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Virginia Citizens Defense League
Covington VA --(Ammoland.com)- Wednesday Sept 19th, the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors had a hearing on fixing a poorly-worded ordinance which confused some Chesterfield police officers into unlawfully kicking a gun owner out of a Chesterfield park.
Here is the old wording:
“Sec. 14-11 (B) No person shall transport, possess or carry a loaded firearm within 100 yards of any property line of any county public school or county park, except as otherwise permitted by state law.”
The County Attorney recommended this change:
“Sec. 14-11 (B) No HUNTER shall transport, possess or carry a loaded firearm within 100 yards of any property line of any county public school or county park, except as otherwise permitted by state law.”
But, what is a “hunter?” If a person merely possess a hunting license, doest that make him a hunter? And what about the exception in state law for a hunter to be able to separately carry a handgun for self-defense?
My suggested wording to the Board of Supervisors was:
“Sec. 14-11 (B) Except for handguns carried for the purpose of self-defense, no person while hunting shall transport, possess or carry a loaded firearm within 100 yards of any property line of any county public school or county park.”
But, the question is, why have that ordinance at all? State law already covers reckless endangerment.
I forgot to mention that VCDL would support a full repeal of the ordinance when I first spoke and had to make a second trip to the dais to make that point.
The Board decided they wanted 30 days to study the matter and to vote on it next month. In brief discussions they seemed to be seriously considering pulling the ordinance. I thought it was an excellent idea for them not to rush to a decision, but to study it and see if the ordinance is even needed.
If you live in Chesterfield, send a message to your Board of Supervisors member, supporting the language I proposed for the hunting ordinance (“Sec. 14-11 (B)”) , but saying you would much prefer the ordinance be repealed altogether.
Here are the email addresses for the Board members. You can also leave a phone message for them at: 804-748-1200.
- Daniel A. Gecker, Midlothian District, geckerd@chesterfield.gov
- Dorothy Jaeckle, Bermuda District, jaeckled@chesterfield.gov (I had to make an educated guess on this address, no contact information was provided for her.)
- Jim Holland, Dale District, hollandj@chesterfield.gov
- Steve A. Elswick, Matoaca District, elswicks@chesterfield.gov
- Art Warren, Clover Hill District, warrena@chesterfield.gov
Not sure what district you live in? Here’s a link to a map: http://tinyurl.com/cwszlvn
About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right. Visit: www.vcdl.org
