The Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both a part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, today released the following statement after the Newport News City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit openly carrying firearms into city-owned or operated parks and buildings, as well as city-sponsored events.
“We’re grateful to the city council for taking this step to make our communities safer,” said Ruth Winters, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “No one should have to fear gun violence in some of our most sensitive places in the Commonwealth. This ordinance will keep the Newport News community safe.”
Newport News joins several cities working on ordinances to keep communities safe from gun violence by regulating where guns can be openly carried. This session, Virginia lawmakers passed legislation that will untie the hands of local officials from passing ordinances that will prohibit people from carrying guns where they don’t belong. Previously, Virginia’s preemption law prohibited cities and towns from passing or enforcing this type of local public safety law.
One quarter of all gun homicides in Virginia occur in three areas: Richmond, Norfolk, and Newport News. Read more about gun violence in Virginia here.
