City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing. Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Prohibit Firearms on City Property. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to prohibit firearms on City property.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council hold a public hearing, second reading and consider final passage of the proposed ordinance.
BACKGROUND: Gun violence and the resulting need for common sense gun safety laws, rules and regulations has been a longstanding issue in Virginia and in the United States. However, pursuant the Dillon Rule, Virginia law precludes local governments from enacting local gun control measures, including but not limited to any prohibition on firearms in City buildings or on City property.
In response to the mass shooting in Virginia Beach on May 31, 2019, Governor Northam called for a Special Session of the General Assembly to address "the emergency of gun violence in Virginia." The Governor indicated that one of his priorities for this Special Session is legislation to expand local authority to regulate firearms, including in government buildings.
The Special Session was held on July 9, 2019 and the General Assembly adjourned until November 19, 2019 with no action on legislation, including bipartisan legislation filed to provide localities with additional authority in the area of firearm regulation, including House Bill 4005 (by Del. Cia Price), House Bill 4007 (by Del. Glenn Davis), Senate Bill 4001 (by Sen. John Edwards), and Senate Bill 4013 (by Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment).
All legislation filed during the Special Session was referred to the Virginia Crime Commission for consideration and recommendations by the Commission. The Alexandria City Council submitted a letter to the Crime Commission in support of legislation...
Click here for full text