Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) President Philip Van Cleave sent me the following email blast:
As I reported a few days ago, the Richmond City libraries had a policy on their web site claiming that all concealed weapons were illegal under state law. (That, of course, has never been true.) Upon contacting the person in charge, I was told the policy on the web was wrong and had mistakenly not been updated to match their current policy. She said they were going to fix the wording . . .
I explained that the entire item about guns should simply be removed, since the library has absolutely no control over whether a person lawfully carrying a firearm enters the library or not. The only thing such a policy would do is confuse and discourage citizens from carrying in a library. The purpose of government is not to “trick” citizens into giving up rights that government employees might not agree with.
She said the new wording, “Carrying concealed weapons is prohibited, except as permitted by law” was approved by the City Attorney. I said that while that wording was LEGAL, it is still reprehensible to use it.
I waited to see what the library was going to do. If they removed all mention of firearms, I figured we’d be done. If they didn’t, then we would need to educate gun owners in central Virginia, much as we did with a protest picnic out in Roanoke County a few weeks. ago.
Well, they “fixed” the wording, but did not remove it.
It’s time for a protest!
THE PLAN
As I see it, they are discouraging CONCEALED carry in the library with their confusing policy. So, I guess they want everyone to OPEN carry. So be it.
Let’s have a “read-in,” where we all show up at the main library and enjoy reading some books for an hour or two. A big turnout as always is a plus, so bring friends, family, and kids!
I expect media coverage of the event.FIVE gun owners sitting at a table reading books is not going to be as impressive as FIFTY doing so.
I plan to call the Richmond Police Department to give them the courtesy of a heads-up on our upcoming lawful assembly.
The protest is important so that we can get the word out to gun owners that carrying a gun in a library is perfectly legal, either openly with or without a CHP or concealed with a CHP.
WHEN AND WHERE
Time & date: Wednesday, August 15th, from 5 PM to 7 PM
Richmond Public Library, Main Branch
101 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
If you plan on attending, respond to this alert [email president@vcdl.org] and let me know so I can get a head count.
Let’s roll!