Posted on 09/12/2001 8:24:01 AM PDT by Ligeia
Edited on 07/20/2004 11:45:05 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Fighter planes from the Virginia Air National Guard and warships from Norfolk sortied yesterday in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, and Gov. Jim Gilmore mobilized about 600 National Guard soldiers and airmen.
U.S. and state military bases went to Threat Condition Delta, increasing security to the highest level, setting up roadblocks, checking vehicles and restricting entry to armed forces members and authorized civilians.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesdispatch.com ...
After a war's worth of Americans died yesterday morning, numerous Richmond area residents made unscheduled stops at their local firearms stores to stock up on ammunition.
"We've seen whole families coming here today," said Karen Allan, owner of Southern Gun World. "Good people, just concerned for their safety."
It's not panic buying, or a huge run, she and other area gun store workers report, but a steady increase in the number of purchases as gun owners reacted to an attack on American citizens.
"People are stocking up, just in case," said Joe Atkinson with DeGoff's Firearms in Mechanicsville. "We've seen quite a bit more sales."
Yesterday's attack was on everyone's lips, said Barry Hopkins, a manager at Green Top Sporting Goods in Hanover County.
"People feel so helpless," Hopkins said. "I know that's the way I feel. I'm watching on TV. I get mad, the tragedy of it overcomes me.
"They want to do something," Hopkins said, "whether it's go donate blood or buy a box of ammo."
One of the many customers at Green Top yesterday was Sonny Heron, a Louisa County carpenter who said he spent much of the morning after the attack praying. He came in at noon to stock up on ammo for his .44-caliber pistol, his shotgun and rifle.
"Immediately, the first thing I thought of was my family," said the father of two. "I've been running low on bullets and needed to get some. Now seems like the right time."
Hopkins said he talked to one of Green Top's distributors, who told him that firm had sold more than a warehouse's worth of home defense-style shotguns in the first few hours after yesterday's attack.
Allan said her regular customers were joined yesterday by a few new people who had never bought guns before - people now worried about their families' safety.
She said she believes in thorough background checks, and in refusing a sale when her suspicions are aroused.
But Allan said she also believes it's critical that citizens not feel helpless when it comes to protecting themselves and their families.
"My prayer is these people should be allowed to protect themselves," she said. "If people thought they couldn't protect themselves, what would they do?" Contact Mark Holmberg at (804) 649-6822 or mholmberg@timesdispatch
Virginia politicians suspended campaigning yesterday because of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
Gubernatorial candidates Mark L. Earley, the Republican, and Mark R. Warner, the Democrat, also pulled campaign advertisements off the air. The two issued statements decrying the attacks.
From Warner's campaign office in Alexandria, his aides could see smoke rising from the Pentagon.
Neither candidate had decided when to resume campaigning. Warner postponed a fund-raising event scheduled tonight at the Central Fidelity Bank Building in downtown Richmond. Earley was expected to cancel Vice President Dick Cheney's fund-raising appearance tomorrow night in Richmond.
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder endorsed Democratic attorney general candidate A. Donald McEachin at a morning news conference in Richmond before the magnitude of the terrorist acts became known.
"There is no defense against insanity," Wilder said of the terrorist attacks.
The candidates for lieutenant governor, Democrat Timothy M. Kaine and Republican Jay Katzen, urged Virginians to give blood. -Tyler WhitleySOURCE
It's good to see Gov. Gilmore taking constructive action.
Gilmore puts National Guard fighter jets on alert
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