Covington VA –-(Ammoland.com)- The Radford University protest on Wednesday was a success, even if the weather didn’t really cooperate.
Despite the rain and the fact that we could not hand out our brochures and stickers unsolicited, we still handed out 500 brochures and even more stickers.
Eryn Bartholomew (Vice-President of the Radford College Republicans), VCDL EM Dave Knight, and I spoke at the event.
We met with the police and student event staff early so they could go over the rules with us for our protest. We also paid for our tables, which we were required to stay near during the protest so as not to block students passing by.
The “occupiers” showed up – all two of them (vs 18 of us). They, of course, did not follow any of the rules that we had to follow. They were standing right in front of the doors to the student center, in the way of those coming and going. They also had not rented a table and were soliciting people to take their stickers and handouts.
While I don’t mind them exercising their First Amendment rights, I am sick and tired of them breaking the rules while we are expected to follow them. I called the Radford University Chief of Police (we had swapped phone numbers before the event) and advised her of what was happening. A little while later the anti-freedom crowd, which had swelled to four for about twenty minutes, was told to stop handing out materials and to move away from the doors.
We were told that a debate class had a topic of “campus carry” and that our side was well represented by a young lady. Other classes also had considerable discussion of the issue, including one where a woman wearing a “No guns on campus” sticker, took it off and accepted a “Guns Save Lives” sticker after hearing a few minutes of a discussion on campus carry!
The occupiers could not find any student groups to sponsor them (just like the rest of the venues except one). The Young Democrats at Radford University refused, understanding that gun control is a losing proposition.
Thanks, again, to the Radford College Republicans for sponsoring us!
Great stuff!
MEDIA COVERAGE
From WSLS.com: https://tinyurl.com/79ozglh
Pro-gun rally held at Radford University
The Virginia Citizen’s Defense League held a rally near the student center Wednesday at Radford University.
They’ve recently held a rally at Virginia Tech, to share their message about why they think guns should be allowed on campus.
Meanwhile, Collin Goddard, who was shot in the 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech was at Radford, along with the brother of another victim. They protested in opposition to the rally.
From WDBJ7.com: https://tinyurl.com/84pjfbu
Pro-Gun protest held at Radford University
About a dozen people showed up for the protest
RADFORD; Va. —
Another pro-gun protest; this time at Radford University. This is the fifth protest on a state college campus by the Virginia Citizen’s Defense League in the past month.
The grassroots, pro-gun organization is pushing for a change in policy to allow those with a concealed weapons permit to carry guns inside campus buildings.Organizers say now is the time for university’s to change their view on guns and safety.
“The push now is because we’ve gotten impatient,” said VCDL President Philip Van Cleave. “We feel the universities and colleges aren’t getting the message. In fact, some are getting the opposite message from what happened. They’re trying to increase no-gun policies, which do nothing but endanger everybody. So the time came where we finally said ‘enough is enough’!”
The VCDL will protest at James Madison University Thursday.
The group is also gearing up for a legislative battle. VCDL organizers say they’re working with state senators on generating legislation that would require state universities to allow guns inside campus buildings.
About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org