Is Virginia Beach Targeting Legal Gun Owners?

That's the question that News Channel 3 WTKR will ask in a special investigative report on Tuesday, September 23rd.  It is prompted by a proposal from the Virginia Beach City Council that would punish people who have had their firearms stolen, essentially making them a victim twice, if the gun owners don’t report lost or stolen firearms as quickly as City Council thinks they should.  The penalty would be jail time. Bob's Gun Shop owner Robert Marcus told WTKR he believes the proposal indicates that Council has done all they plan to do to punish criminals so now they are going after legal gun owners.

WTKR's report will air on Tuesday at 11:00.  Virginia Beach gun owners should contact their city council members and let them not to target legal gun owners but to go after criminals if they want to reduce crime. 

Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. 

January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016

Municipal Center
City Hall, Building #1
2401 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Office: (757) 385-4581
wsessoms@VBgov.com

Vice Mayor Louis R. Jones - Bayside​​

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Work: (757) 583-0177
Home: (757) 464-2151l
rjones@VBgov.com

Bob Dyer - Centerville​

January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Home: (757) 467-3130
bdyer@VBgov.com

Barbara M. Henley - Princess Anne​

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Home: (757) 426-7501
bhenley@VBgov.com

Shannon DS Kane - Rose Hall​

January 1, 2014 to November 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Work: (757) 802-3236
skane@vbgov.com

Brad Martin - At Large​

January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Home: (757) 460-6278

Work: (757) 689-4840
bmartin@vbgov.com

John D. Moss - At Large

November 10, 201​1to December 31, 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456Home: (757) 363-7745
mossjohn@cox.net​

Amelia N. Ross-Hammond - Kempsville​

January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Home: (757) 646-1709

ahammond@VBgov.com

John E. Uhrin - Beach​

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Work: (757) 200-7005
juhrin@VBgov.com

 

Rosemary Wilson - At Large​

January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Home: (757) 422-0733
rcwilson@VBgov.com

 

James L. Wood - Lynnhaven​

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014 
2401 Courthouse Drive
City Hall, Building #1
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Work: (757) 340-8411
Fax: (757) 498-6324
jlwood@VBgov.com

 

It is possible that Virginia Beach cannot pass such an ordinance due to Virginia's pre-emption statute and would have to request their members of the General Assembly to introduce a bill.  That is unlikely to happen as all of Virginia Beach's legislators are pro-rights.  This post will be updated when it has been confirmed whether the City of Virginia Beach has the power to pass this type of ordinance.

 

Hat tip Dana Loesch and Gabby Hoffman.

Update: WTKR reported on Tuesday night that the proposal above will be included in the Virginia Beach City Council's legislative wish list for the 2015 Session of the General Assembly.  Rest assured VSSA will be lobbying for the defeat the proposal.