The following AAR was stolen for another site,...
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Prince William Co just tried to pull a fast one and re-vote 2A sanctuary status with new board members. With 24 hrs notice and a 7pm meeting moved to 2pm and SNOW and rush hour traffic at noon in DC metro they got a major eye opener as to the resolve of this movement. To get a sense of where we are heading, all of this is worth reading.
Monday we had 117 sanctuaries. As of today we have 124 sanctuaries.
Irony note: there is a "Liberty Memorial" at the entrance to the PW Co. complex.
GSL= orange "guns save lives" stickers.
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From a member from Ar15.come who was there. He has also been at a lot of other BoS meetings.
(Strong Language Within)
- Originally scheduled for 7pm
- With less than 24 hours notice, rescheduled to 2pm.
- Snow began falling shortly after noon. FedGov released workers for the day.
- Combination snow and FedGov commuters created evening rush hour at noon.
- For those unaware, Virginians FREAK OUT and drive worse than normal, whenever there is snow. Even though we get snow every year.
- Arrived at 1 County Complex around 1:35.
- IT WAS PACKED.
- To set the stage, the county complex is probably on 100+ acres, multiple buildings, multiple parking lots, even a baseball stadium.
- At the administration building, where the BoS holds session, there was ZERO parking. I parked at the far end of the Building/ Development Services Building lot - opposite end of complex.
- Inside was PACKED!
- VCDL volunteers dispensing GSL stickers inside and out.
- VAST majority of people inside were adorned with GSL's.
- Another good cross section of VA represented. All ages, all races, all backgrounds.
- Crowd was ENERGIZED!
- There were 108 people signed up to speak (I was #55).
- There was a buzz and an energy that was palpable.
- I would say that 95-98% of the crowd had a GSL.
- Despite best efforts otherwise, with less than 24 hours notice, a 2pm meeting time and it being a snow day, PWC BoS could not keep us away!
- Inside, the line stretched from the front door of the administration building through the atrium to the front of the Board Chambers. Hundreds deep.
- The atrium was set up with chairs, as they were expecting overflow. That was not enough. Standing Room Only! Including the 2nd floor "balcony".
- PWC was expecting a large crowd, but not this large. Easily 300 - 400 people or more. Normally 12 or so show up for BoS. at 2pm, on a tuesday, in the snow, with little notice. YES!
- I have to say it again, the energy was tactile. You could feel it. Awesome.
- Heavy police presence.
- People talking openly about their disdain of and being fed up with, local and state gov't.
- There was no whispering or hiding it. It was open conversation.
- If you had a GSL, you were a friend. People would speak very candidly.
The Speakers:
- 108 total.
- We were all there for the same thing. Guns.
- All but maybe 8-10 were about the 2A.
- of the 98-100 2A speakers, only 6-8 were anti or sympathetic with the board.
- There may have been 5 or so off topic petitioners, including a very stoned, pro-pot, pothead. Doing pothead stuff.
- The messages remained the same, but the language, tone and deliver was different this time.
- More direct, less polite, and many were straight to the point.
- This is different than previous meetings. People are ratcheting it up a little.
- We have some very good speakers on our side.
- Everyone was passionate.
- Some were very good.
- Some were verbal works of art.
- Some speakers really hit you in the heart.
- Some were rife with cursing and thinly veiled threats.
- Everyone was united.
- There was a consistent message, regardless of script and delivery.
- This BoS has several newly elected members and a newly promoted Chairwoman, Anne Wheeler.
- Anne Wheeler is a rotten, leftist, self aggrandizing, self important, power hungry, derisive, condescending, stupid, self-important piece of shit.
My Speaking Experience
- Wrote a different speech than previous engagements
- Timed to deliver at 2:50 for a 3 minute window.
- Found out during delivery, that I only had 2 minutes.
- It was more direct, had many warnings and implications built in. Not overtly threatening, but not as polite as before.
- More of a don't keep pushing or else, vs. please stop now before things escalate (I can post the script if anyone would like).
- PWC didn't have their shit together on this. They'd get groups of 10 together to go in and queque up to speak.
- They didn't announce it, you'd have to keep checking in to see where you were on the list. Annoying.
- Once my group was called. We walked in to the chambers and stood behind the podium.
- No one called you up. Once the person speaking was finished, the next person would walk up and begin speaking.
- If you didn't address the board correctly and introduce yourself, you'd be admonished with reminders of "decorum" by the Chair.
- The first 1/3 of my speech obviously ruffled some feathers or hit too close to home. Wheeler didn't like me.
- When I was 2/3 through, I was told my time was up. I tried adding a few more words and was reminded by Wheeler that my time was up.
- That struck me wrong, so I informed her that I was not finished. Index finger raised in the air as you would with a toddler (that's the emotional age we're dealing with here).
- That struck a nerve with her and she repeated that I was done and to stop talking.
- I kept talking.
- She attempted to speak over me again saying I was done and to stop talking. Rambling about Decorum and rules and such.
- At this point, I was filled with an absolute rage. I tried not to let it show and to remain professional, and just continued with my speech.
- How dare a peasant rebuff royalty? Her highness, the newly minted, all powerful chair of the PWC BoS?!?! Yup. That's me. I just did.
- She threatened to have me physically removed from the chambers if I did not stop. I continued.
- At this point, I really want to let loose - like foaming at the mouth, speaking in tongues, look the fuck out - holy shit - what just happened kinda stuff.
- She continues to threaten to throw me out of here.
- By now my blood pressure is sky high, and I REALLY want to let loose, tell her how I really feel and explain that both she and Richmond are pushing the WRONG people the WRONG way.
- I wanted to let her know just what direction they were pushing this, treating people this way.
- I didn't.
- I did, however, lose complete track of where I was in my speech.
- My internal shot clock, counting down the amount of time I could push this, before getting into real trouble was just about timed out.
- I managed to get a few more words in, all the while Wheeler is continuing on with her ramble.
- I finish with "Sic Semper Tyrannus". Then, turn to walk away.
- As I turn, I notice a PWC Police Officer about 5 feet away from me, approaching me down the aisle.
- I'm thinking "shit". Not here, not now. Well, work is certainly not going to understand, but that's ok - I'll find something else. My wife is gonna be pissed, but she'll ultimately understand. Fuck. Richmond. I might not be allowed to carry. Oh well, there'll be 1000's of others that can - I'll be fine and in good company. Let's get this over with.
- Cop walks up, smiles and said "thanks". Then, smiling, pats me on the shoulder and says "good job". Fuck yeah! Whew, sigh of relief.
- I walk out of the chambers, and receive an ovation. Many shakes, fist bumps and shoulder pats.
- Was told I stood up to her and that meant alot.
- I'm still disappointed - didn't get my salient points across. Felt I froze up when challenged. I'm actually very good in public speaking settings.
- Got caught up in maintaining professionalism, fighting internal rage, missed my points, but fought through it all. Could've been better. We just didn't like each other.
-Need to make a 2 min and 3 min version of this speech and have ready for next one.
- I just wanted to get the points across: We will not be pushed around anymore. We will not be ruled over anymore. You need to understand who is actually in charge here. Fuck You.
and a note: THANK YOU FELLOW ARFCOMMERS FOR THE KIND WORDS AND WELL WISHES!
Thoughts & Observations:
- I found out this was televised as well as live streamed. People not on here texted me.
- That may affect my employment. Oh well. Fuck'em. If you can't support me doing this, I can't support your bottom line. Greener pastures and all.
- The crowd was amazing. Seriously.
- Quickly cheering or jeering was the call of the day.
- Pro-2A was heartily supported. Anti's were openly mocked.
- The ongoing commentary during the speeches was fucking awesome.
- It was almost like a political version of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Awesome.
- People are amped the fuck up.
- If you had a GSL on, you were a long lost friend. Even if you'd never met before.
- The atmosphere was incredible. Even though we were there for reasons we'd rather not be, it was still an amazing atmosphere.
- It felt like it was part protest, part party, part church (the kind where you yell, theres music, singing, wave your hands around), part ballgame. It was weird, but good.
- The crowd supported and encouraged our side. Cheers, support, whistles and applause were delivered throughout speeches. Applause when the speaker emerged from chambers.
- Camaraderie was everywhere. We were clearly one team.
- We have united more in the past 1-2 weeks, then any time I can remember since 9/11. Really.
- People are committed.
- I had so many conversations, people were very open. It was awesome.
- People are openly, and seriously, accepting that this may get ugly. They openly admit that we are all trying, but if they don't listen, well, we're not just gonna take it.
- There is a level of seriousness, somberness and disappointment that comes with that. But not shame or reservation.
- People are pissed. But, not sure how to say it - they're kind of passed the yelling/ screaming phase and are now into acceptance. Acceptance that it may escalate.
- No one. I mean NO ONE is backing down. That includes the older folks and the millennials. Nobody is backing away now.
- There is resolve.
- I never thought I'd lean on a wall, talking to a stranger who openly says "well, we're here trying. If they don't listen today or in a couple of weeks, while I wish we didn't have to, guess we'll get to shooting". So non-chalant. Then, having a completely unrelated 3rd party walk up and add commentary, in the affirmative.
- By the way, a whole lot of people outside of AR15.com is planning to go to Richmond.
- People are awoken. They are ready. They are resolved. They are committed and they are prepared.
- We Absolutely CAN win this. One way or another. Plenty of people I spoke with today, while preferring otherwise, are prepared to deal out "another".
- We have the momentum. We have the people. Any out of state naysayer needs only to attend one of these meetings, don a GSL and they will get all the confirmation they need.
- We cannot let up. We must persevere. We WILL prevail. We just can't afford to find a new and inventive way to lose. Push forward and WIN!
---------End of AAR-------