Alexandria, Virginia Prohibition of Firearms and Ammunition on City Property and During Protests
Alexandria, Virginia has passed a new law that bans the possession of firearms and ammunition, even by individuals licensed to carry concealed weapons or otherwise lawfully carrying firearms, on city property, and during protests, as described below. Offenders will be prosecuted for a Class 1 Misdemeanor offense if they possess or carry firearms or ammunition on City property. The charge is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2500.00 fine.
The acts of possession, carrying, and transportation are regulated by Alexandria’s firearm ban law. The prohibited objects are firearms, ammunition, and their components.
Alexandria City areas affected:
(a) City buildings, city land/property
(b) City parks
(c) City recreational or community centers
(d) And, during an event that requires a permit, such as a protest, the Alexandria firearms ban affects all city areas being used by the event, including streets, roads, sidewalks, or any other place that is open to the public and is being used by the event.
Notice of the prohibition on firearms and ammunition must be posted at all entrances to these regulated areas in order for this law to be enforceable.
A valid concealed carry permit is not a defense to this offense.
Click to review all of Virginia's criminal laws related to firearms
ALEXANDRIA ORDINANCE NO. 5282
The Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia will be amended with a new section 2-3-5 as follows:
(1) The possession, carrying or transportation of firearms, ammunition or components or combinations thereof (a) in any buildings, or part thereof, owned or used, by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City, for governmental purposes; or (b) in parks owned or operated by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City (c) in any recreational or community center facility operated by the locality, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City and (d) in any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit, is prohibited.
(2) The possession, carrying, storage or transportation of firearms by City employees, agents or volunteers in workplaces owned, operated or managed by the City is prohibited.
(3) Pursuant to this Section, the City may implement security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of such buildings, parks, recreation or community center facilities, or public streets, roads, alleys, or sidewalks or public rights- of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit by a person with any firearms, ammunition, or components or combination thereof, such as the use of metal detectors and increased use of security personnel.
(4) This section shall not apply to (a) military personnel when acting within the scope of their official duties, (b) sworn law enforcement officers, (c) private security personnel hired by the City, when any of them are present in buildings owned, leased or operated by the City or in parks and in any recreational or community facility that is owned or used by the City; (d) museums displaying firearms and the personnel and volunteers of museums or living history re-enactors and interpreters, who possess firearms that are not loaded with projectiles, when such persons are participating in, or traveling to or from, historical interpretive events that involve the display or demonstration of such firearms, and (e) activities of (i) a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program operated at a public or private institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq. or (ii) any intercollegiate athletics program operated by a public or private institution of higher education and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any club sports team recognized by a public or private institution of higher education where the sport engaged in by such program or team involves the use of a firearm. Such activities in (e) above shall follow strict guidelines developed by such institutions for these activities and shall be conducted under the supervision of staff officials of such institutions.
(5) Notice of the restrictions imposed by this ordinance shall be posted (i) at all entrances of any building, or part thereof, owned or used by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City, for governmental purposes; (ii) at all entrances of any public park owned or operated by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City; (iii) at all entrances of any recreation or community center facilities operated by the City, or by any authority or local governmental entity created or controlled by the City; and (iv) at all entrances or other appropriate places of ingress and egress to any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public and is being used by or is adjacent to a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit.
(6) Any person violating subsection 2-3-5(1) shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
