Recommended VCDL Talking Points for Gun Shown Volunteers

By Ed Burton, Updated by Bob Sadtler

1. VCDL is an all volunteer organization, from the Board to the newest recruit.

2. VCDL effectively defends your right to defend yourself.

3. VCDL is a grassroots organization that defends your 2nd Amendment rights in Virginia.

4. Membership meetings are regional and infrequent, you are always invited to attend, never required to attend.

5. VCDL asks its members to:

  • Stay informed on the issues. VCDL provides you the statewide information you need to make informed decisions.
  • Communicate with your elected representatives. VCDL provides you the tools, via our website, to communicate simply and effectively with your elected representatives. VCDL will also provide recommended words for your emails or letters; you can easily edit the words to meet your own specific circumstances.
  • VOTE. ALL politics is local: staying informed, and casting informed votes is imperitive to protecting our 2nd Amendment rights in Virginia.

6. VCDL will not recommend or advocate for a particular candidate until the annual VCDL survey is returned by the candidate. Our website provides access to survey results.

7. VCDL does not advocate how to carry a firearm, either open or discreet. VCDL’s position and mission is to ‘defend your right to defend yourself’…not recommend how to carry a firearm.

8. Why join VCDL:

  • Because all politics is local. When VCDL leadership lobby Va. state representatives, the representatives are informed on the number of our membership. This translates to how many voters VCDL represents. More voters equals more influence on our system.
  • VA Alerts are FREE to everyone. They are not without cost. Membership dues help support the cost of keeping you informed of the important 2nd Amendment issues in Va. VA Alerts are provided whether you join VCDL or not. We think it’s that important. VCDL DOES NOT SELL ITS MAILING LIST.
  • VCDL is the most effective grassroots gun rights organization in Va.

9. VCDL gun show volunteers are not lawyers…we NEVER provide legal advice, just informed opinions.

What do I get for my membership dollars?

  • Tangible benefits: The ability to purchase firearms through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, since VCDL is affiliated with CMP. IN addition, some gun show vendors will give discounts to VCDL members, especially if you are wearing a vendor badge.
  • The most important thing one gets by joining is intangible…the fact that they are helping to defend the Right to Keep and Bear Arms here in Va. Through:

1) VCDL’s efforts to mobilize gun owners to lobby in Richmond.

2) VCDL’s efforts in compelling localities to obey the law, and…

3) Legal action VCDL has taken to defend the RKBA in Va. Unfortunately, all those things cost money…

And without our members, we could not be as effective as we are in making Va. a better place for gun

owners.

In the 1st six months of 2009:

  • VCDL added a powerful new arrow to its quiver-the ability to sue localities, which have gun ordinances on their books and get back our legal fees when we win (and we WILL win).

In the 1st six months of 2010:

  • VCDL successfully lead the effort to repeal the restaurant ban! As of July 1st, you can carry discreetly in a restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption as long as you don’t consume an alcoholic beverage. The rules for those wishing to open carry in restaurants didn’t change.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to allow those without CHPs to be able to have a loaded sidearm secured in a compartment or container in their motor vehicle or boat. The law became effective July 1.
  • VCDL successfully fought off another attack on gun shows. Rest assured that this battle is going to be fought again in 2011 and we cannot afford to have what amounts to the registration of private sales. The anti-gunners are salivating at the prospect of imposing onerous restrictions that would spell the death of gun shows, and the networking and fellowship of gun owners that occurs there. FREEDOM IS NO LOOPHOLE!
  • Other improvements in the gun laws that VCDL fought for: 1) You can now renew your permit through the mail, 2) the Circuit Court Clerk can now issue permits instead of a judge if there are no problems with the application.
  • VCDL had the largest Lobby Day EVER – over 1,000 gun owners showed up to lobby for our right to keep and bear arms. That large turnout helped make sure that the so-called “gun show loophole” bill NEVER got out of committee.

In the last two months of 2011, VCDL launched Operation: Campus Safety, highlighting the urgent need for Virginia’s college students to have the fundamental human right of self-defense, and urging alumni not to donate to their alma maters unless they free the students in their charge to defend themselves.

In the first six months of 2012:

  • VCDL successfully led the effort to repeal fingerprinting for CHPs!
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to ban localities from requiring extraneous information on CHPs.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to prevent firearms bans during states of emergency.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to require localities to sell firearms acquired in a buy-up.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to reduce the penalty for not having your permit to a $25 fine.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to enact a parking lot bill for municipal employees.
  • VCDL successfully led the effort to approve the CHP as a voter ID

VCDL is fighting for your right to defend yourself on many fronts:

  • VCDL is an advocacy group for gun owners, fight to get pro-gun bills passed and anti-gun bills defeated in the General Assembly. Many pro-gun bills that have become law were put in on behalf of VCDL.
  • VCDL is an educational organization, teaching our members about firearms, laws, safety, and more.
  • VCDL keeps you updated on current firearms issues with our powerful VA-ALERT email alert system, which now reaches over 17,000 gun owners.
  • VCDL serves as a watchdog, looking out for localities, judges, and government agencies violating the rights of gun owners and taking action to stop such violations.
  • VCDL is your voice in the media. In Va., the press comes to VCDL first for quotes and information on guns and gun laws.
  • VCDL is a CMP affiliate, which affords you the opportunity to purchase military firearms at a discounted price.

Regarding memberships:

  • Memberships signed up after April 1stexpire September 30th of the NEXT YEAR. So, they are getting up to 18 months membership for the price of 12 months.
  • Memberships that sign up before April 1st will expire that September 30th.

When signing people up for VA ALERT, have them PRINT NEATLY!

Regarding sales:

  • We do not take Discover Card.
  • Only memberships can be put on credit cards. Merchandise must be paid by cash or check.

About Volunteering: Gun shows are where we recruit fellow activists, inform the public about gun issues, and solicit funds to continue our unrelenting and successful assault against infringements on the right to keep and bear arms in Va. This is where many gun owners get exposed to us, our work, and our message, and we are always in need of volunteers. Please consider helping us with this vital work. No experience is necessary, and most shifts are no longer than four hours. If you’ve never done it before, we’ll pair you with a veteran. We need at least two per shift at smaller shows, three or more at the larger ones depending on how many issues we are working. Aside from the pride of taking an active part in the defense of the 2nd Amendment, you’ll have a great time working with like-minded people, and get into the gun show for free. People who have volunteered frequently make friends and come back again and again. You must be a member to work the table. If you’re not one now, you can join when you arrive for your shift.

Here is what we do:

  • Tell people about us. When curious bystanders come by the table, show them our sign listing VCDL’s many successes and let them know who we are and what we do (see talking points).
  • Subscribe people to VA-ALERT. This is an easy sell since it is no-risk and free. Few people stay on VA-ALERT very long without joining VCDL once they see all the gun rights issues across the state that we are involved in.
  • Sign up new members and renew current members. Have them fill out the application and hand it back to you with $25.
  • Sell VCDL merchandise to interested people and receive donations from supporters. Be sure to meticulously document your sales on the inventory sheet. Make certain to keep sales money separate from Political Action Committee (PAC) money.
  • During the legislative session, encourage people to sign postcards to politicians on hot topics for gun owners.
  • Help people with information on obtaining concealed handgun permits or the current status of important legislation.

Additional Information:

Gun Show volunteers: You can sign up on the VCDL website ( click the gun shows link, then the Region, then Upcoming shows. Under Table Staffing, pick the show and date/time you’d like to volunteer and fill out the form. Or you can answer one of our weekly appeals on VA-ALERT by responding to the listed email of the coordinator for the show you are interested in. You can either pick your own shift, or leave it to the coordinator’s needs, or even volunteer for multiple shifts if you have the time and inclination.

What do I do? If you’ve never done a show before, here are some pointers: Try to use the vendor access door, usually in the back of the facility. You’ll probably be asked about a vendor’s badge – just tell them that you are working the VCDL table, and your badge is at the table. If you can’t find the vendor access door, when you go through the front door, let them know you’re a vendor, and that your badge is inside – as vendors, we don’t have to pay to get into the show. Most of us open carry at the show, you certainly don’t have to, but if you do , the show sponsors require you to remove the magazine and clear the chamber BEFORE you get to the door – preferably in the car – and put a zip tie through the barrel. You’ll see the VCDL banner, under it will be our table. Watch how the other VCDL members greet the public (“Are you familiar with VCDL?”) is popular, and decide what you want to do. Check out the VCDL website ( to familiarize yourself with what we have been doing in the past and what our goals are. All of the other volunteers will help you, it’s really a lot of fun AND a great experience getting the word out. And your vendor badge will usually be rewarded with a discount from any dealer in the show.

What do I wear? You will be representing VCDL – dress casually and wear comfortable shoes that will support you while standing on concrete floors. VCDL sells T-shirts and polos which can get you further discounts from some dealers, beyond what your vendor badge gets you.

How long do I have to be there? We usually work in shifts, Saturday shows are usually 9a.m. to 5p.m. and Sundays are from 10a.m. to 4p.m. So, Saturday morning shifts are 9a.m. to 1p.m., afternoons are 1p.m. to 5p.m. Sunday mornings are 10 a.m. to 1p.m. and afternoons are 1p.m. to 4p.m. Remember, this is all voluntary – if you can’t do a full shift, we’d still be happy to have you with us for however long you can be there.

THANKS FOR VOLUNTEERING!