Comments on: Manassas City Council Draws Record Crowd

By: Interested Observer

Interested Observer — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:04:14 +0000

Cudos to the Manassa City Council for providing the venue to have the air cleared.

VCDL Seems to have done a good job demonstrating that we have rights and they are to be respected - by everyone.

Nothing has been heard from the other side. Was there no one there to speak up for the ‘Storm Trooper’ mentality?

When I lived in Dale City I split my shopping between Potomac Mills and Manassas. When I wanted ‘price ‘ I went to PM when I wanted ’service’ I went to Manassas. I’m glad I’m out of the area because the ’service’ in Manassas seems to be deteriorating.

Now that we’ve heard from MCPD (at Tony’s) and VCDL (at the Council meeting) we’ll have to see what the City Council and the Chief do to (hopefully) conclude the matter.

By: Bill Sly

Bill Sly — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:18:27 +0000

Thank you all for your comments on this event. I am a city resident here since 1979 and I spoke at the meeting as well. I can understand the feeling of having outsiders come in and “tell us how to do our business”. The key here is that the 7 gentlemen involved were all from outside of Manassas but Virginia residents. A show of support for them over this incident was certainly warranted and the need to show support for improper actions is justified. I write Ted Kennedy, Diana Feinstein, Chuck Schumer and his associate senator over national issues even though they will not address me because I am not from their respective States, however, it is their laws (and vote) that affect me and you as well, and I feel I should be able to tell them what I feel.
In this case, rogue police action against law-abiding citizens from Viriginia can be interperted by other jurisdictions as well. I assure you, unlike the ACLU, the VCDL was truly here to right a wrong to all of us. We were respectful and polite. I was very proud of their efforts and all who attended.

By: el Zorro

el Zorro — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:10:06 +0000

Senor Comandante Felipe Van Cleave,

Z…is sorry VCDL can’t help to fight illegal aliens. VCDL obviously have leaders who know how to effectively organize citizens. While Z…disagree with VCDL position on HB2943…..Z always agree with VCDL kick anti-gun CUARACHAS’ CULOS. Muchas gracias.

Beware When The Moon Shine Bright!!!

Don Diego de la Vega

By: Philip Van Cleave

Philip Van Cleave — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:42:59 +0000

Sr. el Fox,

Si, muchas gracias, our members did a great job of presenting themsevles and the cause.

VCDL doesn’t take a position on illegal aliens, abortion, dolphins, or flying saucers. For me, personally, illegal is illegal. Nice and simple. But VCDL will not go there.

Felipe

By: el Zorro

el Zorro — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:55:34 +0000

Senor Comandante Van Cleave,

Your members nice folks!! Z… at meeting. Even …if most from out of town. My new city need help from VCDL to fight illegal aliens. Even if you help vote down Jackson Miller’s Arrest Class 1 & 2 Misdemeants Bill ….can your folks come help fight to save CITY OF MANASSAS from illegal aliens?

Z…Kidding before. Z…hate ride in Helicopteros.

Beware When The Moon Shine Bright!!!

By: Batson D. Belfrey

Batson D. Belfrey — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:06:17 +0000

“Was anyone in the parking lot to see how many “open carryers” put on a coat in the cold and begame illegal concealed carryers? ”

I would suspect that everyone of those open-carrying also have CHP’s, which makes it perfectly legal to put a coat on. The purpose of so many appearing in council chambers with their handguns in plain view, is to demonstrate the point that no one should fear a law-abiding citizen, exercising their right to carry.

As far as your carpet bagger remark, I will agree in the case of the ACLU, but strongly disagree in the case of VCDL. In the ACLU case, it was illegal immigrant activists from as far away as New Jersey, protesting an initiative that was clearly within the purview of City Council, and would affect how residents (of questionable immigration status) of the City (subject to City Ordinances) could live in homes. In the case of the VCDL, it was an abuse of police power, inflicted on visitors to our city, who were exercising their rights under the Virginia Connstituiton, and in full compliance with state law.

By: Big Dog

Big Dog — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:23:16 +0000

FYI: The Manassas city council sits well over fifty people -
so if all the seats are full and people are standing
along both sides and in the back and even in the foyer
then you have at least 75-100 VCDL folks (even allowing
for a dozen or so that were there for other items).

Hope the day will never come in Manassas that we
we won’t listen to ALL who wish to speak at citizen’s
time - our only rules pertain to basic civility and
an awareness of time limits.

By: Philip Van Cleave

Philip Van Cleave — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:25:31 +0000

Long Time Resident…

VCDL is an equal opportunity gun-rights defender. We have members (3,300) across the state and as a group we have addressed problems in Fairfax, Norfolk, Culpeper, Warrenton, Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, etc.

No one has ever suggested that we were ‘outsiders’ trying to invade somebody’s home locality.

By: WSGFN

WSGFN — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:38:24 +0000

The hard part is getting those who are SUPPOSE to enforce it to do so. The US is not enforcing the laws of immigration, the City is not enforcing the laws of zoning and some of the local law enforcement obviously don’t know those who are abiding by the laws. THAT IS THE HARD PART getting people to do their job right!

By: Big Dog

Big Dog — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:43:18 +0000

What illegal immigration, open carry and zoning
enforcement have in common is the LAW - we may
not agree with it but we must respect it. (And in
a democracy, of course, you can vote for changes
on election day).

-Illegal immigration is, well, illegal.

-Open carry is legal in Virginia.

- Zoning laws are, well, laws and should be enforced.

What is so hard about this?

By: citizenofmanassas

citizenofmanassas — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:07:12 +0000

Long time,

I agree with you to a point about outsiders coming in and talking as if their voices count more than the opinions of the Citizens of the City. However, there are major differences between what happened last night, and what happened last year, namely, those that spoke last year were in favor of, or defending an illegal activity(illegal immigration) and telling the City what it should do or should not do concerning illegal activity.

What happened at Tony’s to seven law abiding Citizens, who were visiting our City and were spending money in our City, were mistreated by some of our police officers. These people were not breaking a single law whatsoever. The right to carry is a State wide law, not restricted to a certain number of Cities or towns. The people who spoke last night were not trying to have a law changed or an ordinance changed, but instead wanted to let the City Council now how some of the police force treats LAW ABIDING visitors to our City. They wanted action to be taken against the officers involved, not the entire police force. The City can make do without lllegals, but we surely cannot make do without law abiding visitors. The crowd last night was also much friendlier to the Council members, contrast that to the crowd last year that supported illegal immigration.

One of the speakers pointed out that 15% of the officers the City has showed up at Tony’s that night. That is a pretty large percentage of the force to act that way. That is indicative of a larger problem we have, as I can’t believe that it was just by chance to have all of the “bad” officers working the same shift and to show up at the same call.

By: Andy H

Andy H — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:00:06 +0000

For my part, I thought the VCDL people conducted themselves with distinction. I thought they had a number of good points to make and didn’t distract from them by groaning when others stood to talk about a different topic. In fact, they applauded the others.

By: long time resident

long time resident — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:48:45 +0000

I don’t disagree that this is a fundamental 2nd amendment right. However, just like when the liberal ACLU came in to rip us a new one on unfair housing practices, I resent VCDL carpet baggers from Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Annandale, Culpepper, etc. coming in and telling us they think is wrong. Was anyone in the parking lot to see how many “open carryers” put on a coat in the cold and begame illegal concealed carryers?

Chief Skinner has a plan and I believe the community trusts him. Unfortunately here we go again with outsiders trying to run the City

By: citizenofmanassas

citizenofmanassas — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:22:58 +0000

Once again the MJM shows bias in reporting only 50 people showed up for this meeting. Thanks to the many people who showed up with guns, Manassas City Hall was the safest place to be in the entire Commonwealth last night. And there were zero problems mixing guns and politics. So, the aclu, brady campaign and the other gun hating liberals can take that and stick it in their pipe.

I might add the difference between the crowd last night and the one that showed up last year for the public hearing regarding the “Family” ordinance, was night and day. The illegals and their supporters were very rude and attacked the entire City, while those that spoke last night were very polite and thanked the Council a number of times for listening to so many people speak.

By: 10thdistrictrepublican

10thdistrictrepublican — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:15:42 +0000

The 2nd amendment is a foundational issue in the United States and its great to see Virginians to not take this lightly.