This letter is in response to Delegate Ken Plum's OpEd in the Jan. 22-28 issue of the Connection, titled "Siege of the Capital." After reading this letter, all I can say is "Wow!" Delegate Plum certainly has very poor opinion of Virginia gun owners. Stating that a peaceful and lawful demonstration by a large number of Second Amendment supporters is a "Siege" is incredible. Clearly Delegate Plum knows nothing about the people he appears to fear. He should get out of his liberal bubble and learn about the people who feel strongly about having their constitutional rights oppressed. They are non-violent and are law abiding.

Delegate Plum should read Virginia's constitution. He states "A well regulated militia made up of state and local police will protect the Capitol building and its occupant legislators from those who would deny freedom to others through their misuse of firearms."

Article 1, Section 13 of Virginia's constitution states: "That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power."

Note that our constitution specifically states that the "militia" is made up of the body of the people, meaning you and me. It is not made up of police officers. It sounds to me like Delegate Plum really wants to establish a standing army to protect him and his ilk from the people. Our constitution cautions that such a thing is "dangerous to liberty".

Michael Kirchner

Clifton