Keystone Kops at the Capitol

Virginia Citizens Defense League ^ | 18DEC2004 | VCDL

[ArrogantBustard]

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1. Keystone Kops at the Capitol

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Dennis O'Connor, myself, George Pettit, and Jim Kadison went to the Capitol last week to speak with a senator about a VCDL bill. Thanks to that trip, Dennis now has a new nickname: Dennis "Lightning rod" O'Connor. Dennis gets that well deserved nickname because he is always the one singled out for 'special' treatment ;-)

I really don't know what it is about Dennis. Those of you who have met him will agree that he is a friendly-polite-Irish-Roman-Catholic-middle-aged-retired-soldier-turned-Libertarian (say THAT quickly 10 times).

Dennis' special treatment last week started when he arrived first at the General Assembly building. Upon going to the metal detectors, Dennis handed a Capitol police officer his CHP. Pretty normal so far - well for the rest of us it is, but not for Dennis.

Officer: "Do you have a GUN?!?"

Dennis: "Yes, sir. That is why I handed you my permit."

Officer coming over and 'wanding' Dennis: "I want to make sure that a gun is ALL you have!"

While he is being wanded, Dennis is wondering what in the world the officer meant by that statement.

The officer goes to over to a telephone and calls the office of the senator we are going to see: "Dennis O'Connor is here to see the Senator and HE HAS A GUN! What do you want me to do? I'll do whatever you want."

Officer to telephone, disappointed: "OK. I'll let him up when the rest of his party arrives."

The rest of us arrived a few minutes later. By the time I go through, the officer just has me open my coat for a few seconds after I show him my permit. Other than that, no fuss, no muss. I just hadn't learned yet what Lightning Rod had just been through.

The officer then ESCORTED us personally to the Senator's office (actually the officer got turned around and we got him pointed back in the right direction ;-) ). That was my first inclination that something strange was happening.

When we arrived, the officer hung around as we were greeted by the Senator and his staff. The officer seemed to be hoping for some kind of signal. Stand guard outside the door? Sit in on the meeting? Throw them out? Well there was no signal, so after a while he decided to go wandering back downstairs and we proceeded into the Senator's office for our meeting.

And, no, this officer is not new. He has been there for years and has cleared permit holders before. And, yes, I looked, but did not see, Rod Serling smoking a cigarette in the corner. The officer probably kicked him out for smoking in the building ;-)

[ArrogantBustard]

"And, no, this officer is not new. He has been there for years and has cleared permit holders before. And, yes, I looked, but did not see, Rod Serling smoking a cigarette in the corner. The officer probably kicked him out for smoking in the building ;-)"

Thought the bangers and the puffers would appreciate this.

[ArrogantBustard]

No, I Am NOT Phil Van Cleave!

[StayAt HomeMother]

You may have been violating a new law no one knew about:

Source: http://www.jrnl.com/nvafront.cfm
13 Dec 04
Drew Bush

"Gun ban sparks local-state battle
Some jurisdictions want their own weapons rules, cite legislature’s hypocrisy"

A ban on carrying guns in Virginia’s Capitol and General Assembly buildings escaped the attention of most lawmakers last March when it was approved. Now some legislators are vowing to fight it, gun rights groups are murmuring about an infringement of their rights and local leaders want to know why they can’t do the same in their jurisdictions.

The rule, which prevents those without a permit for concealed weapons from carrying them in Richmond’s state offices, went into effect April 1, The Journal has learned.

For more than 200 years, Virginia residents have had the right to carry guns openly without a permit, with few exceptions.

Many legislators and gun rights advocates were shocked to learn the new rule had passed the 14-member Joint Rules Committee, which includes seven senators and seven delegates, without notice. It didn’t require a vote by either chamber.

“If they published a memo, it was on invisible ink,” said Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, on Friday, moments after he learned of the rules change.

... Del. H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said the measure came about because Capitol police couldn’t adequately check groups of tourists, sometimes numbering more than 400, who visit each day. ...

[ArrogantBustard]

The law you cite covers folks who do not have a permit. Open carry is generally legal in Virginia, NO PERMIT REQUIRED.

[ArrogantBustard]

Oh, yes: VCDL and the sane members of the GA are trying to squash that "law".

[Flux Capacitor]

[MineralMan]

Hmm...so you got to go see the guy and didn't have to surrender your weapons. Sounds to me like it all worked pretty much the way it was supposed to.

The cop checked permits, checked with the person you were visiting and everybody went upstairs, still armed.

Frankly, there are many states where you wouldn't have even gotten into the building.

[B4Ranch]

I will loan a friendly-polite-Irish-Roman-Catholic-middle-aged-retired-soldier-turned-Libertarian who carries concealed my hat anytime he wishes to really shake the guard force into action.

Just the sight of a Stetson without SS troops close by attracts attention from the guards. Don't ask me why.