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City council passes resolution to make Virginia Beach a Second Amendment ‘constitutional’ city

Posted at 6:33 AM, Jan 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-06 06:35:39-05

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - City council has voted to pass a resolution making Virginia Beach a Second Amendment "constitutional" city.

The resolution was adopted with a vote of 6-4. Mayor Dyer, Vice Mayor Wood, Council Member Moss, Abbott, Berlucchi and Wilson all voted yes.

Council Member Henley, Jones, Rouse and Wooten voted no. Council Member Guy Tower was absent, but expressed his opposition in a Facebook post.

Originally, Councilwoman Sabrina Wooten motioned to postpone the vote, but it was denied. Councilman Aaron Rouse seconded Wooten's motion.

This is the first time in two decades Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly. Governor Ralph Northam and other Democrats have promised changes to gun control.

Gun owners statewide have turned out to local meetings protesting potential infringement of their Second Amendment rights before the General Assembly would go back in session.

Monday night's special session in Virginia Beach was the latest.

A Second Amendment sanctuary - or constitutional city, which the City of Virginia Beach calls it - means the local governments would not use local resources to prosecute anti-gun laws but state laws would still supersede the local governments.

There are many different opinions going around. Some are for a constitutional city, while others are wanting stricter gun laws.

Monday's meeting - another packed session - was open to the public. It was held at Virginia Beach City Hall at 6 p.m.