VCDL President responds to Del. Bob Marshalls' defense of his gun control bills!
Paul W. Moog
Dear Del. Bob Marshall
The Virginia Citizens Defense League is the largest grassroots gun-rights group
in the Commonwealth. We led the effort to reform Virginia's Concealed Carry law
and we have continued to lead the fight for gun-rights in Virginia.
Your bills, HB 350 ( http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB350 )
and HB 351 ( http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?001+ful+HB351 ), would
clearly infringe upon the right to bear arms. In Virginia it is legal to carry a firearm
or knife in an open manner. Why do you want to make it a crime to do so on
taxpayer property? Whether your bill would exempt Concealed Carry Permit
holders is a matter of legal interpretation. You can bet that anti-gun localities such
as Alexandria and Fairfax would use your law to harass law-abiding gun-owners.
Del. Marshall - your bills do not "mirror Project EXILE". Project EXILE was targeted
at convicted felons. Your bill will create felons out of otherwise law-abiding folks!
Del. Marshall - on behalf of gunowners across Virginia I ask you to withdraw these
dangerous gun control bills! I am sure you will hear from other concerned citizens,
please listen to us!
Sincerely,
Paul W. Moog, Jr.
President
Virginia Citizens Defense League
cc: Va-alert
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Fwd: VA-ALERT: Legislative Alert 1/26/2K - The Good, The
Bad and The Ugly!]
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 14:04:54 -0500
From: Del_Ma...@house.state.va.us
To: webm...@vcdl.org
Dear Mr. Paul Moog:
I would like to take great exeption to the article that was sent to me
that
I am told you sent out. I have always been very pro-2nd amendment and I
will continue to be pro-2nd amendment. These bills were not put in at
the
request of any anti-gun group I assure you.
I am not sure if you have read the actual text of my bills or not. If
you
had you would notice that there are a number of exemptions from this
legislation. These bills target people carrying illegal weapons not
those
with concealed carry permits, hunters, those carrying a locked gun or a
shotgun on a gun rack. The exemption for concealed carry is in the
third
paragraph which states:
The exemptions set out in ? 18.2-308 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to
the
provisions of this section. The provisions of this section shall not
apply
to (i) a person possessing a knife customarily used for food preparation
or
service and using it for such purpose; (ii) a person who possesses such
weapon or weapons as a part of a program sponsored or facilitated by an
organization authorized by the operating authority of the park to
conduct
its programs in the park; (iii) a law-enforcement officer while engaged
in
his duties as such; (iv) a person who possesses a knife or blade which
he
uses customarily in his trade; or (v) a person who possesses an unloaded
firearm which is in a closed container, or a knife having a metal blade,
in
or upon a motor vehicle, or an unloaded shotgun or rifle in a firearms
rack
in or upon a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this paragraph, "weapon"
includes a knife having a metal blade of three inches or longer.
If you go to section 18.2-308 of the Code of Virginia you will find
outlined a number of exeptions including for concealed carry. These two
bills were drafted to mirror Project EXILE. Before I introduced this
legislation I contacted the NRA and they have no problem with this
legislation. I am also taking into consideration recommendations by the
Department of Forestry regarding knives used while camping that are not
for
food preparation.
I hope that you will reconsider your position. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Delegate Bob Marshall
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