Bubbles
Member
WVCDL will need a good turnout from folks in the panhandle. My husband, daughter, and I will be attending the meeting.
From a WVCDL-Alert:
Interestingly enough, the local paper has this article about the city council meeting:
City May Amend Weapons Measure
From a WVCDL-Alert:
Thursday, August 14, 2008 : Martinsburg City Council Meeting
The Martinsburg City Council meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM at Martinsburg City Hall on Queen Street. Last month, we wrote to city officials about their ongoing violation of the state preemption law with a city property carry ban ordinance that was enacted in 2005. This issue came to our attention when a similar ordinance was proposed in Ranson and defeated thanks to you.
We plan to address council members during the public comment period about the current ordinance and our desire for its repeal. Although we will not remove any options from the table, it is our intent to persuade the council to voluntarily pass a repealing ordinance. While our research shows a clear intent by the Legislature to fully preempt all municipal ordinances after 1999, the preemption statute is not a model of clarity.
Interestingly enough, the local paper has this article about the city council meeting:
City May Amend Weapons Measure
Martinsburg leaders want to clarify stance
By Chris Huntemann / Journal Staff Writer POSTED: August 5, 2008
MARTINSBURG - City of Martinsburg leaders are considering an amended ordinance that would prohibit people from carrying or possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon in public buildings.
The first and second reading of the ordinance was approved unanimously by the Martinsburg City Council during its meeting July 29. There was already an ordinance in place regarding weapons on public property, according to City Manager Mark Baldwin. However, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the ban on citizens owning handguns in Washington, D.C., caused the city to revisit the issue, he said.
Baldwin and Martinsburg Mayor George Karos met with city attorney Kin Sayre and reviewed the ordinance. The original ordinance had language regarding public properties that was pretty vague, Baldwin said.
"Our concern was to amend the ordinance based on recommendations by the city attorney," he said. "When you talk about public properties, that includes streets and sidewalks, and that wasn't our intention."
The new amended ordinance states that no person can carry or possess a firearm or other deadly weapon, whether it is carried openly or concealed, in any building that is owned, leased or under the care of the city of Martinsburg.
Baldwin said the ordinance applies to buildings such as City Hall, the city's police and fire stations, the city's water and sewer buildings and any buildings belonging to Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation that are on city property.
If a person is caught with a firearm or other weapon in a building belonging to the city of Martinsburg and refuses to relinquish possession of the weapon or leave the premises while still having possession of the weapon, they will be charged with a misdemeanor. If convicted, they could could face a fine between $100 to $1,000 and a possible 30-day jail sentence.
Karos said adjustments were made to the previous ordinance in an effort to protect city employees.
"We are doing everything by the letter of the law and that is what I go by," he said.
The ordinance will be given its third and final reading during the council's meeting Aug. 14 and will take effect immediately if approved by council.
Ranson city officials recently considered an ordinance that would have prohibited weapons on public properties as well, but they tabled the issue indefinitely in June after there were concerns about the ordinance language being too vague. Gun rights groups also complained to Ranson leaders about the ordinance.