NRA Protesters Arrested Tuesday Morning in Fairfax County

Photo courtesy of Protest Easy Guns

Fairfax County, VA — Fairfax County Police announced Tuesday morning they have arrested approximately 18 protesters outside the NRA headquarters building on Waples Mill Road in Fairfax County.

The activists from CODEPINK and other groups are protesting gun sales after 49 people were killed at an Orlando nightclub in what is being called the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history; on Monday, proposals to curb gun sales failed in the U.S. Senate.

The arrests Tuesday morning were pre-planned, police said. Protesters were given guidelines and a five-minute warning prior to arrest, according to police. Arrestees were escorted to a police cruiser, issued a summons and released, police said. They were charged with loitering on a highway, a Class 4 misdemeanor.

The protests come after the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation to curb the sale of guns in the wake of the tragic shooting in Orlando. “Today my colleagues and I were given the opportunity to cease being bystanders and finally start taking action on the issue of gun violence," U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said in an announcement Monday afternoon after the proposal failed.

"The proposed measures — to prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing guns and to subject all private gun sales to background checks — are both commonsense and popular, and it’s appalling that we couldn’t get them passed," he said.

“Virginians are far too familiar with the consequences of gun violence," Kaine said. "While I was governor, the Commonwealth witnessed what was, until last week, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. During my time in the Senate, we have seen three Virginians shot on live television. Newtown, Charleston, San Bernardino, Orlando, and the countless daily gun deaths that receive less attention show the dire price Americans pay for congressional inaction. I hope that my colleagues will reconsider and act on this issue before another tragedy strikes.”

Protesters showed up outside the National Rifle Association headquarters after the Orlando nightclub shooting. Members of CODEPINK and others slept overnight outside the NRA headquarters to bring attention to the 49 people killed.

On Monday, the FBI released a transcript of the suspect's calls to 911. The agency also provided a timeline of events that unfolded at the Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Bar, a popular gay club. Audio of Mateen’s 911 calls and those placed by victims are not being released.

This map shows location of the NRA headquarters in Fairfax County: