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http://www.examiner.com/a-855081~Gun_rights_group_challenges_Fairfax_decision_on_auction.html
Washington DC (Map, News) - A group supporting guns rights in Virginia is challenging a Fairfax County assertion that a gun auction planned by the group violated state gambling laws, according to court documents filed last week.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League had planned an event earlier this year in which any person who purchased $100 worth of merchandise from one of two gun stores being targeted by New York City law enforcement authorities would receive a ticket making them eligible to win a gun in an auction. The Fairfax County attorney ruled the event violated state gambling laws.
The defense league went ahead with the auction, instead giving auction tickets to anyone who showed up at their event, free of charge. Now, the group wants the Fairfax County Circuit Court to decide if their original plan violated Virginia code.
Giving tickets to people who purchased a certain amount of merchandise "was not a violation of state gambling law," said Richard Gardiner, a member of the league who also is serving as its attorney. "The Virginia Citizens Defense League was not selling tickets."
Gardiner said the complaint would be served to the Fairfax County attorney sometime this week. The attorney then has 21 days to file a response before arguments are made by both sides in front of a circuit court judge.
Fairfax County declined to comment citing pending litigation.
The two stores the original auction was meant to support were targets of a sting by law enforcement officers in New York City, who claimed weapons from a number of Virginia stores were fueling gun violence in their city. Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell has warned New York to cease operations in the commonwealth.
http://www.examiner.com/a-855081~Gun_rights_group_challenges_Fairfax_decision_on_auction.html
Washington DC (Map, News) - A group supporting guns rights in Virginia is challenging a Fairfax County assertion that a gun auction planned by the group violated state gambling laws, according to court documents filed last week.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League had planned an event earlier this year in which any person who purchased $100 worth of merchandise from one of two gun stores being targeted by New York City law enforcement authorities would receive a ticket making them eligible to win a gun in an auction. The Fairfax County attorney ruled the event violated state gambling laws.
The defense league went ahead with the auction, instead giving auction tickets to anyone who showed up at their event, free of charge. Now, the group wants the Fairfax County Circuit Court to decide if their original plan violated Virginia code.
Giving tickets to people who purchased a certain amount of merchandise "was not a violation of state gambling law," said Richard Gardiner, a member of the league who also is serving as its attorney. "The Virginia Citizens Defense League was not selling tickets."
Gardiner said the complaint would be served to the Fairfax County attorney sometime this week. The attorney then has 21 days to file a response before arguments are made by both sides in front of a circuit court judge.
Fairfax County declined to comment citing pending litigation.
The two stores the original auction was meant to support were targets of a sting by law enforcement officers in New York City, who claimed weapons from a number of Virginia stores were fueling gun violence in their city. Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell has warned New York to cease operations in the commonwealth.
