- Nov 11, 2009
- 30,971
VA-ALERT
1. Leesburg Town Council gun-control update
2. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors gun-control update
1. Leesburg Town Council gun-control update
Leesburg Town Council met on Monday night and discussed whether the Town should go forward with a local gun-control ordinance.
Council decided to get more information for a future work session on the impact of going forward with such an ordinance, including cost, logistics, possible exempted persons, etc.
ANALYSIS
Townhall was the only hot button for the Mayor, Kelly Burk.
The Vice-Mayor “Marty” Martinez was interested in getting more information on banning guns in all Town buildings, recreation centers, and parks. He made no mention of events.
Councilman Neil Steinburg was interested in banning guns at all Town buildings, even though two of those buildings weren’t even open to the public. He said he had no interest in banning guns in parks or at events.
Councilman Zach Cummings was interested in banning guns and having metal detectors and guards at townhall only.
Councilman Ara Bagdasarian was not present, so there is no indication of his position.
Two councilwomen were strongly opposed to any gun control: Suzanne Fox and Kari Nacy.
Ms. Fox said that she didn’t want to violate constitutional rights and the Town had no compelling reason to implement any gun control.
Ms. Nacy said she would likely not support any gun control. She said she has a CHP and gun control would negatively affect her as a responsibly armed citizen, who carries to prevent an attack like one she suffered at some point in the past. Ms. Nacy provides a great example of why I wish more elected officials had CHPs. Once you have skin in the game, you look beyond the lies of gun control and see the value of not infringing the right to keep and bear arms.
READING THE TEA LEAVES
Council, as a whole, did not have any interest in prohibiting guns at any location except the townhall.
Four members were interested in banning guns in townhall. Of those, two were also interested in banning guns in other buildings, but they were outvoted on that. One was interested in banning guns in parks and recreation centers, but he was outvoted, too.
So, the battle is going to come down to banning or not banning guns in townhall.
Once the information on cost, exemptions, etc. is presented to Town Council at a future meeting, they will decide whether to put together a proposed ordinance and what that ordinance will look like.
If they walk away from doing an ordinance, we are done. If they move forward, we will send in our comments and we will hopefully have a good turnout when the item comes up for public discussion and a vote.
We must not cede an inch.
2. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors gun-control update
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met last Wednesday. Nothing was said about guns. The next meeting is on the 18th and it’s very possible a draft of a proposed gun-control ordinance may come up before the Board.
If firearms are on the agenda for the 18th, I’ll let everyone know as soon as I find out and I will provide an analysis of the updated proposed ordinance. We will then do another round of commenting to the Board of Supervisors on the proposed ordinance.
We must not cede an inch.
1. Leesburg Town Council gun-control update
2. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors gun-control update
1. Leesburg Town Council gun-control update
Leesburg Town Council met on Monday night and discussed whether the Town should go forward with a local gun-control ordinance.
Council decided to get more information for a future work session on the impact of going forward with such an ordinance, including cost, logistics, possible exempted persons, etc.
ANALYSIS
Townhall was the only hot button for the Mayor, Kelly Burk.
The Vice-Mayor “Marty” Martinez was interested in getting more information on banning guns in all Town buildings, recreation centers, and parks. He made no mention of events.
Councilman Neil Steinburg was interested in banning guns at all Town buildings, even though two of those buildings weren’t even open to the public. He said he had no interest in banning guns in parks or at events.
Councilman Zach Cummings was interested in banning guns and having metal detectors and guards at townhall only.
Councilman Ara Bagdasarian was not present, so there is no indication of his position.
Two councilwomen were strongly opposed to any gun control: Suzanne Fox and Kari Nacy.
Ms. Fox said that she didn’t want to violate constitutional rights and the Town had no compelling reason to implement any gun control.
Ms. Nacy said she would likely not support any gun control. She said she has a CHP and gun control would negatively affect her as a responsibly armed citizen, who carries to prevent an attack like one she suffered at some point in the past. Ms. Nacy provides a great example of why I wish more elected officials had CHPs. Once you have skin in the game, you look beyond the lies of gun control and see the value of not infringing the right to keep and bear arms.
READING THE TEA LEAVES
Council, as a whole, did not have any interest in prohibiting guns at any location except the townhall.
Four members were interested in banning guns in townhall. Of those, two were also interested in banning guns in other buildings, but they were outvoted on that. One was interested in banning guns in parks and recreation centers, but he was outvoted, too.
So, the battle is going to come down to banning or not banning guns in townhall.
Once the information on cost, exemptions, etc. is presented to Town Council at a future meeting, they will decide whether to put together a proposed ordinance and what that ordinance will look like.
If they walk away from doing an ordinance, we are done. If they move forward, we will send in our comments and we will hopefully have a good turnout when the item comes up for public discussion and a vote.
We must not cede an inch.
2. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors gun-control update
Albemarle County Board of Supervisors met last Wednesday. Nothing was said about guns. The next meeting is on the 18th and it’s very possible a draft of a proposed gun-control ordinance may come up before the Board.
If firearms are on the agenda for the 18th, I’ll let everyone know as soon as I find out and I will provide an analysis of the updated proposed ordinance. We will then do another round of commenting to the Board of Supervisors on the proposed ordinance.
We must not cede an inch.
