Posted on 06/29/2009 5:18:08 AM PDT by marktwain
The Virginia Citizens Defense League is used to fighting for the right to carry guns. But now it's having to defend the right to wear stickers about carrying guns. The group says officials at the Richmond Coliseum recently attempted to stop members from handing out blaze-orange "Guns Save Lives" stickers before an appearance by radio and television talk-show host Glenn Beck. "It's bad enough they're trying to trample the Second Amendment. Then you come and attack the First," President Philip Van Cleave said, referring to the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of the right to bear arms and to free speech.
Dolly Vogt, who manages the Coliseum as a regional general manager for SMG, did not respond to three messages Friday. Van Cleave described the incident and his group's concerns to the City Council on Monday. A city spokesman had no comment but said officials are looking into the matter.
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He said the incident was particularly disturbing because other stickers were being worn into the show without any apparent objection. "I think that kind of speaks for itself," he said. "It was about our sticker."
Rebecca K. Glenberg, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, said members of Van Cleave's group were clearly within their rights if they were handing out stickers on public property. She said it's less clear whether Coliseum officials could ban stickers but added that any restriction would have to be enforced evenly and be reasonable in a way that's unrelated to content. "They cannot prohibit stickers about guns while allowing stickers about other topics," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
Without reading the article in full, let me guess. The excuse was that they don’t permit any handouts because they are frequently discarded and become litter.
What do you bet they would’ve allowed gun control stickers?
OK, I went back and read the rest; off by a country mile! I thought that the handing out of the stickers was the issue, not wearing them.
They have absolutely no case, which I'm sure concerns them to no end! < /sarc >
Except “gay” rights and the “unrestricted right” to perform/receive abortions.
The First Amendment won't last long once the Second Amendment has been sufficiently trampled. The would-be elitists that want to control all our lives don't want us to have free speech - on the radio, in person, or on the net. They don't want us to have firearms to defend ourselves - against common criminals, or high criminals. They don't even want us to have knives. They don't want us to have a sense of "us" - they want a one world, we're one big happy socialist/fascist family outlook.
Then, Coliseum officials turned their attention to people who were wearing the stickers as they entered the building. "They had to throw the stickers away," he said. "They couldn't hide it."They objected to people wearing specific stickers, and demanded they be tossed, while allowing other stickers with different messages.Van Cleave said most people followed the instructions. He said the incident was particularly disturbing because other stickers were being worn into the show without any apparent objection.
A list of banned items on the Coliseum's Web site includes laser pointers, backpacks and stickers; however, Van Cleave said his group determined through Internet searches that stickers were added after the Beck show.
He said the Virginia Citizens Defense League isn't looking to file a lawsuit or asking for an apology.
"We just want this policy changed and that be the end of it," he said
Why is it we advocate the ability to use the ultimate defense against attack but refuse to use even the normal everyday means to defend ourselves when attacked?
Make no mistake, this is an attack on our rights, Free Speech, Self Defense, 1st and Second Amendments.
Gather evidence, hire spokesmen and lawyers (Lots of lawyers) and SUE THEIR ASS INTO THE NEXT CENTURY. Fight back!
Most of the money will go to the spokesmen and lawyers, so what? Whatever is left will buy more stickers.
The publicity and action itself is the goal. Only the threat of action prevents this kind of rights repression, and when all we do is "Ask for an apology" we won't even get that. The rules have been changed, no stickers. Do you not think this rule will also be slectivly enforced? Our Free Speech is lost, and those who will take our right win.
Sue them!!!
2nd. Sue them personally. We need to quit being nice. Nice guys finish last in this, it isn’t a friendly game.
People who oppose the right to bear arms tend to oppose rights generally.
Except, of course, their own.
Just another violation of the rule
NEVER PUT A WOMAN IN POSITION OF AUTHORITY
Just another violation of the rule
NEVER PUT A WOMAN IN POSITION OF AUTHORITY
Yup, same thing is happening right here on FR.
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