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| Gun rights extremist outside Virginia Beach City Council. |
UPDATE: Now per the Daily Press Hampton City Council is going to consider a similar resolution which has no legal impact and serves to show that some members of council are pandering political whores. Most distressing is the fact that the three who initiated this resolution are people I thought had common sense and principles.
I lived in Virginia Beach for just shy of 20 years. The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia - although Fairfax County has a far larger population and it likes to claim that it is a sophisticated, first class city. In voting to become a 2nd Amendment "sanctuary city," the Virginia Beach City Council demonstrated to the nation and the world that Virginia Beach is anything but a first class city and more akin to lunatic areas in Southwest Virginia. To describe Virginia as "bush league" might in fact too flattering. Sadly, the city continues to be governed by a small town minded clique that continues to pander to right wing elements of its population. I am saddened to note that Michael Berlucchi, the sole gay member of counsel voted for this batshitery. The measure has not force of law and cannot override state law. All this vote does is send a message that Virginia Beach is not a place that sane and reasonable people should want to visit. It would have taken courage to stand up to gun extremist, and City Council proved devoid of courage. The Virginian Pilot looks at the idiocy. Here are excerpts:
I lived in Virginia Beach for just shy of 20 years. The City of Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia - although Fairfax County has a far larger population and it likes to claim that it is a sophisticated, first class city. In voting to become a 2nd Amendment "sanctuary city," the Virginia Beach City Council demonstrated to the nation and the world that Virginia Beach is anything but a first class city and more akin to lunatic areas in Southwest Virginia. To describe Virginia as "bush league" might in fact too flattering. Sadly, the city continues to be governed by a small town minded clique that continues to pander to right wing elements of its population. I am saddened to note that Michael Berlucchi, the sole gay member of counsel voted for this batshitery. The measure has not force of law and cannot override state law. All this vote does is send a message that Virginia Beach is not a place that sane and reasonable people should want to visit. It would have taken courage to stand up to gun extremist, and City Council proved devoid of courage. The Virginian Pilot looks at the idiocy. Here are excerpts:
Virginia Beach joined more than 100 localities in the state to affirm its commitment to the Second Amendment.On Monday night, seven months after the mass shooting that left 12 dead and four more injured, the Virginia Beach City Council voted 6-4 in favor of becoming a Second Amendment Constitutional City. The council supported the symbolic message to encourage state lawmakers to not pass laws that some activists contend would infringe on the Constitution.
The council did not declare itself a gun sanctuary city, which is what gun rights activists sought. Gun sanctuaries direct law enforcement to ignore laws that put restrictions on the Second Amendment. Several council members said they did not want to direct officials to break the law.
Before the meeting even started, five council members — Bobby Dyer, Jim Wood, Rosemary Wilson, John Moss and Jessica Abbott — signed on to the resolution. Councilman Michael Berlucchi was the final vote to give it the boost to pass. Wood said the debate brought out the largest crowd he has seen in his more than 17 years on the City Council.
The council is expecting a big crowd again tomorrow when it will consider asking the General Assembly to allow cities the option to prohibit the public from carrying firearms in government buildings. The issue was deferred in June after the mayor said the council shouldn’t make decisions when the community is still grieving from the May 31 mass shooting. He feared acting quickly would cause polarization.
The mass shooting inspired Gov. Ralph Northam to call a special General Assembly session last summer. Republicans adjourned the session after 90 minutes without debating any gun control measures. Democrats captured both the House and Senate in November, so gun rights activists fear gun control measures could be enacted during the 2020 session.
Philip Van Cleave, the president of the pro-gun Virginia Citizens Defense League, accused Northam of declaring war on gun owners.
A few people, including Tommy Cerja, a 20-year-old Norfolk State University student, asked the council strike down the resolution. Cerja recalled how the city felt united after Something in The Water music festival in April. But then tragedy struck on May 31.
“Now we have a choice on how to respond,” the Virginia Beach resident said. “We can come together and heal as one or we can resort back to immoral political tactics by doubling down on guns and an irresponsible over commitment to the Second Amendment."
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