Discover What's Happening at Va Tech Virginia Tech News Brady Campaign, Protest Easy Guns Still Planning "Lie-In" At Virginia Tech On Wednesday | Brady Campaign, Protest Easy Guns Still Planning "Lie-In" At Virginia Tech On Wednesday |
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| Written by David Grimes | |
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With the April 16 remembrance ceremonies at Virginia Tech just a few days away, gun activist groups, such as the Brady Campaign and Protest Easy Guns groups, are still planning to demonstrate on the Blacksburg campus and at other locations across the United States.
According to a new release dated April 11, 2008 on the Brady Campaign website, a “lie-in” is planned for 2 p.m. on the Virginia Tech Drill Field this Wednesday. Several other protests are also scheduled at various other time and locations across the U.S. on Wednesday.
University officials stated last week that no demonstration permits will be issued to outside groups and that no one has filed for any permits.
Below is a copy of the news release, dated April 11, 2008, which can be found at www.bradycampaign.org.
News Release
The bulk of the April 16th activities will be local “lie-ins” where mothers and fathers, young and old, gun violence victims, college students and other citizens lie down in groups of 32 to recall the 32 innocent victims murdered at Virginia Tech. They’ll remain lying for just a few short minutes to highlight the short length of time it takes to purchase a gun in the United States. Lie-ins will be held at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday at noon, the Capitol at 12:45, on the Drill Field at Virginia Tech University at 2 PM, in Philadelphia outside the site of the Democratic Presidential Debate at 7 PM, and in dozens of other places.
A volunteer activist from Alexandria, Virginia, Abigail Spangler of ProtestEasyGuns.com, started these “lie-in” protests following the Virginia Tech tragedy last year. “What we are seeing here is a national movement growing out of the efforts of the families and the best friends of the Virginia Tech victims,” Spangler said. “And they will keep fighting until we make progress in America.
The Brady Campaign advocates for common sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole, to restrict access to guns by dangerous people because allowing convicted felons and domestic abusers to buy guns at gun shows from unlicensed sellers without a Brady criminal background check threatens the safety of our families and communities.
“The American people know that it’s too easy for dangerous people to obtain dangerous weapons,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Congress should close the gun show loophole immediately, and take other common sense steps to fight gun violence.”
Details about specific events are available on the Brady Campaign website at http://www.bradycampaign.org/action/april16/
Following is a partial list of the locations where the April 16 remembrances will be held.
Arizona: Phoenix, Arizona State University, Tucson
ProtestEasyGuns.com is a grassroots lie-in protest movement that emerged last year in response to the deadliest shooting rampage by a single individual in U.S. history at Virginia Tech. Supporters are outraged at how easy it is to obtain a gun in the United States and believe it is time to change lax U.S. gun laws that allow criminals and dangerous individuals easy access to guns. Each of the protests includes 32 individuals (symbolizing the number of students and teachers murdered at Virginia Tech and the 32 Americans murdered with guns every day in the United States). Protesters lie down silently for three minutes (signifying the brief amount of time it takes to buy a gun in the United States). The goal is to encourage like-minded citizens to stage their own protests around the country to influence the public discourse and ultimately the legislative process with regard to this critical national problem. Visit www.protesteasyguns.com
Comments (3)
  written by Gene Michaels, April 13, 2008
I'm not sure I'm seeing things the same way as citizen is seeing them.
My interpretation is that these various groups are planning lie-in to draw attention to loopholes in the law. Sadly, I can't think of a better time to bring these loopholes to light than to make notice of it on one of the most tragic day in this nation's history. I also can't see this as an event that would require a permit, but then again I don't profess to be a legal eagle. But I do know that to take reprisal action would be a mockery of the two things that this "demonstration" seems to be pointing out...that this is a tragedy that will never go away nor truly heal and should be mourned by all, and that there are laws that are in dire need of repair that could reduce the chance of a repeat of this type of event. Sadly, though I fear that in this day and time there is no way to fully ward off any kind of gun-related tragedy. report abuse
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 written by citizen, April 13, 2008
It is abhorrent that the solemn event's sanctity may be violated by publicity-seeking lawbreakers.
We should live as the victims role-modeling leads us: be great citizens, and strive to achieve goals for the benefit of all. They live on; many will intrinsically celebrate their lives. I pray that their families, friends, and all affected will celebrate the joy the victims brought to our world; that all respect their lives and strive to be achievers. report abuse
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Too bad they just cannot respect others.