Virginia Citizens Defense League
The Virginia Citizens Defense League is a United States gun rights pressure group. Founded in October 1994 as the Northern Virginia Citizens Defense League, it was incorporated as VCDL in May 1998. It has been described as being to the right of the National Rifle Association. The current president of VCDL is Philip Van Cleave.
The VCDL is the organizing group for the 2020 VCDL Lobby Day protest.
VCDL filed a defamation lawsuit for $12 million against Katie Couric and director, Stephanie Soechtig over criticisms of the group in the documentary Under The Gun. On May 31, 2017 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division dismissed the case. The opinion of the Court states "Because the film is not false or defamatory, the Court grants the defendants' motion."
