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Virginia Governor Overturns Gun Ban In City Buildings
By Jim Burns
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
April 05, 2002
(CNSNews.com) - Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat, has signed a bill ending a ban on guns in municipal buildings in Alexandria, a Washington, D.C., suburb.
"I support the Second Amendment right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms," Warner said in a statement.
He said he signed a bill reversing the Alexandria gun ban because, after careful review, he decided the municipal gun ban was "inconsistent with the General Assembly's intent."
Alexandria has long banned guns in city buildings.
Warner said it's up to the General Assembly, not individual cities, to set rules on employees carrying weapons in the workplace.
Warner added, "If the General Assembly were to send me a bill allowing localities to pass ordinances to regulate firearms in recreation centers, I would sign it. The General Assembly has chosen not to do so this year."
The Washington Post quoted Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donley as saying he was disappointed by Warner's action. He said the city has no legal recourse to overturn legislation signed by the governor.
"It's an intrusion into local authority. We've never had a complaint that it (the gun ban) was an onerous restriction," Donley said.
The National Rifle Association applauded Warner's action, according to Randy Kozuch, NRA Director of State and Local Affairs.
"The signing of this bill is positive for lawful firearm owners throughout the commonwealth," Kozuch told CNSNews.com .
"We believe that efforts by some localities to attempt to pick and choose which state law applies to them by administrative rule is an inappropriate means to develop and enforce state public policy."
"We share the same goal as the governor to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. By signing this bill, it fosters uniformity in firearms laws and regulations across the commonwealth and enhances law enforcement's ability to do just that," Kozuch added. During his campaign for governor, Warner actively courted the support of the NRA. The NRA did not actively campaign against him, nor did it end up endorsing him.
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