It was disgraceful...and cruel. Telling a tearful Va Tech girl "if somebody had had a gun, your friend would still be alive," and shouting out to Colin Goddard, the young man who survived after being shot four times, "hey, moron, haven't you wised up yet?"

But if this caller hadn't seen anything like it, I can assure him, unfortunately, that this is nothing new. I've seen it many times. They are bullies. These are NOT your average gun owners. They are selfish extremists who do not give a rat's ass about anyone other than themselves...and their guns, of course. That is their god.

Let me repeat myself: These extremists are not representative of gun owners. My own father is a gun owner and holds a concealed carry weapons permit. Never, NEVER, in a million years would he act in such a way. Neither would any of his fellow gun owners.

Of course, my dad is a proud veteran, as are most of his friends. These men don't have to prance around, playacting at being a soldier, because they actually know what it is to carry a gun in the service of their country. It is extremely rare to find one of these gun extremists, however, who has served in the military. Too bad; I believe it would do them a powerful amount of good. Maybe if they had a real target, then they wouldn't have to strut around with their guns, jeering and mocking and trying to intimidate women and kids. Maybe a stint in the military would teach them something about being real men.

But they are the guys these legislators have chosen to represent. They do NOT represent the vast majority of gun owners across Virginia. They do NOT represent Virginia at all.

Although I'm in favor of tighter gun control, I know these gun-toting maniacs don't represent typical gun owners (and being a Virginian, I'm insulted they're rallying at my state capitol with guns at the ready!). And neither does the NRA, who represent only 10% of gun owners.

I thought you might be interested in another perspective of the day's events.  I also was there. During the vigil my wife was shoved aside by a group of folks carrying a protest easy access to guns poster.  She said to the lead woman: "all you had to do was say excuse me and I would have moved".  The woman replied: "I don't have to say anything, we have the permit, it's our demonstration".  During the "Lie In" I was retaping a message from our group on the back of a woman when one of the Million Moms walked by and said: "oh good, that's a target, someone should shoot you in the back".  Nice comment from a self proclaimed peaceable group.  I do admit that during the vigil one young man shouted out "Second Amendment".  Two of us who had helped organize our group quickly went over to him and told him that he couldn't do that and that it was not our demonstration and that we were simply there to be quiet and have a silent demonstration.  He then understood and said nothing further.  We tried very hard to make sure all of our group understood that.  On the other hand, during the hearing on the "gunshow loophole" when Philip Van Cleve, President of Virginia Citizens Defense League spoke he was booed, hissed and interupted numerous times by catcalls from the folks wearing "close the loophole" stickers.  However, when their representatives spoke we sat there, without interuption and let them have their say.  We actually have the video tape of that and will most likely put it on our website.  My point is that it's a little disingenuous to throw stones and call the other side the devil when there's plenty of blame to go around on your own side.  Folks can and do disagree on topics but name calling and rude behavior on any side is not acceptable.  We tried very hard to keep it reined in on our side.  I saw little to do that on the other side. One final note.  We have invited the other side to our meetings and, when they have shown up and made themselves known to us we've always gone out of our way to make them feel welcome.  However, when we've shown up at meetings hosted by the Million Moms, well, one time they adjourned the meeting when they found out we were there and another time we were told "don't touch our food".  Petty?  I'll let you be the judge.

And I was there on Monday.  Taunting, laughing?  Who did that and when?  In my entire time there I heard no such thing.  The only time I heard anything from outside the protesteasyguns speeches was when Abby was speaking.  I heard one person call out "Second amendment" once, and one other person who I didn't hear what they said or where they were.  Every interaction I witnessed (which there was very little) was polite and respectful.

Perhaps the following video, captured on the day of the aforementioned rally, can clarify the actions of both sides.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL7g8hbzQzw

It's really unfortunate that this happened, I can't believe these people were treated this way. It's a shame that VA legislators are siding with these pro-gun activists when recent polls indicate a majority of Virginians (http://universityrelations.cnu.edu/news/2008/01_18_08voters.html) see tightening the state's gun laws as the highest priority for the General Assembly.