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http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-12-0113.html
Notice: No swords in assembly building
Saturday, Jan 12, 2008 - 12:09 AM
By CHRIS I. YOUNGTIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Charles Evans Hughes Sr. learned an important lesson yesterday: When trying to visit your legislator, don't bring a prop to prove your point, especially if it's a sword.
Virginia Capitol Police at the General Assembly Building stopped Hughes at the metal detector when he declared his sword, which was sheathed in a leather-wrapped walking cane. He had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, but police told him to leave the sword cane outside.
"They said it's considered a concealed weapon, and I told them this went along with my outfit," Hughes, wearing an 1880s-era sheriff uniform and accoutrements, said outside the building.
He said he came to talk to state officials about changing the concealed-weapons law. "I'm not out here to harm anybody or do anything. I'm just minding my own business," said Hughes, 69, of Richmond.
Capitol Police Lt. Randall Howard confirmed that Hughes would have been able to enter the building had he been carrying a pistol, assuming his concealed-handgun permit was valid.
"We respect the right of the public to come to the Capitol, and we encourage that, but it's our job to make sure to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors to the Capitol," Howard said. "They're common-sense procedures and pretty standard."
Visitors to the General Assembly Building must walk through a metal detector and have their belongings scanned by an X-ray machine.
"You're talking about two different things, a sword versus a pistol," Howard said. "Part of our job is to make sure illegal weapons aren't allowed in the building, and a large weapon such as a sword obviously would be a concern to us in terms of the safety and well-being of others in the building."
Hughes found someone at a nearby parking lot to watch his sword cane, and he went back to the building.
Contact Chris I. Young at (804) 649-6754 or cyoung@timesdispatch.com.
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-12-0113.html
Notice: No swords in assembly building
Saturday, Jan 12, 2008 - 12:09 AM
By CHRIS I. YOUNGTIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Charles Evans Hughes Sr. learned an important lesson yesterday: When trying to visit your legislator, don't bring a prop to prove your point, especially if it's a sword.
Virginia Capitol Police at the General Assembly Building stopped Hughes at the metal detector when he declared his sword, which was sheathed in a leather-wrapped walking cane. He had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, but police told him to leave the sword cane outside.
"They said it's considered a concealed weapon, and I told them this went along with my outfit," Hughes, wearing an 1880s-era sheriff uniform and accoutrements, said outside the building.
He said he came to talk to state officials about changing the concealed-weapons law. "I'm not out here to harm anybody or do anything. I'm just minding my own business," said Hughes, 69, of Richmond.
Capitol Police Lt. Randall Howard confirmed that Hughes would have been able to enter the building had he been carrying a pistol, assuming his concealed-handgun permit was valid.
"We respect the right of the public to come to the Capitol, and we encourage that, but it's our job to make sure to provide a safe and secure environment for visitors to the Capitol," Howard said. "They're common-sense procedures and pretty standard."
Visitors to the General Assembly Building must walk through a metal detector and have their belongings scanned by an X-ray machine.
"You're talking about two different things, a sword versus a pistol," Howard said. "Part of our job is to make sure illegal weapons aren't allowed in the building, and a large weapon such as a sword obviously would be a concern to us in terms of the safety and well-being of others in the building."
Hughes found someone at a nearby parking lot to watch his sword cane, and he went back to the building.
Contact Chris I. Young at (804) 649-6754 or cyoung@timesdispatch.com.