The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that Councilman John Eley was the lone “No” vote. He explained, “I want to be able to defend myself.”
He said it is his right as an American.
WVEC News is reporting that at least a dozen citizens spoke in opposition to the measure, but the council adopted the ban anyway. Opponents wore orange stickers and buttons with the message “Guns Save Lives.” Those opponents contended the ban violated their Second Amendment rights.
The WVEC report quoted Michael Shapiro, who told the council, “This is not just banning guns in city buildings; this is hampering my safety.”
Two other opponents were quoted, including a man identified as Steve Ferguson, who contended the ban violates the Second Amendment, which was incorporated to the states in 2010 under the Supreme Court’s McDonald ruling.
Although Virginia has a state firearms preemption law, in 2020, the law was watered down to allow local governments more leeway to prohibit guns in government buildings and public events, according to a notation at Wikipedia.
The new rule takes effect in 10 days.
The revised ordinance revises City Code Chapter 43, Weapons, by amending Section 43-3, according to a note attached to the actual ordinance language. According to the WVEC report, Mayor Phillip Jones, who claimed he is licensed to carry, asserted the ordinance change is about public safety. He also said members of the city council had received “credible death threats,” the report said, and he also alluded to the assassination attempts against President-elect Donald Trump.
Allegedly, the ordinance was developed following a city security audit requested by the Department of Homeland Security.
However, the Virginian-Pilot said the audit had not been made available to the public so far.
In a separate report, the newspaper said changes in gun control laws were made when the Legislature and Governor’s office were under Democrat control in 2020. It was those gun law changes which may have helped bring voters out in 2021 to put Republican Glen Youngkin in as governor, along with electing Republicans to other statewide offices.
