Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Virginia: Roanoke City Gun Ban Highlights Importance of NRA Lawsuit Against Fairfax County

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Virginia: Roanoke City Gun Ban Highlights Importance of NRA Lawsuit Against Fairfax County

Virginia is creating a confusing patchwork of gun laws. This past Monday, the City of Roanoke became the latest locality to ban firearms, ammunition, and components at, or in, city owned or operated buildings and parks, as well as on streets and sidewalks adjacent to where permitted events or events that should have had a permit, are taking place. 

This has all been made possible by the General Assembly passing, and Governor Ralph Northam signing, Senate Bill 35 last year. It eroded Virginia’s strong preemption law guaranteeing that citizens had the same Second Amendment rights across the whole state, and preventing the creation of this confusing patchwork of ordinances that are difficult to understand and obey. 

While supporters of the ban claim it is necessary for public safety, this ordinance, similar to the others, contains very little about guaranteeing safety. The City “may implement security measures” such as metal detectors or security guards, but the ordinance does not require them to do anything to protect disarmed citizens on their property. The only guaranteed enforcement mechanism is that the City must post signs at all entrances to such buildings and parks notifying of the gun ban, as if such an arbitrary boundary deters criminals intent on doing harm from simply walking in.

Fortunately, NRA and three individuals filed a lawsuit against Fairfax County (LaFave v. County of Fairfax) back in January, alleging that its similar gun ban violates the right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed in the Virginia Constitution. The ban on lawful carrying of firearms in parks is especially egregious during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as parks are one of the few places where people can go for recreation. The openness of parks, as well as their often isolated locations, makes it so that the County cannot guarantee the safety of citizens there. 

The suit also alleges that the ban on possession in places adjacent to permitted events is unconstitutional as well. This requires law-abiding gun owners to make a snap decision about how close they can get to an event before they are in violation of this ordinance, placing themselves at risk of prosecution.

Finally, the suit alleges that the ban on possession at events that should—but do not—have permits, is unconstitutionally vague under the due process clause. It requires law-abiding gun owners to determine whether an event—that they may know nothing about—legally requires a permit to be held. This effectively punishes gun owners for others’ decisions to hold illegal, unpermitted events.

Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org for future updates on this and all of ILA’s efforts to defend your constitutional rights.

TRENDING NOW
Gun Control “Journalist” Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

Gun Control “Journalist” Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

Pure gun control. As in disarmament and banning of firearms. It’s rare that anti-gunners get straight to the exact point that we have been warning of for decades. 

The Desperate Deflection to the “Red State Murder Problem”

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

The Desperate Deflection to the “Red State Murder Problem”

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) may have thought he had scored against President Donald Trump in a recent war of words over rampant crime and the deployment of federal law enforcement agents to Democratic-led cities

Illinois: Governor Signs Mandatory Firearm Storage Law

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Illinois: Governor Signs Mandatory Firearm Storage Law

Earlier this month, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 8 into law. This legislation imposes new mandatory firearm storage requirements on law-abiding gun owners.  

Due Process: The Backbone of Legal Legitimacy

News  

Monday, September 8, 2025

Due Process: The Backbone of Legal Legitimacy

Close observers of the gun debate often see references to due process.

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Report: Senior ATF Official Joins (Private) Firearm Prohibition Lobby

News  

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Report: Senior ATF Official Joins (Private) Firearm Prohibition Lobby

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the federal agency whose jurisdiction encompasses federal firearms laws. 

Arkansas Atrocity Highlights Need for Reform in Rules Governing Carry in Public Parks

News  

Monday, August 25, 2025

Arkansas Atrocity Highlights Need for Reform in Rules Governing Carry in Public Parks

On the heels of the shocking and seemingly random murder of a couple in an Arkansas state park while they were walking a trail with their young children, many are revisiting their self-defense plans in the great ...

Update: North Carolina House Reschedules Veto Override Vote

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Update: North Carolina House Reschedules Veto Override Vote

Today, the House rescheduled the veto override vote on Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to Monday, September 22. 

ABAs Latest Resolution Continues to Ignore Liberty and Hinder Justice for Gun Owners

News  

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

ABAs Latest Resolution Continues to Ignore Liberty and Hinder Justice for Gun Owners

Last month, the American Bar Association (ABA), via its Standing Committee on Gun Violence, passed yet another anti-gun resolution at their annual meeting in Toronto (the venue should serve as a clue regarding their commitment ...

Third Circuit Sua Sponte Takes NRA’s “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Ban Case En Banc

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Third Circuit Sua Sponte Takes NRA’s “Assault Firearm” and Magazine Ban Case En Banc

Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs v. Attorney Gen. New Jersey is an NRA-supported challenge to New Jersey’s prohibitions on so-called “assault firearms” and magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.