Speakers call on city to become 2nd Amendment sanctuary – The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER More than 100 people crammed into City Council chambers and spilled into the lobby of Rouss City Hall on Tuesday to express their support for gun ownership.

"The right to possess this tool is given to me by both the U.S. and Virginia constitutions," said Frederick County resident Scott Wagner, who, like the majority of audience members in the gallery, wore an orange sticker that stated, "Guns Save Lives."

A push to preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to bear firearms has been occurring in recent weeks across Virginia, with advocates asking municipalities to declare themselves sanctuaries from stricter gun laws that are expected to be voted on by the state General Assembly when it convenes next month.

The Frederick County Board of Supervisors was expected to adopt a resolution Wednesday night opposing any law that infringes on the Second Amendment. The governing bodies of Winchester and Clarke County have not indicated if they plan to follow Frederick County's example.

City resident and Army veteran Brandon Angel rallied supporters of the Second Amendment to attend Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

"Virginia does not want these law passed; instead, it is the suburbs of [Washington] D.C.," Angel said as the crowd applauded. "Mental health is the biggest problem in this country, and gangs [are] a close second."

Frederick County resident Cory O'Donnell said the proposed gun laws could lead to government confiscation of legally owned firearms and munitions.

"All members of this council swore an oath to defend the constitution," O'Donnell told City Council.

After hearing from eight people who oppose Virginia's efforts to strengthen gun laws, Mayor David Smith closed the public comment portion of Tuesday's council meeting and did not ask if anyone else in the audience wished to speak.

Afterward, no one on City Council mentioned the Second Amendment sanctuary proposal, and there were no indications that Winchester would consider adopting a resolution similar to the one in Frederick County.

Also at Tuesday night's meeting and work session, City Council:

Attending Tuesday nights City Council meeting and work session in Rouss City Hall were Mayor and council President David Smith, Vice Mayor John Hill, Vice President Evan Clark and councilors Kim Herbstritt, John Willingham, Bill Wiley, Corey Sullivan, Judy McKiernan and Les Veach.

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Speakers call on city to become 2nd Amendment sanctuary - The Winchester Star