VCDL Working With Harrisonburg To Fix Air Gun Ordinance, Almost False Arrest

Covington VA –-(Ammoland.com)- One of our members reported to me that a friend had been detained by the Harrisonburg PD while legally shooting an air gun on his property!

The officers told the member’s friend that it was illegal to shoot air guns in Harrisonburg based on an ordinance they have. In the end no charges were filed, but the member’s friend was told not to shoot his air gun any more.

I contacted Corporal Terrell in the Harrisonburg PD about the event and, indeed, it appears the police have no idea that the Harrisonburg air gun ordinance is now null and void. Officer Terrell was polite and professional and was interested in getting the problem fixed. I forwarded to him the code section that preempts the Harrisonburg ordinance (15.2-915.4 B.)

I also talked to the Harrisonburg City Attorney and he, too, was friendly and professional. He is going to research the law and then should recommend that the City fix or repeal their ordinance.

Both Corporal Terrell and the City Attorney were appreciative of VCDL bringing the issue to their attention.

If we learn that Harrisonburg City Council is going to address this issue, I will let you know. Hopefully for the short term, the PD will advise its officers not to enforce that ordinance

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