City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 4, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Ready of an ordinance to amend Chapter 3 ("CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES") of Title 2 ("GENERAL GOVERNMENT") of The Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended, by adding a new Section 2-3-5, "Prohibition of Firearms on City Property."
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to prohibit firearms on City property.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council introduce the ordinance, pass the ordinance on first reading, and hold a public hearing on the ordinance on June 20, 2020, and after public hearing, adopt the ordinance on June 20, 2020.
DISCUSSION: On July 9, 2019, City Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit firearms on certain public property in anticipation of the General Assembly adopting new state law that authorizes this action. The July 2019 ordinance was contingent on the General Assembly adoption of the authority as well as on re-enactment by the City Council. Therefore, the July 2019 ordinance did not become law.
As anticipated, in its 2020 session, the General Assembly adopted changes to Section 15.2-915 of the State Code that authorizes localities to adopt an ordinance that prohibits the possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms in buildings owned, leased or used by the City as well as in parks, recreational or community facilities owned or used by the City. The new authorization also authorized these prohibitions in public streets where there is a permitted event, whether or not the event actually received its permit. We believe this added authorization allows the City to enforce this prohibition on public streets during an event operating under a Special Event Permit.
The proh...
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