Virginia Citizens Defense League

Defending Your Right to Defend Yourself

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People Are Talking About VCDL

“... to be honest … [VCDL has] been really successful in preventing our legislators from passing any meaningful [gun-control] legislation on this issue [universal background checks].”

Stephanie Soechtig, Director "Under the Gun"
Newsbusters.com – June 2, 2016

“VCDL, which prides itself on being more radical than the National Rifle Association (NRA) with stickers that say 'guns save lives,' supports allowing guns on school grounds, on college campuses, in libraries and government facilities and in bars. They oppose closing the gun show loophole and universal background checks.”

State Senator Mark Herring (currently the Virginia Attorney General) August 2, 2013

“... the Virginia Citizens Defense League, the commonwealth’s dominant gun lobby.”

Roanoke Times Metro Columnist Dan Casey - Jan 6, 2013

“The law was a victory for the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights organization that makes the NRA look moderate.”

Eleanor Clift – Politics Daily – July 5, 2010

“[VCDL] campaigns for the right of gun owners to tote firepower in all kinds of places … including outdoor festivals and college campuses.”

The Daily Press – Oct 20, 2007

“Virginia Citizens Defense League . . . is on a mission to root out every nugget of gun control it can detect in Virginia. It has been behind campaigns to make sure concealed weapons are allowed in local government buildings, even civic centers, and fought to open up state and local parks to concealed weapons.”

The Daily Press – Nov 27, 2006

“They’re pretty effective, I have to give them credit.”

Jim Sollo, Chairman of Virginians Against Handgun Violence

Virginian Pilot – Nov 11, 2002

VCDL Lobby Day: Monday, January 21, 2019

Some photos from Lobby Day 2019:

VCDL's 2018 Membership Contest Winners

Here are some of the 10 winners of VCDL's 2018 membership contest:

1st Place: Stanley Walker

2nd Place: Ron Lilly

Third Place: Ken Modica

Fifth Place: Brien Dyer

"Red Flag" Laws Are a Serious Threat to Our Liberty - Spread the Word NOW!

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

The 2019 Legislative Session

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.

Spread the Word on the Dangers of 'Universal Background Checks'

Do You Know the Dangers of

“Universal Background Checks”?

Some people are now pushing for “Universal Background Checks” (UBCs), where all gun transfers, even private gifts between friends & family, must go through a gun dealer. While UBCs may sound harmless at first glance, they are NOT.

To be able to enforce UBCs, the government will have to implement a gun registration scheme, followed by “compliance inspections” in your home to verify that you registered all your guns and that you still have them. Even non-gun owners could be required to register as such, and be subject to home inspections for verification, too.

It becomes easy to confiscate your guns since the government will know exactly which guns you own. And you’d better have all those registered guns, and no others, when the government knocks on your door!

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