Pitchfork Protest Comes to Richmond

Pitchfork Protest Comes to Richmond!

The Boneta Bill, H.B. 1430, will be heard Monday, January 28 at 5 pm by the Virginia House Ag Committee.

We need hundreds of people at the Virginia State Capitol.  We need the original Pitchfork Protest (from August in Warrenton) on steroids!

We will be meeting at 3:30 pm on the corner of N 10^th St and Bank Street. Signs, banners and pitchfork facsimiles are permissible on the public sidewalk and no permit is needed.

Please ready announcements to your lists, on your websites, social media, etc.  Alert your press contacts.

Get people there. 

Stand up to people like Fauquier County zoning Czar Kim Johnson who tell people they are “out of line” and threaten them with $5,000 fines if they refuse to go.

Be ready to sing Happy Birthday to the Fauquier County supervisors who will be there to testify that they need more power to regulate birthday parties for little girls and the sale of organic herbal tea.

Don’t wait for instructions.  “Rush to the sound of the guns!”

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Supporters of HB 1430, the Boneta Bill introduced on January 8^th by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, will bring the Pitchfork Protest to the State Capitol in Richmond on January 28^th.

Organizers expect to garner significant media attention as well, since this bill has quickly become the most controversial bill of the legislative session, and indeed this legislation is being watched closely by property rights groups all across the nation.

Supporters of HB 1430, the Boneta Bill introduced on January 8^th by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter, will bring the Pitchfork Protest to the State Capitol in Richmond on January 28^th.

Organizers expect to garner significant media attention as well, since this bill has quickly become the most controversial bill of the legislative session, and indeed this legislation is being watched closely by property rights groups all across the nation.

The following announcement has gone out to farmers, property rights supporters, and other organizations Statewide:

Contact these Virginia Delegates to pass the "Virginia's Right to Farm Act"

Dear Defender of Property Rights.

 

Here is an opportunity to promote the cause of property rights and of  farmers - a cause that would benefit us all.

 

For information see the following from Campaign for Liberty (here). Then send an email to these delegates.

Just copy and paste the whole list in your bcc window,  name a subject and add a short message asking them to vote for the Boneta bill, HB 1430.

Not even five minutes of your time is all it would take - but the results could be enormous.

 

 

DelTWright@house.virginia.gov, DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov, DelLWare@house.virginia.gov, DelEScott@house.virginia.gov, DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov, DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov, DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov, DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov, DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov, DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov, deltwilt@house.virginia.gov, DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov, DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov, DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov, DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov, DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov, DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov, DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov, DelMJames@house.virginia.gov, DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov, DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov, DelMKeam@house.virginia.gov

Thank you so much.

Sue Long

Help Pass "Virginia's Right to Farm Act" from Virginia Campaign for Liberty

Dear Patriots,

In November,75% of Virginians voted to amend the Virginia Constitution to put a stop to the abusive use of eminent domain by local governments. 

Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to stop their assaults on property rights.

The right to farm and engage in commerce is once again under attack and requires swift action for the passage of HB1430 to strengthen Virginia's Right to Farm Act.

In August of 2012, a  "pitchfork protest"received national attention after Virginia farmer, Martha Boneta, was cited by Fauquier County for daring to host a birthday party for a 10-year old family friend on her farm.

County government officials informed Martha that local ordinances required a permit to be obtained prior to hosting such an event and that she would be fined $5,000 for doing so.

Martha was also charged with two additional violations with fines up to $5,000 each - one for advertising a pumpkin carving and another for operating a small shop on her property that Martha used to sell her fresh produce and handmade crafts.

It's bad enough that Fauquier County prohibits a farmer from selling their produce and the by-products of the things they grow, even with a state issued business license.

But when you can't even host a birthday party without permission from government, the time to act is long overdue.

HB1430, dubbed the "Boneta Bill", would stop Fauquier County's assault  and protect all Virginia farmers against future encroachments by any local government. 

But if we are to be successful in its passage, we must act fast!

The "Boneta Bill" has been referred to the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and could be heard as soon as Wednesday, January 16th.

Please contact members of the committee today and urge them to vote "yes" to sendHB1430 to the House floor.

Committee Members:

Delegate Beverly J. Sherwood (Chairman)  

Delegate R. Lee Ware, Jr.

Delegate Thomas C. Wright, Jr. 

Delegate Edward T. Scott

Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr.

Delegate Daniel W. Marshall, III

Delegate Charles D. Poindexter

Delegate Brenda L. Pogge

Delegate Barry D. Knight

Delegate James E. Edmunds, II

Delegate Tony O. Wilt

Delegate James W. Morefield 

Delegate Michael J. Webert

Delegate Margaret B. Ransone 

Delegate C. Matthew Fariss

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr.

Delegate David L. Bulova

Delegate Matthew James

Delegate Mark D. Sickles

Delegate Luke E. Torian

Delegate Mark L. Keam   

For an email blast to all above: DelTWright@house.virginia.gov, DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov, DelLWare@house.virginia.gov, DelEScott@house.virginia.gov, DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov, DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov, DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov, DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov, DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov, DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov, deltwilt@house.virginia.gov, DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov, DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov, DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov, DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov, DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov, DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov, DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov, DelMJames@house.virginia.gov, DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov, DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov, DelMKeam@house.virginia.gov
 

In the three years we have fought to defend property rights in Virginia, not one local elected official or local planner has been able to name a single activity on one's own land that does not require permission from local government.

We must act now if we are to preserve our inherent right to private property!

Please contact members of the House Committee on Agriculture, and Chesapeake and Natural Resources to end this assault on property rights today!

Tell the members of the committee to stop this assault on property rights NOW!   

Tell them to protect your inherent right to own and control the use of your land against abusive land use restrictions imposed by local government.

Tell them to cast a "yes" vote to sendHB1430 to the House floor immediately. 

The 5th Amendment says "No person shall be...deprived of life, liberty, or property,  without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."  

When we lose the right to own and control property, we become property.  

Please act now without delay! 

Yours in liberty,

Donna Holt

Executive Director

Virginia Campaign for Liberty

P.S. You must act now if you are to preserve the inherent right to private property!  

Contact the members of the House Agriculture, and Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and tell them to vote in favor of HB1430 today!

Please consider making a small contribution to keep us in this fight for the property rights of all Virginians.