Just a reminder - we need people tonight!

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) is having a hearing on conforming their regulations to Virginia law.

The hearing is being held on Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Dulles, 2300 Dulles Corner Blvd, Herndon, VA 20171.

VCDL will be there and our position is simple: since we believe that MWAA is preempted by Virginia law
(18.2-287.01), they should simply drop their firearms regulations and let federal and state laws control.  This works fine for all the other airports in Virginia and it will mean that all firearms laws that affect airports will be completely uniform.

Here is a link to the hearing announcement, including details of the new regulation, from MWAA:

http://www.vcdl.org/pdf/MWAAWeapons.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTE! ********

Although Virginia law (18.2-287.01) is clear when it states:

"Any other statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance specifically addressing the possession or transportation of weapons in any airport in the Commonwealth shall be invalid, and this section shall control."

MWAA apparently still believes it is the sovereign and independent nation of MWAA and that it can pick and choose which Virginia laws apply to them.

*** It wouldn't surprise me if MWAA police were on the lookout for anyone going to or leaving the Hyatt for this public meeting with the goal of enforcing their "sovereignty" as it relates to firearms. ***

Just to underscore what MWAA said in it's announcement, in addition to the airport itself, MWAA property includes:
- the Dulles Access Highway,
- the Dulles Toll Road,
- Route 28 where it runs along the airport's eastern border,
- Route 606 where it runs along the airport's western border.

So, prudence would suggest that for this public meeting you should both be discreet (no open carry) and also avoid MWAA property while travelling to and from the Hyatt.

The directions provided in the MWAA announcement take you to the Hyatt via MWAA property.  Avoid the Toll Road, Dulles Access Road, the parts of Route 28 (Sully Road) and 606 (Old Ox Road) that border the airport.

Update?

About 12 people spoke mostly VCDL members including Philip Van Cleve, the president, there was no opposition.  Unfortunately the board chose not to attend this meeting and instead send their lawyers.  There was some additional fellowship at a local Fudruckers.  This event was a success but we will have to wait to see if they change the regs to be in line with VA law.  You have up until Friday to pass along your comments.  Please send them to [email protected].

Fudruckers...A VCDL tradition!