The Alexandria City Council Saturday voted unanimously to ban guns, ammunition and related items from City property (including parks and recreation centers) – plus on streets where there are public events.
The ban starts July 1. According to the City:
"Effective July 1, it will be a Class 1 misdemeanor to possess, carry or transport firearms or ammunition in any building, park or recreational or community facility owned or operated by the City for governmental purposes; or at any special event requiring a permit and being held on a City public street, road, alley, sidewalk or public right of way. The ordinance also applies to City employees, agents or volunteers in workplaces that are owned, operated or managed by the City.
Exemptions from the ordinance include military personnel acting within the scope of their official duties; sworn law enforcement officers; private security personnel hired by the City; museum exhibits and historical re-enactments involving unloaded firearms; and official Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and collegiate sports programs."
The move came after the Virginia state legislature passed laws allowing localities to set rules on whether guns are allowed on city or county property. (Additional legislation passed in April by the Virginia legislature limited gun purchases to one per month and put into place universal background checks, among other rules.)
The vote to ban guns on City property was unanimous at Saturday’s City Council meeting. Violation of the ban may result in a first-degree misdemeanor.
Gun rights advocates had rallied outside City Hall on June 13 to protest the upcoming City ban.
