NEWPORT NEWS PASSES OPEN CARRY BAN

Council passes ban with 6-1 vote; ordinance applies to city buildings, other city property

Newport News on Tuesday banned the open carry of firearms in city buildings and other city property.

Mayor McKinley Price said he suggested the bill because he heard from city employees who said they’ve felt intimidated by visitors who have openly carried guns into their offices while complaining or raising an issue. Councilwoman Pat Woodbury was the only member to vote against the ban.

“No person shall openly possess, carry or transport any firearm, ammunition for a firearm, or any components or combination thereof” in city buildings, buildings being used by the city or city recreation facilities. It lists exceptions for law enforcement, fire marshals, city-hired security guards, military personnel performing their “lawful duties” and approved activities related to college sports, hunting or Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.

The ordinance has no effect on legally concealed weapons.

About 20 people spoke against the resolution while wearing orange “guns save lives” stickers. To enforce social distancing at the meeting, most seats in chambers were blocked off, and many people had to wait outside the building.

Three speakers openly carried guns as they addressed the council, saying they did more to deter crime or violence than a city ordinance would. Others questioned the purpose of the law, saying it would do nothing to reduce crime or violence.

Multiple speakers said they attended the Second Amendment

rally held in Richmond in January. They pointed out that many people carried their guns openly at that rally and there were no violent incidents. Some felt the ordinance was rooted in fear or discomfort, and they said the response should not be a ban — instead the focus should be education.

Two people spoke in favor of the ban, including Del. Cia Price, who sponsored a bill in the General Assembly to give localities the authority to ban guns in their buildings and facilities. Del. Price, Mayor Price’s daughter, said the right to bear arms should be weighed against the right of people to feel safe. She said people didn’t come out to speak because they feel intimidated from doing so.

Woodbury said the ban would be a blow against the Second Amendment and that some mass shootings could have been prevented or seen less death if someone with a gun was there to intervene.

Price said he agreed the ban on open carry wouldn’t stop someone who wants to commit a crime, but it would make some city employees feel safer. Price and Councilwoman Tina Vick said they felt intimidated by the people who carried guns as they spoke, saying it was hard to focus on anything besides the gun.