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Who is going to the Falls Church City Council Meeting Monday 10/26 @7:30PM?

VCDL President

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The last time VCDL spoke at the Fall Church City Council, everyone was carrying. The police were represented (both uniformed and undercover officers).

The room is a multi-use facility and the metal detectors where disabled during the council meeting. The VA Supreme Court has ruled that a room in a courthouse is only considered part of the courthouse if it is being used by the court.

More importantly it appears that city hall is sort of loaned to the court during the day.

Ed is investigating this through police channels.

However, I am not a lawyer and cannot give anyone legal advice. As always, how you carry, or even if you carry, is up to you.
 

ki4ihc

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Fairfax County / Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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VCDL President wrote:
The last time VCDL spoke at the Fall Church City Council, everyone was carrying.  The police were represented (both uniformed and undercover officers).

The room is a multi-use facility and the metal detectors where disabled during the council meeting.  The VA Supreme Court has ruled that a room in a courthouse is only considered part of the courthouse if it is being used by the court.

More importantly it appears that city hall is sort of loaned to the court during the day.

Ed is investigating this through police channels.

However, I am not a lawyer and cannot give anyone legal advice.  As always, how you carry, or even if you carry, is up to you.

Thanks for clarifying. I've always been nervous about carrying anywhere in the building because of the courtroom.
The metal detectors are still at the courtroom entrance, and are still disabled for council meetings (at least for all the meetings I've been to - far too many). They have also posted "No Weapons" and "No Large Bags" signs in the last year or so at the courtroom entrance.

Also - for anyone who can't attend the meeting, they do stream the meetings live on the internet, and the videos are archived for future viewing http://fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/Council/MeetingWebcastGranicus.aspx
 

ed

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VCDL President wrote:
Ed is investigating this through police channels.
I know the the Sheriff of the City of Falls Church, Steve Bittle. I just called Sheriff Bittle on his cell phone and he told me that the council chambers is within city hall. This multi purppuse room is also used to hear cases but is NOT a courtroom when court is not in session.

I plan on Open Carrying as I always do, but do not let my actions or statements be taken as LEGAL ADVICE for what you should do.

Ed
 

skidmark

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On the Norfolk city council meeting thread a poster asked why I considered the VPSC "call to --- ...."* to be disturbing. I responded as follows:
HankT wrote:
skidmark wrote:
Ed has posted some disturbing info at the thread about the Falls Church city council meeting.
Interesting....but why is it "disturbing info," skidmark?
39.gif

Because it suggests that The Virginia Public Safety Center is going to attempt to get their folks to attend the city council meeting for no other purpose than filling the room to the Fire Code capacity so that VCDL members will not get a seat.

We had a taste of that tactic a few years ago at some General Assembly hearings where the Va Tech folks were "escorted" into the hearing room before the doors officially opened, leaving only a few seats and standing room for the rest of the citizenry who wished to either testify or observe the proceedings.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to standing around watching those who did learn sit in the front seats.

stay safe.

skidmark
* As for the VPSC call to --- ...." above, it certainly cannot be a call to ARMS as they are opposed to an armed citizenry. It cannot be a call to ACTION as they are reacting to VCDL's announced plan. Then what could it be?

Wait! I know:exclaim: It's whining. Now, the only question remaining is: will there be cheese and crackers served?

stay safe.

skidmark
 

user

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Northern Piedmont
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I'd written the following in the other thread, before I realize this one had been started:

One thing that concerns me is that the Falls Church council chambers are physically the same room as the Falls Church General District Court. I'm worried that someone will be hassled for "carrying in a courthouse".

The City of Falls Church General District Court is in session only when there is a judge present. There is a clerk's office but that is located in a different part of the building which one need not enter in order to get to Council Chambers (except for handicapped, but the only way in if you're in a wheelchair is from the lower level, and up the elevator). As a practical matter, the judges of the Seventeenth Judicial District, Arlington and Falls Church, sit in the courthouse in Arlington.

There are metal detectors, because that space sometimes is a "courthouse", but I doubt if they will be in use.
 

Glock27Bill

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Mar 6, 2008
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Louisa County, Virginia, USA
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hsmith wrote:
I am blind, what is the address
300 Park Avenue

Just east of 29/211 Lee Highway (Washington Street in Falls Church) off of Route 7/Broad Street.

Heading East on Route 7, pass the Original Pancake House (on the left), then turn left on Little Falls Street, then left on Park Ave.

Coming North on 29, turn left/West on Route 7, Little Falls St is the second right, then left on Park Ave.
 

RichV

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Aug 31, 2008
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Location
Manassas, VA, Virginia, USA
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Good turn out at the Falls Church city council meeting. Too bad the mayor was a no show.

Anyone think the rest of the city council were influenced to change?

In any case, a big "thank you" to those who got up to speak!!!

Rich
 
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