Posted on 11/22/2006 10:21:02 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Stung by the shooting deaths of two officers outside a western Fairfax County police station in May, county officials want to push the Virginia General Assembly to ban the carrying of guns into law enforcement buildings by anyone other than authorized personnel.
State law bans weapons in courthouses. But the absence of any prohibition on weapons inside police stations or jails places officers at risk, county officials say. At the request of Fairfax County Police Chief David M. Rohrer, the Board of Supervisors has included a ban in a draft of its legislative program for the 2007 Virginia General Assembly.
The county has made numerous attempts to keep firearms out of government buildings, only to see the initiatives languish in a state legislature loath to restrict the rights of gun owners. But the issue has gained new urgency since the May 8 shootings at the Sully District station in Chantilly.
Michael W. Kennedy, a mentally ill 18-year-old, drove to the rear parking lot of the station and fired more than 70 shots with an assault rifle and other weapons. Detective Vicky O. Armel, 40, died that day, along with Kennedy. Officer Michael E. Garbarino, 53, died of his wounds nine days later.
Mary Ann Jennings, a Fairfax police spokeswoman, said Rohrer would not comment on the proposal, the subject of a public hearing before the board yesterday, because it is still in draft form and has not been formally approved by supervisors.
The Sully shooting touched off an intense discussion among county officials about security at public-safety facilities. The measure has stirred opposition by gun rights groups. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said such a ban would not have prevented Kennedy's assault on the Sully station, which occurred outside the building.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The Sully shooting touched off an intense discussion among county officials about security at public-safety facilities. The measure has stirred opposition by gun rights groups. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said such a ban would not have prevented Kennedy's assault on the Sully station, which occurred outside the building.
'nuff said
strange logic - a shooting death outside the building, so ban guns inside the building
Did the shooter have a carry permit? if not, I don't see their point. do they have one?
I doubt that banning guns in the building would have stopped this particular crime. Having said that, I think it's pretty bone-headed to allow people to carry guns into a courthouse or a police station. You'd think they'd have banned that years ago.
Yeah! You go, boys! A ban like that surely would have stopped the murderous thug dead in his tracks, being the kind of guy to follow the rules and all.
* sigh *
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I suppose that, up until now, shooting a police officer outside a police station has been legal?
Last time I went to a courthouse they wouldn't let my mini-Leatherman through the magnetic scanners. The blade on it was less than two inches.
Of course she let my large hardback book (unscanned and un-opened - and large enough to hold a pistol and a magazine or two...). And she let other folks umbrellas through; a good umbrella IS a deadly weapon, even if you ignore what can be hidden in one.
Frankly, if the cops can't defend their stations or the courthouses, they need to look for new jobs. They don't need new laws.
There it is. The law cannot protect you from someone who is insane or hell bent on destruction. We have nothing to fear from sane, respectable adults. I dare any lawmaker to claim that they can craft a law that would have prevented this tragedy, outside of total confiscation, and then there's the people who don't obey laws in the first place........
"Did the shooter have a carry permit? "
He used a long gun of some kind.
Carry in courthouses is already banned. It's not in police stations because in northern VA they're often co-located with other county facilities, meetings rooms, conference rooms, etc. In fact, VCDL meetings are held in one such facility, and have been for years with no problems.
And, as has already been pointed out, the proposed ordinance wouldn't have done a thing to prevent the attack that occurred at the Sully station anyway.
Isn't it already against the law to shoot people?
"Public officials don't trust law-abiding citizens."
Unfortunately Fairfax County has been the ongoing opponent of 2nd Amendment rights for many years. Fairfax - and only Fairfax - had been the opponent of CCW in all county buildings, until they were booted out of court and the state legislature finally re-asserted its sovereignty by statute over all statewide gun laws.
You are a genius.
Repeal all laws immediately!
Crime will disappear overnight.
"if the cops can't defend their stations or the courthouses, they need to look for new jobs."
That's a bit harsh. This loser just drove into the parking lot and starting shooting. There's not a lot you can do to stop that (short of having an entry gate).
i remember this well. it happened just down the street from
our son's girlfriends house.
this proposal wouldn't have made a difference in this crime
though. labeled as "mentally ill" this kid was outside the
police station, standing in their parking, lot when he shot
and killed the two officers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.