[i][b]...continued[/i][/b]
After a pause to mull this over, Deputy M said "Show me your handgun permit."
"You mean in case I ever decide to conceal it? As you can see, this
is not concealed. I'm carrying open. No permit is required." (I had
a concealed carry permit in my wallet, but I refused to let that be
my ticket in, as it would set a bad precedent for citizens without
permits who legally carry open).
He stood there looking at me, and after another pause, demanded "show
me some ID."
When I complied, he compared my ID to my signature where I had signed
in, as if I would have signed in under an alias. Maybe he just
needed to feel as though he was in better control of the situation
than he really was.
"OK, come with me" he said with resignation. We took the elevator to
the 2nd floor, and rounded the corner to where Deputy D was manning
the metal detector outside the council chambers. Deputy D was the
one who had evicted me for concealed carry two months before, and we
immediately recognized each other.
"Ohhh, I know him," sighed Deputy D with a roll of his eyes when he
saw me coming. I gave him a cheerful hello, which he didn't return.
"I know him," he said again to Deputy M.
It was clear that Deputy D had been counseled concerning the right of
citizens to bear arms since our last interaction, but apparently he
was only advised to ask for a concealed carry permit to allow access,
which he now did.
At this, Deputy M and I now both chimed in together: "But it's not concealed!"
"I don't need a permit for open carry" I added.
There was a look of total confusion and consternation on Deputy D's
face. He and Deputy M looked back and forth at each other, at me, at
my gun, and then looked at each other again, seemingly at a loss
about how to handle open carry.
"He showed me an ID" offered Deputy M suggestively.
"OK, show me your ID" demanded Deputy D.
I handed it to him, and he barely glanced at it before handing it
back, turning away from me and saying "just go in."
"Who, me?" I asked, wanting to be sure.
"Yea, just go in," he said again with finality, glad to be done with
me, and surely not wanting to have to deal with his supervisors again
on the issue of legally armed citizens.
Although there was little on the agenda to interest me (I'm not even
a Richmond resident), I stayed for two hours just to make sure the
deputies didn't have a change of heart or mind. But they wisely left
well enough alone.
VCDL has blazed yet another trail for the freedom of Virginia's gun
owners. So feel free to carry your firearm to the Richmond City
Council Meeting, either open or concealed as you prefer. It is your
right.
Dennis J. O'Connor
Director, VCDL
[email]
[email protected][/email]