enjoy things.

quote:

Originally posted by SteadyHand:
I left Massachusetts for Virginia.

I spent an inordinate amount of money to 'fixate' my family into Virginia some 17 years ago.

Now, at a cost we had not anticipated, we are going to seek a new state to call home.

Virginia appears permanently flipped, just like MA, MD, NY, and CA. I'm in mourning. I'm peeved about the cost. My wife, a conservative who grew up in Missouri, swears she was literally dying in just 18 months of living in Massachusetts. Virginia is going to look and feel like Massachusetts real soon.

Hey, with that attitude, I'm glad you left MA. I'm still here and the last thing we need is people like you. VA doesn't need your bullshit either. Move to CA already. Oh wait, they don't need your bullshit.

Try Canada, New Zealand, maybe Iran.

In all seriousness, stop posting your bullshit and move on.

I just got back from Richmond, and while I don't think it was Woodstock II, it certainly was a time of shared friendliness and camaraderie. I would have like to meet up with @skins2881 and some of the others, but there were enough people there that just staying connected with my buddy/driver was at times a task.

One thing I don't think others will mention so I'll do it: The VCDL paid for porta-potties, and in all my years of marathon running, etc., these were the cleanest I've seen. My buddy remarked, "Of course, we're shooters. We aim!"

Some great signs, and free enterprise was present and active. Shirts, flags, hats, pins and stickers were available for purchase, and there were plenty of free 2A bumper stickers being handed out (courtesy VCDL) and "Guns Save Lives" stickers (courtesy GOA). The police were there, and didn't seem worried, although they are consummate professionals, so they were prepared if need be.

Getting a crowd count would be next to impossible. When we got to The Diamond parking lot, there was a two hour line waiting to board the bus (and since I never saw a bus, I'm guessing the word "the" might accurately describe it). So, we walked the 3+ miles (my buddy has had both knees and one hip replaced, so I got us a Lyft back to his car). During our walk, we saw a number of people walking around, and as we were leaving, saw still more people arriving. Let's just say that in the 18 years or so they've had Lobby Day, this was the largest turnout they've ever seen. This is backed up by radio interviews I've been hearing.

The only green area was the cordoned-off Capitol grounds. Thus, the people like me, who did not want to be unarmed, were strolling up and down the roads in the vicinity. Again, this makes it difficult to get an estimate of crowd size. I expect we'll see helicopter photos at some time, but for now, suffice it to say that since there were no incidents, the lame stream media will barely report anything this evening.

It was cold, but I didn't see anybody shivering or appearing to have a hard time of it. I layered well, and so I felt great -- even showed my "Sic Semper Tyrannis Northam" shirt to a number of folks. There were certainly plenty of "earthier" shirts and signs around!

You know, I could have done other things on MLK Day, but I went - because someone had to - and I'm glad I did.

A peaceful protest and show of support by citizens united by Constitutional rights and Second Amendment supporters...job well done by Virginia gun owners and those coming in from other states!

quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:
VA needs to stay strong but there's a tough road ahead. Legal challenges and recall of the governor and legislators too. The dynamic of sheriffs and sanctuary counties is interesting but I think the state will withhold release of funds to the counties to enforce agreement on state supremacy on the law. Whether the counties enforce the laws is another story.

I was about to make a similar point. Today is a good day, gun owners have much to be proud of, and you all deserve to enjoy the moment...

...but as much time, effort, and money by 2A supporters that was put into today's successful event, the real work lies ahead. Rallies, Protests, and fund raisers to plan and attend, petitions to circulate, hearings to attend and speak at, and lots and lots of phone calls and emails.

Gun owners deserve to break out the good stuff and pour a glass while enjoying a good cigar, get a good meal and a satisfied night's rest...and then wake up, kit up, and prepare for the work ahead.

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:
Gun owners deserve to break out the good stuff and pour a glass while enjoying a good cigar, get a good meal and a satisfied night's rest...and then wake up, kit up, and prepare for the work ahead.

Yup, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

I'm reading that like a gazillion of these were handed out today, good!