Some photos from Lobby Day 2019:

Red Flag laws, also called Gun Violence Restraining Orders and Extreme Risk Protection Orders, are gun-confiscation laws disguised as “gun-violence prevention” laws that are being pushed hard at both the state and federal levels.  VCDL expects to be fighting Red Flag bills in the Virginia General Assembly in 2019.

Red Flag laws are really unconstitutional "prior restraint" laws that violate our basic civil rights.  What's particularly alarming is that to take away a person's Second Amendment rights, such laws violate the protections found in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution!  And all of that based on an unnamed person's secret allegation that someone else "might" do something dangerous to themselves or others in the future.  Laws are only supposed to authorize the State to apprehend and punish those who have committed an illegal act, not those who might, based on unsubstantiated allegations.

The person accused of being "dangerous" has no notice there is a problem until the police show up, pre-dawn, with guns drawn and confiscate the accused's firearms. The accused is not given due process to defend himself or herself in court from the accusation for weeks or months after the confiscation.  It is up to the accused to prove that he or she is not dangerous!  Until such proof is provided to the Court's satisfaction, the guns are not returned.  This could drag on for months, years, or indefinitely!

If a person is "too dangerous" to own a gun, then why is that person left walking around with the rest of us?  Can’t that "dangerous" person still commit suicide or harm others if they have the opportunity?  The answer to both questions is that Red Flag laws are about confiscating guns, not saving lives.

In Maryland, which recently enacted such a law, two-thirds of the requests for confiscation were deemed frivolous.  In other words, most of the requests that were denied were from people wanting to "get even" with someone else by making their lives miserable!  But how many frivolous requests got through anyhow?

We do NOT want Red Flag laws in Virginia!

Click here to read more and to print out a flyer for sharing with as many people as you can - gun owners and non-gun owners alike

Under a 140-year-old law (18.2-283), a person cannot carry a weapon into a place of worship during a service without a "good and sufficient reason" (there is no legal definition of that term).  18.2-283 restricts and complicates the ability of a place of worship to have a comprehensive security plan.

Click here for more information and to send emails to your legislators and the Governor in support of repealing 18.2-283.

2019 is around the corner and, with it, the 2019 Legislative Session.  

As always, VCDL will be taking the lead in protecting the rights of gun owners at the General Assembly.

You can keep track of the bills affecting gun owners, and how you can help with each, using our 2019 Legislative Tracking Tool, which will be available soon.

VCDL sued Katie Couric and other responsible parties for the film “Under the Gun” for defamation in Federal District Court in Richmond, Virginia on September 13, 2016. 

As has been widely reported in the media, the "documentary" contains manipulated footage that makes it look like some VCDL Executive members were totally stumped by a question on background checks, when in reality, they immediately began responding.

Q: What is the status of the lawsuit?

• Our appeal has been argued in front of a three-judge panel with the Federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.  We are appealing a ruling by a federal judge that dismissed our claim because in his opinion we didn't answer Couric's question, and thus the judge felt Couric was free to change our answers to anything she wished without causing harm to us!  That would have set a horrible precedent and we simply could not let it stand.
  

Q: Why did the VCDL file this lawsuit?

• It’s the only way to hold Couric and her people accountable.
• Couric has publicly admitted that the film was misleading and misrepresented VCDL, but the filmmakers refuse to fix it or to stop promoting and distributing it.

Q: What does VCDL hope to accomplish with the lawsuit?

• Hold the filmmakers accountable for misleading audiences and misrepresenting the organization.
• Compensate VCDL and VCDL members who were harmed by the film.
• Set the record straight.
• Advance our mission to defend your right to defend yourself.

Q: How is VCDL paying for the lawsuit and the appeal?

• Contributions from members and non-members alike.
• Please consider making a contribution to help hold Couric accountable and to help VCDL defend your right to defend yourself. Unfortunately, filing such a lawsuit is expensive, but VCDL simply cannot let this manipulation and intentional misrepresentation stand!

Q: Where can I get more information?

• To compare the manipulated video footage and the unedited audio recording, and learn more about the case, click here.
• To read the actual complaint that was filed, click here.

To contribute to VCDL, please click here.

If you want to be a part of the winning team working to protect and enhance our rights in Virginia ...