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Fuck them, how are they going to tell 50,000 people to go home. We would outnumber the entirety of the VSP, RPD, and the Combat Arms and MP divisions of the VANG.

The guy with the permit is in the crowd, go find him.

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Part II

For those unaware, Delegate and Speaker-Designee Eileen Filler-Corns position and office in the Virginia State government is roughly the equivalent to Nancy Pelosi.  Speaker of the House (designee  will take that office in January), former House Minority Leader, now House Majority Leader.  She has sway and she has quite a bit of power and influence within the state legislature.

There's more than a bit to write as to the conversation, so I'll keep it as brief as possible.  As I mentioned before, my attempt to record the convo failed miserably.  The following is compiled from memory, my notes and the parts of my recording that I could decipher.  Rather than make it a transcript, I'll lay it out as to the statements made:

After making introductions, we shook hands and sat at a table, with her aid standing nearby.  She had an ipad set up in front of her, tilted towards her like a monitor, and she'd occasionally type stuff on it.  Probably texting with her aide, who already knew where I stood on things where he was feeding her info, and also probably adding me to more lists.
--

Ma'am, I'm here to discuss my extreme concerns with the myriad of anti-gun legislation introduced into the upcoming legislative session.  I'm sure you're aide has briefed you on my position with this, since he and I spoke for some time already.  No change in her expression or attempt confirm/ deny as to my statement.

I am here to ask you to please withdraw support for these draconian bills.  I implore you to use your speaker-ship to urge your fellow delegates and senators to withdraw support as well.

I am your typical, law-abiding resident of Virginia and citizen of the United States.  I, along with millions just like me, walk the straight and narrow.  I may exceed the speed limit occasionally, but I, and many others like me, put great effort into abiding not only to the rule of law, but to a polite social contract that is guided by morality.

If these bills are passed, and are made into law  I, and millions of Virginians just like me, will become felons overnight.  Not by any wrong doing of my own, but by writ and the stroke of legislative pen, all in the name of an overzealous pursuit of misguided ideology.  If respect for the law and reverence for the consequences for having violated that law is what keeps us law abiding, what then, is the inevitable outcome, when we are now labeled felons?  What is left to maintain peace and order, once the threat of criminality is removed?

***At this point, the aide interrupts and lets me know my time is up and that others are waiting their turn***

My response to that was:  I waited 45 minutes as well, I'm almost done and it's very important that we are able to fully conclude our mutual concerns here.  Del. Filler Corn looked at me, up at the aide (sayinig get him outta here with her eyes), back at me and I continued speaking, ignoring the aide as if there hadn't been an interruption.

What we have seen since the introduction of the myriad of anti-gun bills is an incredibly outpouring by regular, every day Virginians.  We have seen 87 of 95 counties along with numerous cities and towns, adopt some form of 2nd Amendment Sanctuary resolution.  That is 91% of the Commonwealth.  That is sending a very clear and decisive message to Richmond.  Both Gov Northam and AG Herring have engaged in some very inflammatory rhetoric, and followed up by doubling down on it.  This further fans the flames of discord.  The people of Virginia are up in arms over this, and I mean that literally  people are taking up arms over the actions of the legislature.

On the same hand, people are having open, unveiled conversations regarding everything I just said.  The people are making plans for the inevitability of draconian, unconstitutional laws being enacted.  As Richmond's intention is no longer veiled, neither is the peoples response.

From the introduction of these sweeping bills to today, we have seen people come together like never before.  There is no leader to this reaction  it is everyday Virginians trying to have their voices heard, and their communities supporting and defending them.  It's incredibly clear which side of this legislation that the people of Virginia, as a whole, are on.  History can teach us things.  The old clich of those who do not learn from it, are doomed to repeat it, is very much relevant to this conversation.  These are the Intolerable Acts of our time.

Again, please, I ask for your help in withdrawing support for these bills, letting them die in committee and allowing cooler heads to prevail.  Given what we are facing, is that something you will support?

Her responses:

Blah blah blah. Pre-written talking points. Literally!  Best of all, her actual response to my closing statement asking for her support was:

"There is a lot of unnecessary rhetoric being thrown about right now.  These are common sense measures that are supported by over 90% of the people of Virginia.  Nobody is going to outlaw your guns.  Nobody is going to go door to door and collect them.  There is no need to dig a hole and bury your guns in the back yard (yes, she really said that).  This is all being exacerbated by the Gun Lobby and the NRA.  There really is nothing to worry about  you'll be able to keep your guns."  (Where have we heard language like this before?)

My response and closing to that was:

Madame Speaker Designee, with all due respect, what you just said is patently false and highlights how you have completely misread the pulse of the Commonwealth.

Instead of listening to the lobbyists, New York funded special interest groups, various polls and aides within the echo chamber that are the halls of the state legislature, you should listen to the message that the people of Virginia are sending  it is loud and it is clear.

The voices you are hearing and the sanctuary resolutions you are seeing passed are from individuals throughout the commonwealth.  91% of the state does not, in fact, want any of this.  There is no lobby, no funding from wealthy individuals feeding any fear mongering  there is no leader or leading entity and the NRA has been unbelievably and disappointingly absent from the conversation.  This is a wholly organic, grassroots effort.  We are standing on a dangerous precipice.  If this legislation continues down its current path and is enacted, there will be a comeuppance.  That is a guarantee, and the result not being known yet, it's safe to say that it may not be solely political in nature.  We are looking at a defining moment in our history.  To say otherwise is a fool's errand.

Her response

Thank you for sharing your views.  It was nice to meet you.  Have a nice day.

That's pretty much it.  Everything is falling on deaf ears.

Part III/ Final Thoughts & Observations to come.

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This event has the potential to be a turning point in our nation. Regardless the outcome, I'm all in.

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Correct, except it takes a 4/5ths majority in both chambers of the VA legislature to pass emergency legislation. Not happening. July 1 is when it gets real.

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Hmmm.  What about outside of 50 yards?  How about a nice trebuchet?

I don't believe they're covered under any current or proposed gun laws, their mere presence tends not to scare Karen's or small children, and - they are a true multi- cal, in so far as they can launch not only any form of munition, whether purpose built or improvised, but they can also launch politicians towards, or away from, the GA.

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Like I've been saying I can see them calling a special session as soon as GA open on the 8th and ramming all of these through. They don't give a fuck about the sanctuaries or our words. The left thinks the military exists to do their bidding for the things they're too spineless to actually do themselves. If they haven't passed and signed these laws by the 20th I'll be genuinely shocked.

I think Lobby Day is going to take on a much different identity before the day gets here.

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VSP now estimates 120k.

You did not hear that from me.....

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120k isn't a rally, it is an army.

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Part III

Some final thoughts and observations:

Throughout my career, negotiation has been a large part of it.  I’ve done many. Some were successful, some were not.  Some were quite significant, others minor.

Over time, through repetition and trial and error, you develop an ability to sense the other party’s reception to your pitch.  It’s hard to describe for those who haven’t experienced it - it's not a tangible or teachable thing, but the combination of body language, eye and facial expression, how they sit, how they hold their hands, their tone, lots of stuff – all of these things can and will betray the words that come out of their mouth.

That said, I can tell you, with 100%, absolute certainty:

She did not want to hear one word out of my mouth.  Only out of decorum and the public nature of the meeting, did she tolerate my presence and allow herself to hear my opinion.

I sensed true and legitimate contempt towards me on her part.

The finality of the conversation dripped with condescension.

There is a very real smugness, arrogance and air of superiority that just oozes from these people.

This was the very first time I've ever done anything like this. This is the first time I've ever petitioned a politician face to face.  I didnt know what to expect.

One thing is for sure, and I don't know how to quite put this - she (and the rest of these politicians, I assume) is/ are just a different species of human being.  I've sat across from very high ranking C-level folks (and even told them things they don't want to hear, we weren't on the best of terms, etc.), and I never got that feeling.

Can't quite put my finger on what it was, but she just seemed, different.  There was no human connection, no empathy, no emotion whatsoever.  Only contempt. A hidden, seething, something.  It was quite strange really - disconcerting and very off putting.  I felt like I was dealing with a robot or an alien or something, not another living, breathing person.  There just was no... connection.

I’ll tell you this, now that I have sat in front of arguably, one of the most powerful people in the VA Legislature -There is no swaying them and they will not stop pushing this legislation.

To simply ignore the factual points I made regarding 2A sanctuaries, the percentage of VA they constituted, people taking up arms, the dire warnings, etc. and to come back with “90% of VA wants this”, “It’s the NRA/ Gun Lobby stoking fear”, “Nobody will outlaw or take your guns”.  I mean, seriously?  I just had a decidedly cogent, articulate and polished interaction with you (I won’t call it a conversation), and you're treating me like an idiot and pretending not to have heard my (valid) points?

I feel my experience today would have been similar to sitting across from Pelosi during the Obama Care passage.

I’m still going on Lobby Day, in fact, I am more eager now, than ever.

However, I think the tone will be different.

We all need to stay the course and continue to fight.

Even if they pass these abortions of bills in January, they can be pulled back prior to enactment in July.

We need EVERYONE in Richmond on 1/20.  Let them see the folly of their ways.

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100K armed people in one place to protest a proposed law would be a fucking statement!  

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What part of blatant mass non compliance says to you "what good is having it if you can't practice with it"? I'm not talking some crap like don't turn it in. I'm talking screw the NFA you want to make me a criminal over night for nothing. Okay, do that! And watch me ignore all gun laws and out of spite make NFA crap and practice openly with it. That kind of non-compliance but on a large scale.

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Honest question guys

Should one bring there go to rifle or a cheap one?

The reason I ask this is if there is confiscation of rifles/pistols/gear, what should you bring?

Also for the VA folks, would there be any chance of a confiscation?

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I have a few question, and I'm not sure how to word it without sounding like a dick. They are honest question, without any snark to follow your answer.

Did this surprise you? Were you expecting more human from her? Did you think you had a chance at communication, or was it just a personal confirmation thing?

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So, correct me if I'm wrong,  but nothing they vote in takes affect until July, unless they can get a 2/3s vote to "rush" enactment?

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Correct, except it takes a 4/5ths majority in both chambers of the VA legislature to pass emergency legislation. Not happening. July 1 is when it gets real.

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Not to be negative, but what are the chances that the Dems can get enough votes for that if they agree to grandfathering?

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@PA-Minuteman

I was debating that one myself. If I can make it (timing still up in the air), I will be bringing a dependable duty grade rifle. I'll leave my SHTF rifle(s) at home.

I would love to bring my fav but losing a mid level rifle won't make me cry.

As far as gear go with what ever you feel is prudent. At least carry an IFAK and a couple of reloads.

I don't have any tactical gear besides a battle belt and a battle bag. I like moving fast and light. On the upside standing for hours in full battle rattle would suck for me. I'm too old and broke for that, my knee's can't do it.

The most important thing is to show up. I'm trying to get there.

Edit: Since you have medical training you may want to lean heavy on that. You have a special skill that is very valuable that most people don't.

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if the NRA proclaims it good because it allows the NRA to claim a victory ("we got confiscation turned into merely registration and grandfathering! You can keep your guns/mags!!"), that may sway some Republicans.

To me, that's the interesting thing about NRA's sudden interest in Virginia state-level legislation.  The NRA will try to ride to the rescue and claim victory by taking a 100% shit bill and convincing enough legislators to make it a 90% shit bill, thinking Virginia gun owners will view them as the heroes for that.  It won't, it will enrage Virginia gun owners at NRA's treachery.

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Isn't the entire purpose of this to say you can't take my rifle?

Now we are worried about confiscation of our good guns?

But are ok if they take our 2nd tier guns?

I think once you lock and load then walk into downtown Richmond the decision to comply has already been made.

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VSP now estimates 120k.

You did not hear that from me.....

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Speaking of the VNG . . .

I wonder how many patriots will be practically indistinguishable from them?

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Picketing or protesting in front of a person's home is a criminal misdemeanor in Virginia and will get your ass locked up.

Don't do it.