Hampton City Council on Wednesday withdrew a resolution that would have declared the city a 2nd Amendment Constitutional city.
Councilwoman Eleanor Brown was one of three council members to put forward the resolution but when called upon for comment ultimately made a motion to withdraw the agenda item to no objection from the rest of the council.
“I agreed to place a resolution on today’s agenda to acknowledge the many citizens seeking to hear from their local leaders on this issue. I understand that desire to be heard, to have a voice and to have input into the promulgation of laws that impact our lives,” she said.
“But it is not for this body to decide where those lines are to be drawn. Those lines will, ultimately, be drawn by the courts and this body does not by this proposed resolution attempt to draw those lines.”
In their Dec. 12 session, close to 50 residents spoke in support of and against the city promoting itself as an area that opposes any infringement on Constitutional rights and more specifically certain gun regulations.
RELATED STORY: Hampton City Council: It’s too soon to become a 2nd Amendment sanctuary
After listening to public comments for nearly two hours, the council remained mum on the issue until the session Wednesday when Mayor Donnie Tuck said the council’s silence came “as we wanted to deliberate on all the voices,” and reaffirmed the council’s support for the U.S. and Virginia constitutions.
“While the General Assembly is considering a number of pre-filed bills related to gun control in the commonwealth, the Hampton City Council is concerned that the potential effect of some of these bills could result in the criminalization of law-abiding citizens in Hampton,” he said.
“We support sensible gun legislation such as the two policy positions we presented in our legislative package. Therefore, we urge all Virginia legislators to approach gun legislation with great care and full consideration of 2nd Amendment concerns.”
State legislators were back in session Wednesday morning when Gov. Ralph Northam said the General Assembly would “advance an 11-point ‘Virginia 2020 Plan’ of common-sense measures,” including universal background checks, “Red Flag” law, and the “one handgun a month” law.
“We are presenting an agenda that is different from every previous General Assembly session,” Northam said in a news release Tuesday. “It’s more forward looking than ever before, and it reflects what Virginians sent us here to do.”
RELATED STORY: Localities are preparing for stricter gun regulations with proposed resolutions to become 2nd Amendment sanctuaries
James City County voted unanimously last month to pass a resolution “reaffirming” its commitment to the Constitution and York County a “Constitutional County.”
According to published reports, as of Jan. 5, 87 out of 95 Virginia counties, 13 out of 38 cities, and 21 towns have adopted a resolution related to 2nd Amendment rights.
Hampton City Council will meet for their next work and legislative session Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
