Although we didn't get a huge number of votes, those who did vote in last week's poll indicated a strong interest in a VCDL group range trip at some point. I'll bounce it off the leadership and see what they think and, if it looks like it is doable, will look into setting something up.
Here are the results of the poll.
This week's poll is related to the recent press about the VCDL dinners in Northern Virginia. This can be a very contentious issue so I remind commenters to review our "Rules of Engagement" (linked on the comment form) and to keep the discussion civil.
Two of the things that stood out to me about the story is a theme that's come up even with otherwise strong supporters of gun rights. One of the interviewed customers made a disparaging comment about the VCDL member with "several clips of ammunition."
I had a person at a gun show once tell me that he avoided VCDL because of a couple of people whom he percieved as a bit...um...overzealous...because of the way they carried their firearm, several extra magazines and other accouterments. I realize that we can't please everyone and some are just determined to find an excuse to dislike any group of people...but we do need to realize that we can be percieved as being a bit over the top if we proudly display a self-defense kit that rivals a Police duty belt...especially when we are doing it in a venue or at a time that is specifically designed to gain attention. Perhaps when the wearing is specifically to "make a statement" we should dial it back a notch? I'm not disagreeing with having such things as a flashlight, mace, extra magazines etc...I understand the concepts completely. But the general public already can have a tendency to regard us as paranoid or "wanna be superheros." Does it help our cause to reinforce that notion by showcasing a Batman utility belt in public?
Another thing about the article that has attracted some negative attention was the reported "announcement" at Champps. Is it really appropriate for us to interrupt other diners' evenings to attract attention in such a way? Are we attempting to make a statement that we are somehow special and worthy of unusual attention, or should our message be that we are just like everyone else and other citizens have no need to take any special note of us?
Feel free to tell me if you think I'm wrong, but it seems to me that demanding the attention of everyone in attendence is a bit counter to our purposes is it not? I hope no one involved in those dinners takes offense because none is intended. I fully support the dinners and understand the purpose behind them. I'm simply raising some concerns that I've seen raised elsewhere for the purposes of discussion and to hopefully improve our effectiveness in the future.
The poll question this week is much more general than that. Does open carry in general improve or harm our image to the public? Feel free to use the comment thread to discuss that issue as well as the above specific points I raised.





Recent Comments
Mon, 12.05.2008 11:41
We've lost countless birds to Coyotes in our area and recently had one of our small dogs killed by them. Just last [...]Comments ()
Mon, 12.05.2008 09:47
The boycott does make sense and the goal is not to put them out of business. It is to influence them to align with [...]Comments ()
Mon, 12.05.2008 07:56
Yeah...keep boycotting them. It makes real sense. Put one of the oldest US gun companies out of business for something [...]Comments ()
Sun, 11.05.2008 19:31
Actually, there are plenty of non-white and non-men, and non-old VCDL members. I am one of the non-old ones.Comments ()
Sun, 11.05.2008 17:56
Seventeen counties inVirginia currently havebounties http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/136541Comments ()
Sun, 11.05.2008 01:11
RAH - I appreciate your position but I would like to point out that the Second Amendment is currently under deliberation [...]Comments ()
Sun, 11.05.2008 00:16
Actually, the preservation of liberty, hard fought and hard won in this nation, occupies a high position on my list of [...]Comments ()
Sat, 10.05.2008 19:33
hey old white guys, don't you have anything beter to occupy your time with?Comments ()
Fri, 09.05.2008 21:32
I have written to DOI for the public commentary. I disagree with VCDL on this issue. I dont think that NP regulations [...]Comments ()
Wed, 07.05.2008 19:25
That is an excellent compromise! We'll start making it a practice!Comments ()
Wed, 07.05.2008 17:45
Hmmmm - just pondering this. Perhaps just the TOC with a link to the full thing on the VCDL site if somebody sees a [...]Comments ()
Wed, 07.05.2008 14:44
I'm finding it difficult to find the words to describe the deep, seething revulsion I feel for such stupid antics as [...]Comments ()
Tue, 06.05.2008 23:31
We have quoted from the VA-ALERTS before but often there is so much text that it would not be practical to post them [...]Comments ()
Tue, 06.05.2008 17:18
QUOTE:but I do not think gunsand alcohol are a goodmix. That goes without saying...guns don't dissolve so [...]Comments ()
Tue, 06.05.2008 12:12
Is it not true that Virginia allows open carry in restaurants that serve alcohol? Do you think Virginia should ban [...]Comments ()