1st .... thanks to all that came to Lobby Day!!!

Lobby Day was today. For those of you who are not familiar with what it is... It's a day (always on MLK Day) when anyone can go to the General Assembly building and "lobby" their law makers.
Each year the VCDL membership along with gun owners show up to lobby for gun rights. And the gun control folks show up to lobby for more gun control laws.
From 9am-noon we pro-gun people did our lobbying inside the General Assembly building and the last hour had a rally outside at the bell tower.
Then it was the gun control folks turn.

I've got to say, the gun control crowd gets bigger every year. They bus in from around the state. They have several organizations that show up. They are gaining ground on us and they seem to get the medias attention.

The pro-gun people of Virginia, with an estimated 1 million gun owners in Va, have a few hundred show up

Anyway, here's some pics and videos links of Lobby Day today.

The VCDL and pro gun crowd:

the gun control group
...the 1st picture is our state attorney general joining forces with the gun control group

I saw a lady with a "background checks save lives" sticker on her shirt today. I offered her a GUNS SAVE LIVES sticker, she declined. She was oggling one of our other members, the tall guy, in a lustful manner.

news videos:

http://www.nbc12.com/story/27886116/gun-rights-fight-in-richmond-continues-for-another-year

http://wtvr.com/2015/01/19/battle-royale-at-capitol-square-over-gun-rights/

http://wtkr.com/2015/01/19/the-gun-debate-heats-up-in-richmond/

This guy at the end did NOT have an AK47, it was an airsoft gun with an orange tip. The news is VERY against us ladies and gentlemen.

Brian's second video does the same crap.

2015 was my wife and I first lobby day, and it Damn sure won't be our last!! I should have gotten more involved sooner ( no excuses). We are in full support of VCDL,NRA and whomever else that stands against the freedom hating anti-gunners out there. I am already recruiting for next year and spreading gun right awareness to all that will listen! ! Mike

Yes, we do need to have more of us there. You're right. I, too, was concerned about this, especially in light of the electoral Gubernatorial sweep by the antis last year. There weren't enough of us, much like last year.

So, what do we do about it?

We, as a pro-2A community, need to do a whole lot better at reaching out to the non-Conservative/White/Republican/Christian (CWRC) crowd. I was pleased to see Emily talking with a woman with a head-covering, apparently Muslim. That's good. I saw maybe 5 other non-CWRC folks. That's not good.

Philip pointed out that the VCDL is non-partisan, as he often does (thank goodness). After Charlie Hebdo, when it "became real" to several newscasters asking Emily, "how do I get a gun?", that would've been a great time to invite them to Lobby Day.

Yes, that means get to know and even hang out with non-CWRC folks. Yes, that means talk with them, *NICELY*. We need to be ambassadors for the 2A--that means every one of us. OR WE WILL LOSE AGAIN.

I agree with the post above, there were very few people of color or other diversity out there. We are talking about our Liberty here and in my opinion freedom is of far greater importance than race, religion, color, AGE,etc... Surely we can reach out, in the spirit of community, to others better this year leading into Lobby Day 16. There are many gun toting liberals out there. Also it would have been much better if more parent brought their kids along to show them what it means to stand for what you believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvB40t2lKBo
a lobby day video