Fairfax, VA 11/24 - Protesteasyguns.com counter protest

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I like that. I agree "Armed citizens" doesn't sound good. Because it sounds like what they want...unarmed citizens.
 
This is coming together well I think. I just got an email from Mr. Van Cleave with the attached flyer. My one question on it however is whether or not this is connected to the MMM or the Brady Campaign. (it may be, I just haven't seen it). If it's not should the flier be changed since in all fairness it's not their event?
 

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The Brady Bunch and the MMM's are closely involved in these lie-ins as well as Virginians For Public Safety (Jim Sollo). One of the more amusing aspects of the anti-rights organizations is they create multiple groups with different names, but the membership is the same persons in the groups. Also of note, they had to bring in folks from out of state for the last lie-in in Richmond in order to have enough participants.

If you really want to have some fun with this, dress in black that day and go join thier side. When the time comes to lie on the ground, do so when it's your turn. They will then lie silently for 3 minutes. At the halfway mark (1:30 minutes) you jump up and shout something appropriate like "Guns save lives, and could have saved thiers!".
 
I got at least a half dozen responses (so far) from the VCDL newsletter of people who would like to participate. One sign suggestion I really liked was "Lay down for lies, stand up for rights".
 
Here is an idea for a counter protest; have up to 33 people lay on the ground for a one minute, and then 30 of them stand up and announce that they represent the victims that were NOT killed at the Appalachian Law School shooting because ARMED students stopped the rampaging killer. Perhaps the 3 "dead" victims could be dressed in black, and have the 30 "survivors" be dressed in white. Maybe, two of the "survivors" could immediately get up and run toward the parking lot, then back again to represent Tracey Bridges and Todd Ross going to get their handguns, and then the "survivors" could then stand up to represent being "saved". Or, use your own imagination for ideas to help put the point across. Probably should keep it as simple and direct as practical, though.
 
I'll be with you in spirit...

In person, I'm going to be down at Jamestown Settlement, burning large quantities of their gunpowder.

As of 3 weekends ago, I'm now checked out on the breechloading swivel gun. Means I can burn MORE of their powder :D
 
I'm wondering....

This is the place with Coastal Flats, right? That's a "town center" (which, for you out-of-state'ers, is basically a small town, minus the housing). Is this place private property?

If this is indeed private property, how does that affect everything? Do we have to clear it with the owners, or are we just showing up?

Also, this property, in true modern Northern Virginia fashion, is AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE TO GET IN AND OUT OF. Whoever is going, the following is not an overstatement: Plan on having to walk up to 1/4 mile in order to get to the town center.

Their ingenious method of getting customers to the stores consists mainly of satellite lots. I go over there for lunch sometimes and it's not bad during the day - but I've never been there on the weekend. I can tell you that in the evenings it gets out of control. There are also few sidewalks.

Bear all this in mind if you're planning on carrying signs around.
 
Fairfax Corner is owned by The Person Companies. Their website has nothing conclusive about performing a demonstration. I suspect that their demonstration will face very little opposition but probably won't last very long either as they just lie on the ground and hold a banner for their website.

I think what we need to do is stand amongst their crowd with signs and mix their message with ours. Most onlookers will probably confuse them as part of our group.
 
I got about a half dozen bites from the VCDL newsletter (more to come I'm sure) and just sent out this email.

(I agree that parking does suck at Fairfax Corner, but the alternative is a dank dark 10 story parking garage with tiny little spaces)

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Thank you for your interest in participating in the peaceful counter-protest to ProtestEasyGuns.com’s “lie in” at Fairfax Corner on November 24.

According to their website (www.protesteasyguns.com), it is scheduled for 3 PM. For anybody who has not been there, Fairfax Corner is a mixed used development with shopping, dining, office, and residential. It is located on the other side of I-66 just south of the Fair Oakes Mall, and you can get to it from Monument Drive, Government Center Parkway, or Random Hills Road. I don’t know this for sure, but based upon how their other events have been set up, the most likely area for them to use would be the courtyard/fountain in front of the Cinema De Lux movie theater.

A few sign ideas that have been suggested:

“174 Shots. 9 Minutes. 30 Dead. No Armed Resistance”
“Lay down for lies and fear. Stand up for truth and rights”
“I respect your right to choose to be a victim. Please respect my right to not be one”
“Gun Control is people control”
“Gun control laws do not stop the insane”

I plan to show up around 2, but I probably won’t be getting my sign out until after they have assembled and are close to the start time of their show. I will be making lots of copies of a flier Mr. Van Cleave sent me. If you have access to a color copier and wouldn’t mind making a few color copies for the media, please let me know.

I have also posted a thread on www.thehighroad.org about the counter-protest so hopefully some friends from that forum will join us.

A few things to please keep in mind:

#1. This is going to be a peaceful counter-protest. There may very well be some “spirited” exchanges, but it is not in our best interests to come across as confrontational or, even worse, threatening. (I am not suggesting that open-carry is threatening. That’s their problem if they don’t like free peoples exercising their rights.)

#2. This is not an official VCDL event. While of course we all have the right to express our views and assemble peacefully, we are not speaking on behalf of the VCDL or representing its official position.

#3. And finally, on a personal note, I will be out of town from about Noon Thursday to Sunday afternoon, and will not be able to respond to any emails until I got back.

Thank you again for your interest. I'm confident that this will be a productive and fun event. Invite your friends! I’ll send out another email towards the end of the next week with a reminder and any new information I have.
 
There has been a development. skidmark from the opencarry.org forum emailed Fairfax Corner management and told them about the protesteasyguns.com event and requested permission to hold a "companion event" and that request was denied. Apparently it's all private property.

I'm not sure this was really all that great of an idea but what's done is done.

I'm thinking now that it might be a good idea to show up and act like normal shoppers and only bring the signs out when they start their 3 minutes of laying down. We should either think of a way to discreetly carry them (large shopping bag?) or designate a fast person as a runner to retrieve the signs from the car of whomever managed to park the closest to where they will be laying down once it looks like they are getting underway.

I'm bringing 4 sturdy signs that are about 30 x 20 inches and read "LAY DOWN FOR FEAR AND LIES" on one side and "STAND UP FOR TRUTH AND RIGHTS" on the other.
 
Here is an update. I just sent out this email to those people who have responded to me that they are interested in attending.

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There has been a development with the protesteasyguns counter-protest that I wanted to make you all aware of, but it’s still on as scheduled.

A user from the opencarry.org forums emailed the management of Fairfax Corner (FC) and asked for permission to hold a “companion activity” along with the protesteasyguns people, and his request was denied. It is apparently all private property. (except for the public roads and sidewalks surrounding it). It also appears from the emails he got that FC management doesn’t want the lie-down people there either. You can read more here:

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/5839-2.html

What this means in my view is that we should be flexible and somewhat cautious, and be prepared that Fairfax County police may be there. One possibility is that FC management won’t let them protest, or tell them they have to take it into a public area. Another possibility is that they will let them do their show but will ask anybody counting-protesting to leave. It’s private property and we have to respect that, but they would have to ask somebody to leave and only if they refused could they be in any trouble. (Note: I am not a lawyer). If they move their show to public property then we should follow them.

It also appears as though some people from opencarry.org are planning to protest as well, so there might be a bigger pro-gun turnout than I initially expected.

There was a proposal that we all meet in the parking area behind the potbelly sandwich store, which I think is a good idea. It’s somewhat out of the way and not visible to where I believe the lie-down will occur. If you’re looking at the front of the movie theater, the potbelly store is to your right.

I’m going to bring 4 heavy duty signs with me, with “LAY DOWN FOR LIES & FEAR” on one side and “STAND UP FOR TRUTH & RIGHTS” on the other. Of course feel free to make up your own sign as well.

I will be there by 2:30 to scope it out but I do not plan on bring out any signs until they start with their show. You shouldn’t have any problem finding me, I’m 6’1 and I’ll be wearing jeans and a tan 5.11 vest. My cell phone is 703-798-5161. I will try my best to check my email frequently and answer my phone if anybody gets lost. Please bring a friend!

See you on Saturday!
 
Bah, of course they would do this while I'm out of town for Thanksgiving.

They're conspiring against me!... <tinfoil hat>
 
Why stand near them? Lay down with them holding a sign like "Gun control made me defenseless." Infiltrate and destroy their message
 
Well, it didn't really work out as planned...
Nobody from MMM/EasyGuns showed up up until 3:40 or so.
There were 5 of us there (I was late), and three security guards watching us talk to each other, who were periodically talking to one woman (who probably counted as 100,000 or so of the million moms).
All in all it was a dud, but only because they bailed.

Now I'm going to be thinking about how to be proactive instead of reactive.
 
I forgot it was yesterday. I would have showed up anyways but I'm glad I didn't "miss" anything.

Nice Signs! :)
 
They were a no-show but it was nice to meet people.

I believe the ladies in the picture were from protesteasyguns but they might have been FC management. The gentleman are either Fairfax police officers or private security. (hard for me to tell)

The police did not bother us in any way.
 

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