VCDL Action on 7/12: Winchester & Prince George County

[Bob A]

Virginia Citizens Defense League Defending Your Right to Defend Yourself

1. URGENT ACTION ITEM: City of Winchester to vote on a modification of their gun ban on Tuesday, July 12! 2. URGENT ACTION ITEM: Prince George County to discuss new limits on target shooting on Tuesday, July 12! 3. If you are attending Thursday’s VCDL meeting at the XCal shooting range and want some VCDL “stuff” … 1. URGENT ACTION ITEM: City of Winchester to vote on a modification of their gun ban on Tuesday, July 12! This Tuesday, July 12, the Winchester City Council is going to vote on a change to the City’s prohibition on carry of firearms in certain areas. As you know, Winchester is being sued over banning guns in parks, recreation and community centers, and at permitted, or should have been permitted, events. On a positive note, Winchester is looking at removing the ban on carry at permitted, or should have been permitted, events. The rest of the proposal is negative. It leaves in place the ban on carry in parks, recreation and community centers, and in City government buildings. AND, it also will redefine what a “firearm” is to include pneumatic guns, such as BB guns, so the carry of those items will also be banned. That flat out violates Virginia’s Dillon Rule. Localities have NO authority to redefine the term “firearm” and they have NO authority to prohibit the carry of pneumatic guns! There is no way the City can show that parks or community and recreation centers are “sensitive” places under the Supreme Court holding on Bruen. So those bans are unconstitutional. ACTION ITEMS 1. If you can, attend Tuesday’s City Council meeting to speak against the redefinition of the term “firearm,” which is prohibited by Virginia’s Dillon Rule, and to tell City Council to repeal their gun ban in government buildings, parks, permitted events, and community and recreation centers. I will have GSL stickers for those attending. The meeting starts at 6pm. Location: Rouss City Hall Council Chambers 15 North Cameron Street Winchester, VA 22601 2. Email City Council in opposition to redefining “firearm” and to urge City Council to fully repeal their gun ban Email: clerk@winchesterva.gov Sample subject: Don’t modify 16-34 on firearms – repeal it! Sample text (if you can, use your own words): While repealing the ban on the carry of firearms at permitted events is a good start, code section 16-34 should be repealed in its entirety. Under the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen ruling, there is no way the City can show that parks, recreation and community centers, and most government buildings are “sensitive” places. Gun prohibitions in those areas are therefore unconstitutional. Finally, redefining “firearm” or trying to prohibit the carry of pneumatic guns is prohibited under Virginia’s Dillon Rule and will open the City to another lawsuit. 2. URGENT ACTION ITEM: Prince George County to discuss new limits on target shooting on Tuesday, July 12! This Tuesday, July 12, Prince George County is looking to restrict target practice on private property based on ONE complaint about noise (Dale Traylor said that someone shooting for 10 minutes was OK, but over an hour was a problem) and ONE other complaint about reckless handling of a firearm (we have no information on what this is about, but state law would cover it whatever it was). There is NO NEED to restrict the rights of all the residents of Prince George County over an issue that is really a dispute between two neighbors. State law has been working and an ordinance is not required. They are looking to require that a person shooting has to be at least 300 feet away from a house! That is the same stupid restriction that Chesterfield County has. Chesterfield County is far more populated than Prince George County. The rest of the counties that border Prince George County have no such restrictions. Here is a link to the proposal: https://cms1files.revize.com/princegeorgeva/20220707123129.pdf URGENT ACTION ITEMS 1. If you can attend the Prince George County Board of Supervisors Tuesday meeting to speak against this proposal, please do. It is best to nip this in the bud, even before it is put in front of the Board of Supervisors as an actual proposed ordinance at a future meeting. Executive Member Leyla Myers will be handing out GSL stickers and I have authorized her to speak on my behalf (I will be at the Winchester hearing). Try to be at the hearing by 6pm, instead of 7pm, as they could hear the proposal early. Location: County Administration Bldg. Boardroom, Third Floor, 6602 Courts Drive, Prince George, Virginia 2. Write an email to the Board of Supervisors in opposition to the proposed ordinance. Email address (Clerk to the Board of Supervisors): tknott@princegeorgecountyva.gov Sample subject line: OPPOSE any changes to the discharge of firearms Sample message (I highly encourage you to use your own words, but you don’t have to): I urge you to oppose any changes that would affect the otherwise lawful discharge of firearms. The rights of all the gun owners who live in Prince George County should not be adversely affected by what is basically a dispute between two neighbors over noise. Current regulations on the discharging of firearms have proven effective for years now. In 2019 Prince George County became a Second Amendment Sanctuary, making a promise to residents not to infringe on their right to keep and bear arms. Finally, any reckless handling of firearms is already covered by Virginia law. 3. If you are attending Thursday’s VCDL meeting at the XCal shooting range and want some VCDL “stuff”… Free Shipping on VCDL Gear! ...With One String Attached. If you are coming to the first in-person meeting at the XCal shooting range in Loudoun County, on Thursday, the 14th of July, you can receive free shipping on anything you order. Just go to the VCDL online store and order all the goodies you want, and if you're at the meeting to pick it up, the shipping will be refunded. It's that easy! Orders need to be placed before noon on Thursday the 14th of July. PLEASE make sure your phone number and email address accompany the order in case there are any issues! Click on this link to start shopping: VCDL Gear (vcdl-gear.myshopify.com) Thanks! Bruce Jackson, VCDL Fulfilment Center