I personally forgot to go not realizing the date, but 50+ others didn't.
++++++
ALERT FROM JEWS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FIREARMS OWNERSHIP
America's Aggressive Civil Rights Organization
(Subscribe/UnSubscribe instructions near the end of the message)
February 1, 2001
ALERT: Second Amendment Supporters Denied Entry to Million Mom
March Meeting
Last night, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
sent out an urgent Alert to Second Amendment supporters in
the Los Angeles area to attend a meeting at the infamous
North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills,
California, this evening to give positive input on pending
California Senate Bill 52, sponsored by State Sen. Jack Scott
(D-Burbank). This Jewish community center gained notoriety on
August 10, 1999, when Buford O. Furrow calmly walked in and
attempted to slaughter innocent people.
(http://jpfo.org/alert19990811.htm)
SB 52 would require anyone buying or selling a handgun in
California to obtain a license. Scott's staff member, Michelle
Brewer, was to be on hand to speak on the regulatory aspects
of this odious bill should it pass in the state legislature.
This forum was to be the highlight of a meeting of the San
Fernando Valley Chapter of the Million Moms. (To learn more
about the Million Moms see http://www.millionmommarch.org/).
A large group of Second Amendment supporters, along with
myself, were waiting in the lobby for the meeting to begin
at the scheduled 7:00 P.M., when we were informed by a woman
identifying herself as Francine Naor from the San Fernando
Valley Chapter of the Million Moms that the meeting had been
canceled.
"Canceled?", I asked in front of our supporters from JPFO,
NRA and the Jewish Defense League. "Well, not exactly, but
it is a closed door meeting. All of you are on private
property and I'm asking you to leave immediately." Incredulous,
I began to ask her a few questions, like why the meeting with
Sen. Scott's staffer had been canceled at the last moment with
all the advance publicity. "I am not going to argue with you",
she huffed. "Wait a moment!", I said, "Is your group not
interested in hearing an opposing viewpoint?" "This a closed
door, private meeting", she reiterated, "And you are on
private property!"
Now, as a US Army Infantry veteran, I've been shouted out by
pros. This kind of puffed chest intimidation was Little League
stuff.
"Madam, I am a rabbi as you can plainly see. This is a Jewish
community center, I am standing in the lobby, and *not* intruding
on your private meeting!" No voices were raised in anger, but
the tension in that lobby with about 50 Second Amendment
activists versus this one lady was beginning to fluster her.
A moment later, an *unarmed*, uniformed private security guard
ordered us out of the building. "This is private property, and
you all can leave NOW!", he commanded. Trying to explain to him
that we had come to attend a well advertised forum was wasted
words. And then three LAPD officers arrived, including a
sergeant. When a sergeant shows up in L.A. instead of an
ordinary patrol officer, something is seriously amiss. I
asked one of the patrol officers why they had been called
(two patrol cars), and she answered that it had nothing to
do with us. There was no trouble or threat noticeable to
anyone present. Our side was the picture of calm and civility.
We left the lobby to discuss the situation in the parking lot
directly outside. Again, the private security guard emerged
from the building and ordered us to leave the property.
Jewish Defense League Chairman Irv Rubin was present, as well.
Though we both live in Los Angeles and even attended the same
high school, we had never before met. We have, he and I, had a
few journalistic clashes over the years. We shook hands and
exchanged cordialities. I told him in a voice loud enough for
the assembled group to hear that, in spite of our differences
in strategies, we shared a lot of common ground. We warmly
shook hands a second time, to the approval of all present.
Irv Rubin has never had any qualms about being arrested for
causes he has considered vital to Jewish defense, but he agreed
there was nothing for us to do but go home. The Million Moms
doesn't give a tinker's damn for any viewpoint other than
their own.
This is America. That's their prerogative.
I am not a conspiracy theorist--to a point. Could it be that
word of Second Amendment supporters stealing their stage made
the Million Moms change the evening's agenda?
You figure it out. I'm pretty sure the issue is straight in
my mind.
This is how the destroyers of freedom work in America, friends.
They lie and turn a deaf ear to anyone, even a peaceful rabbi--
anything to keep the truth from being heard.
My thanks to all of you in attendance this evening. We were
hustled off the private property of a Jewish community center,
though we had assembled peacefully for a publicized event. Your
calm and dignity did our cause of freedom proud.
Where was this security guard the day Buford Furrow tried to
kill small children, a teenage girl and a 68-year-old woman
on August 10, 1999?
In liberty,
Rabbi R. Mermelstein
++++++
ALERT FROM JEWS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FIREARMS OWNERSHIP
America's Aggressive Civil Rights Organization
(Subscribe/UnSubscribe instructions near the end of the message)
February 1, 2001
ALERT: Second Amendment Supporters Denied Entry to Million Mom
March Meeting
Last night, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
sent out an urgent Alert to Second Amendment supporters in
the Los Angeles area to attend a meeting at the infamous
North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills,
California, this evening to give positive input on pending
California Senate Bill 52, sponsored by State Sen. Jack Scott
(D-Burbank). This Jewish community center gained notoriety on
August 10, 1999, when Buford O. Furrow calmly walked in and
attempted to slaughter innocent people.
(http://jpfo.org/alert19990811.htm)
SB 52 would require anyone buying or selling a handgun in
California to obtain a license. Scott's staff member, Michelle
Brewer, was to be on hand to speak on the regulatory aspects
of this odious bill should it pass in the state legislature.
This forum was to be the highlight of a meeting of the San
Fernando Valley Chapter of the Million Moms. (To learn more
about the Million Moms see http://www.millionmommarch.org/).
A large group of Second Amendment supporters, along with
myself, were waiting in the lobby for the meeting to begin
at the scheduled 7:00 P.M., when we were informed by a woman
identifying herself as Francine Naor from the San Fernando
Valley Chapter of the Million Moms that the meeting had been
canceled.
"Canceled?", I asked in front of our supporters from JPFO,
NRA and the Jewish Defense League. "Well, not exactly, but
it is a closed door meeting. All of you are on private
property and I'm asking you to leave immediately." Incredulous,
I began to ask her a few questions, like why the meeting with
Sen. Scott's staffer had been canceled at the last moment with
all the advance publicity. "I am not going to argue with you",
she huffed. "Wait a moment!", I said, "Is your group not
interested in hearing an opposing viewpoint?" "This a closed
door, private meeting", she reiterated, "And you are on
private property!"
Now, as a US Army Infantry veteran, I've been shouted out by
pros. This kind of puffed chest intimidation was Little League
stuff.
"Madam, I am a rabbi as you can plainly see. This is a Jewish
community center, I am standing in the lobby, and *not* intruding
on your private meeting!" No voices were raised in anger, but
the tension in that lobby with about 50 Second Amendment
activists versus this one lady was beginning to fluster her.
A moment later, an *unarmed*, uniformed private security guard
ordered us out of the building. "This is private property, and
you all can leave NOW!", he commanded. Trying to explain to him
that we had come to attend a well advertised forum was wasted
words. And then three LAPD officers arrived, including a
sergeant. When a sergeant shows up in L.A. instead of an
ordinary patrol officer, something is seriously amiss. I
asked one of the patrol officers why they had been called
(two patrol cars), and she answered that it had nothing to
do with us. There was no trouble or threat noticeable to
anyone present. Our side was the picture of calm and civility.
We left the lobby to discuss the situation in the parking lot
directly outside. Again, the private security guard emerged
from the building and ordered us to leave the property.
Jewish Defense League Chairman Irv Rubin was present, as well.
Though we both live in Los Angeles and even attended the same
high school, we had never before met. We have, he and I, had a
few journalistic clashes over the years. We shook hands and
exchanged cordialities. I told him in a voice loud enough for
the assembled group to hear that, in spite of our differences
in strategies, we shared a lot of common ground. We warmly
shook hands a second time, to the approval of all present.
Irv Rubin has never had any qualms about being arrested for
causes he has considered vital to Jewish defense, but he agreed
there was nothing for us to do but go home. The Million Moms
doesn't give a tinker's damn for any viewpoint other than
their own.
This is America. That's their prerogative.
I am not a conspiracy theorist--to a point. Could it be that
word of Second Amendment supporters stealing their stage made
the Million Moms change the evening's agenda?
You figure it out. I'm pretty sure the issue is straight in
my mind.
This is how the destroyers of freedom work in America, friends.
They lie and turn a deaf ear to anyone, even a peaceful rabbi--
anything to keep the truth from being heard.
My thanks to all of you in attendance this evening. We were
hustled off the private property of a Jewish community center,
though we had assembled peacefully for a publicized event. Your
calm and dignity did our cause of freedom proud.
Where was this security guard the day Buford Furrow tried to
kill small children, a teenage girl and a 68-year-old woman
on August 10, 1999?
In liberty,
Rabbi R. Mermelstein
