City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 19, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Resolution in Support of Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation and Expressing Support for the Upcoming Special Session of the General Assembly to Address the Emergency of Gun Violence in Virginia. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Public safety and the City’s commitment to creating a safe and resilient city.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached resolution expressing support for common sense gun safety laws during the upcoming Special Session of the General Assembly and calling for elected State representatives to consider and enact such legislation.
BACKGROUND: Gun violence and the resulting need for common sense gun safety laws and regulations has been a longstanding issue in Virginia and in the United States. The recent mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Complex, which resulted in the death of 11 city employees and a contractor, is another tragic reminder of the failure of Federal and State elected bodies to enact effective gun safety measures and/or afford localities the authority to enact those gun safety measures they deem appropriate for their communities. Note that, pursuant the Dillon Rule, Virginia law precludes local governments from enacting local gun control measures.
Given the recent mass shooting in Virginia Beach and the Governor’s call for a Special Session of the General Assembly on July 9, 2019 to address “the emergency of gun violence in Virginia,” the attached resolution has been prepared at the request of members of Council for City Council consideration.
This resolution is broadly consistent with prior actions by City Council appealing to the General Assembly and Congress to enact reasonable, common sense gun safety measures, including item D4 of the 2019 Legislative Package as well as the February 2018 resolution passed by the previous Council calling for common sense gun laws. However, this is the first opportunity for the new City Council to weigh in on this issue. This resolution also advocates for full House and Senate votes on gun control legislation, in lieu of such legislation being voted down or passed by in committee.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ATTACHMENT: Resolution-Support of Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation
STAFF:
Sarah Graham Taylor, Legislative Director
Laura B. Triggs, Deputy City Manager