Alphecca

Follow-up in Culpeper

In a follow-up to my post here comes this Star Exponent article:

Though no showdown at the OK Corral, Tuesday night’s public comments on firearms in town parks was freedom of speech at its best.

The constitutional right to bear arms was a topic that evoked strong emotion on both ends of the spectrum.

Nearly 10 Virginia residents, numerous from Culpeper, addressed Town Council on the town’s still-posted signs banning firearms in Yowell Meadow and Mountain Run Lake parks.

Some residents supported the local ban, but the majority pointed out that the ban is illegal per pre-emption laws enacted last year by the General Assembly.

"We do have to respect one thing. We do have a Constitution," said Culpeper resident Dan Holmstock. "There’s a second amendment for a reason, and you don’t infringe on it. If you don’t like the fact that people can carry guns in town parks, don’t go."

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League - a guns rights group from Richmond - brought the "no firearms" discrepancy on park signs to the attention of town officials several months ago. And actually, he said at Tuesday’s meeting, it was Culpeper residents who brought it to his attention.

"We were told that changing the signs was low priority," said Van Cleave.

[...]

In the end, the core issue of the signs has been resolved - the no firearms rule will be removed in coming weeks...

[...]

Retired military officer Dennis O’Connor of Prince George County said he was distressed to hear of Culpeper’s posted ban on firearms in its parks.

"The right to bear arms is indeed the very mark of a free man," he said. "Soldiers died face down in the blood to protect this freedom."

[...]

“I think we deserve an apology from the VCDL,” he said.
Ulysses Busch of Culpeper, an ex-Marine, was adamant against guns in town parks.

"I don’t think you should be carrying weapons in a family facility like Yowell Meadow Park," he said. "I don’t think it should be allowed, and if the state allows it, the state is wrong. What are we, the Wild West?"

Personal safety in America is not guaranteed, countered Bruce Jackson of Stafford.

"That’s what this all about," he said. "The ability to be able to defend yourself. Do guns belong in parks? Well, when you can keep the criminals out, guaranteed, I’d have no problem with that."