Nova Armory files Lawsuit Against Officials for Bullying Tactics, Intimidation

Ammoland ^ | 1 May, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The popular gunshop NOVA Armory opened in Arlington, VA on March 26th.  The store was filled with customers, in spite of opposition from a small group of anti-rights activists.  The bullying activists were joined with several members of the local government who attempted to force the gunshop to close.  One landlord had already broken a lease under pressure from the local disarmists.  NOVA had warned the politicians that they would sue if the harrassment continued.  From NOVA Armory:

March 4, 2016, ARLINGTON, VA — The gun shop planning to open in Arlington, Virginia this month has responded to a letter local politicians sent to its landlord. In response, NOVA Armory has issued report cards with failing grades for each of the seven elected officials who signed the letter to the landlord. Additionally, NOVA Armory warned the politicians and the local anti-Second Amendment activists they could find themselves in court if the gun shop fails to open.

On March 2, NOVA Armory’s landlord received the letter signed by various Virginia office-holders representing Arlington. They were Senator Barbara Favola, Senator Janet Howell, Senator Adam Ebbin, Delegate Patrick Hope, Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Delegate Richard Sullivan, and Delegate Mark Levine. 

“The authors released the letter publicly on the official letterhead of the Virginia legislature, yet their letter contained a typo, it confused our gun shop with an unrelated business, and it relied on numerous false premises,” explained NOVA Armory’s owner-in training, Lauren Pratte. “When I see such a poorly written letter in the business world, I take my business elsewhere,” Pratte continued. “Unfortunately tax payers don’t have that choice, and we must suffer under this sort of incompetence.” 

[marktwain]

Government officials, on offcial letterhead, bullying a landlord not to lease space to a gunshop. Sounds rather fascistic, doesn't it.

[stinkerpot65]

Every liberal is a totalitarian thug.

[T-Bird45]

The NOVA gun shop complains that the politicians’ letter contains a typo and other problems that would cause them to take business elsewhere if received from a commercial entity. Their press release has similar problems, like confusing “libel” for “liable” and apostrophe abuse. I suspect the 16-year-old “owner-in-training” wrote that press release.

How about getting the rest of the story (h/t Paul Harvey) on this 16-year-old girl as the “owner-in-training”?

[Herzo61]

I would wonder if the writers of the letter could be held personally liable rather than “acting in their official duties” cover.

[Alas Babylon!]

I think the story is straight forward and complete.

The local (and loco) politicos don’t want a gun store in the neighbor because, well, guns!

Virginia state law prohibits local governments from banning where guns can be sold. These local politicians tried to ban them anyways, by trying to strong-arm the gun shop’s facility landlord.

The lunatics keep trying; they never give up, and we therefore must never give up our side of the argument. We have the Constitution and liberty on our side; they have emotion and fear mongering. I stand with them.

If the story was written by 16 year old Lauren, she did a GREAT job, despite the few typos!

I can’t see how “the rest of the story” would play out. Do you have a scenario where things are not what they seem?

[marktwain]

Acting in “Their official duties” hurts them more, I believe.

It is denial of civil rights under color of law. They are using their official status to deny a legal business due process. They are attempting to subvert the rule of law in favor of their prejudices.

It is precisely what “progressives” want government power to be, their intentions, their prejudices, their choices, without restraint.

[Alas Babylon!]

Where I say “I stand with them”, I mean the gun store. Not so obvious in my paragraph. See, even I make typos, LOL!

[T-Bird45]

16-year-old gun store owner-in-training sounds like a great human interest story to me. You don’t think so? I think that’s the rest of the story, nothing sinister.

As to the rest of your comment, I agree wholeheartedly that the VA politicos in that area are off-base and that our side of the argument has to be always on guard against this kind of thinking.

[niteowl77]

May NOVA Armory succeed in kicking these elected officials squarely in the slats.

Look at that crowd. Lord help me, I do love going to new gun shops. Over the years I have even occasionally found one whose staff doesn't treat their customers like pains in the ass in spite of the fact that many of their customers actually are pains in the ass.

Mr. niteowl77

[Travis McGee]

When will they pass out the Molotov cocktails?

[dila813]

They think this is so great, start writing the owners of buildings to Planned Parenthood and post their contact info all over the internet.

These people have no shame.

And they wonder why we want to be armed.