imported post
OK, just got back home from the C&E show today. The MMM's decided to hold their event at the church across the road from the Showplace - heard several folks say it was because they thought they would get better "exposure" there than in front of the Showplace whichwould have beenwell back from the road.
There were cameras from Richmond TV 6 and MTV, as well as a reporter from the Richmond Times Dispatch and some guy who called himself a "YouTube reporter". Folks told me their names, but I do not recall any of them. (I'm claiming CRS so be nice to the handicapped person here. :lol
I counted 37 adults, plus 3 kids. I might have missed one or two folks, but am pretty sure the count was right. They were all lined up - 37 across - while different folks stood in front and used a bullhorn to talk at them. Either the bullhorn was not very effective or I just could not hear because I was at the far left of their line, about even with where the speakers were.
There were about 15 VCDL/OCDO types who made it across the street to watch the goings-on. One person besides me brought a sign - "Guns Save Lives". I had 3 signs that I made up last night - "You are responsible for your own protection - when seconds count the police are just minutes away", "This is what happens when people are denied efffective means of self defense" (which I heldat the end of the line ofMM's who were laying on the ground), and "MMM's denied 32 victims the only effective means of self defense against a killer". One of the regulars that volunteers at the VCDL table (again CRS - can't recall his name) needs a wheelchair for mobility. He made a great visual holding the "You are responsible ...." sign. Grapeshot was there lending moral support and making pithy comments as the MMM's were demonstrating.
The only confrontation I saw during the lay-down was one of the MMM's told me I could not stand at the end of their line, and said I was trespassing. I assured her that I would move to make room for any of their group who wanted to lay down where I was, and that seemed to cut her off before she could take it any further.
After the lay-down, whichlasted for a bit longer than the previously announced 2 minutes, the press started taking more pictures and interviewing folks. My recollection was that they got a few quotes from the MMM folks and then started talking to the "counter-protesters). I think everyone was asked if they came to the Showplace because of the MMM demonstration. It seems the standard response was that we all came for both the gun show and the demonstration.
Some of the questions were seeking responses to the MMM's claims that you can buy a gun from an "unlicensed dealer" without a background check and that background checks need to be "even more thorough". It was as if the reporters knew the issues, and the questions gave us the opportunity to rebut the distortions and illogical stuff the MMM's were putting out.
One of the MMM women wanted to get interviewed too, so tried to worm her way into the Q&A I was having with the Times Dispatch reporter. Mostly she said "Oh, come on now" when I said anything. I decided that was the opening I had been waiting for, so trotted out the stats on meore kids being killed by 5-gallon pails andautomobiles than by firearms, and that those items ought to be banned, or at least buyers should have to pass a background check before getting them. The MMM sputtered and said "Those things are different". I replied that if if she really meant it when she saif "If only one life is saved, it will be worth it" when talking about firearms, then she ought to mean it as well when talking about all the other dangerous items out there.
Please forgive me. I know I sinned when I did that to her. But I just could not resist.:celebrate
Another of the MMM's got into the conversation and said he was a former MP and former law enforcement officer. I asked him what he would suggest, based on his backgrould, as an alternative that would provided effective self defense for the students, staff and faculty at Va Tech. He started saying how he believed guns were not the answer, but I kept interrupting (yes, I know I displayed bad manners) and asking him what alternative he would suggest that would have provided an effective means of self defense. After about 3 rounds of that he ran out of steam and huffed off.
I got a lot of face time with the reporter and camera-person from MTV. They were filming for the "Real Life" series, which has had some very balanced and positive coverage of the "gun rights" issues. Again, great questions and great opportunities to get pro- comments in.
[Cutting it short here. I'm getting called for dinner. I'll check back later & add more if nobody else who was there has not chimed in.]
stay safe.
skidmark