I, first, want to start by saying thank you for all the work you and the VCDL leadership did in putting the events and agenda of the day together. It was very well done and VCDL was extremely well represented. The caliber of people that were there in support was top notch. Please pass on my thanks to the rest of the VCDL leadership.
I brought my son and we had a chance to run into Jeff Knox of The Firearms Coalition. This was one of the highlights of our day. Because Jeff Knox lives in the same Senate District, we had a chance to speak with Senator Charles Colgan together. It was a pleasure to be in the same room with Mr. Knox while we were addressing our district senator.
Here's a story that I wanted to pass onto you that occurred during the MMM demonstration on the Capitol Lawn. Myself and my son were in the thick of it, right up front directly next to the PA system. As the MMM began to kick off their demonstration, a number of the organization and supporters placed a banner in front of me, my son, and several other pro-rights activists blocking our view to the speaker and attempting to keep our message from being heard and seen by the press.
My son (a 12 year old, patriotic American) was standing in front of the banner and I was forced behind it. Ok...fine by me. One young college student saw my son with his "Guns Save Lives" sticker and attempted to coerce my son back behind the banner. At which point, a woman standing nearby said "Let him in, maybe it'll change his mind" and they ushered him in front to see everything. This couldn't have gone any better. My son knows all too well the lies that anti-gun groups spew and now he was going to hear it right from the horse's mouth. He later relayed that he can't believe how naive some people can be.
While the speakers were addressing the supporters that attended, myself and a number of VCDL members and other concerned citizens held up pro-gun signs above the banners. While we did this, those holding the banners stretched to lift the banners higher. Fortunately for us, we had taller men to hold up our signs above their banners.
I was appalled by what I next witnessed...
Doug Smith spoke. He is the clergyman that offered the invocation before all the speakers began to address their supporters. After Doug Smith prayed with the crowd, he exited the circle near where I was with another student that had complained about the people behind them (us). They had claimed that one of the activists (who was a Richmond resident and did not appear to be a VCDL member) was causing trouble. So, Doug Smith began to speak with him and a verbal altercation ensued. The VA Capitol Police were summoned and began to adress the few people involved, including Doug Smith. What happened next sends chills down my spine.....Doug Smith, the clergyman, cited to the police that this Richmond resident was causing trouble.
Of course, knowing this was completely false (because I was standing right there), I interjected and told the VA Capitol Police officer that the man was doing nothing wrong and that the clergyman was blatantly lying. It behooves me that a man of the cloth, who preaches God's word, would lie to anyone, much less a police officer.
The police officer could do nothing. Nothing wrong had been done, no law had been broken.
After some more time had passed, we continued to stand with our signs perched up over the banners. One of the women holding the banners then began to loudly complain about the citizen once again. Who, of course, was still doing nothing, but standing with his sign also perched above the banner. The man said to the woman that he is doing nothing wrong. The woman, upset, exclaimed that she was going to summon the police again. On her way out of the crowd, she literally pushed me out of her way.
I said to one of the MMM supporters, at this point, that everyone is here for a peaceful protest. There's no need for this. He retorted saying "It would be peaceful if you all weren't being jackasses". The woman returned to her post, but was not accompanied by an officer.
