So before the public panel on the VT shooting tragedy, VA Governor Tim Kaine’s policy director Brian Shepard sent this email to Phil:

Philip,

I tried earlier this afternoon to reach you to talk to you about tomorrow’s meeting of the Virginia Tech review panel. Several of the family members, who plan to attend the meeting, are aware of VCDL’s plans to attend the meeting carrying concealed weapons, and have contacted our office with their concerns.

Obviously, you have every legal right to attend, and to bring a concealed firearm, and we respect that right.

I would ask, though, that you consider the families of victims of a crime involving guns–a very recent crime–who will be present, and what effect your weapons might have on their still-ongoing recovery.

I understand that many of the family members will attend the early parts of the commission meeting, but will not be present during the public comment period that begins at 2:30, which would allow both the victims’ families and members of your group to be a part of the meeting, without significant overlap.

We want to be sure that all voices and opinions are heard as the discussion of this event continues. I believe that you can make your opinion heard, without causing additional pain to the family members of the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. We hope you will carefully consider how best to do that.

Brian

Eh? Don’t bring your guns because they’re offensive? Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, over? Let’s be clear–Cho wasn’t a law abiding citizen with a CCW permit. He was a deranged maniac who’d disobeyed lawful orders to seek inpatient treatment for his illness. Shepard (and by extension Gov. Kaine) are comparing law abiding CCW permit holders to mass murdering psychopaths. Sure, I can hear their denials from here: “no, no, we’re just saying the mere sight of guns will hurt the feelings of the victim’s families.” Really? So should we also ask all police officers, security guards, armored car drivers, hunters, and Secret Service agents to stay clear of the victims’ families’ sight as well?

Of course not. So then why should CCW permit holders’ presence be considered any more offensive?

Gov. Kaine certainly wouldn’t leave his phalanx of armed body guards at home, would he? Strange that Mr. Shepard didn’t think to ask him to tell the VA State Police to disarm before escorting him to the panel.

I thought Phil’s response really nailed it, and will probably put a stop to further harassment of lawful CCW permit holders from on high:

Brian,

In reference to your request:

1. If our members leave their guns in their cars or if they are carrying concealed, how will anyone know the difference? By definition, they can’t of course. Thus, your request doesn’t make sense to me as a concealed handgun wouldn’t have an affect on anyone.

2. I have already asked our members to consider carrying concealed at this event, if they decide to carry at all. That’s all I can do. VCDL never encourages nor discourages carry by gun owners. I cannot
and would not dictate to any of them.

3. Your request is very insulting for many reasons. Perhaps some examples will clarify:

- Are you contacting the Asian communities and asking that no Asians, or anyone who appear to be of Asian heritage, attend the morning event out of sensitivity to the parents of the murdered VT students? I hope not, because this was the act of a lone madman, not anyone representing any of the Asian communities.

- The police were no where to be found while the murders were happening on two separate occasions and some feel the police bungled the handling of the tragedy. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that many of the families are angry about that. Are you going to tell the police they can’t attend out of sensitivity for the families? Of course not.

It is exactly the same situation for gun owners. VCDL and its members had nothing to do with that tragedy, and in fact we tried to empower adult students with permits to be able to protect themselves in case of just such an emergency. But your request sounds as though you are blaming an inanimate object, a firearm, and not the perpetrator. That is irrational. Are you asking gun owners to skulk in the shadows like they have something to be ashamed of or have done something wrong?

Regards,
Philip

Well said.