Fairfax County Board To Consider Gun Ban On Its Property

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to set a hearing in consideration of a gun ban on county-owned property. The board set a public hearing for 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 6 of the Fairfax County Code Relating to Weapons would ban the possession, carrying and transportation of firearms, ammunition, or components in county buildings, parks, recreation and community centers and permitted events and areas adjacent to permitted events. This includes authorities created or controlled by the county such as the Fairfax County Park Authority. The ban would only apply at Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority parks if all participating localities would pass a gun ban in parks and the NOVA Parks governing body would pass a resolution.

Under the proposal, a violation would be a Class 1 misdemeanor. This is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, or both.

Localities have the authority to implement this kind of gun ban under a new state law. In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 35 and House Bill 421, allowing localities to prohibit guns in their buildings, parks, recreation centers, community centers and public spaces used for permitted events. Gov. Ralph Northam signed the legislation, and it took effect on July 1.

Alexandria was the first locality to implement a gun ban on its property in alignment with the new state law. The City of Falls Church is considering its own ordinance.

Because Virginia is a "Dillon Rule" state, localities are prohibited from enacting measures unless specifically authorized by the state. The state new law reverses 2002 Virginia General Assembly legislation prohibiting localities from regulating firearms in their buildings. For years, the county has advocated for the authority to implement a gun ban on local government property in its legislative priorities for the Virginia General Assembly.

There would be exemptions to the gun ban. These include Reserve Officer Training Corps programs and other intercollegiate programs or club sport teams that use firearms, sworn law enforcement, security personnel hired or contracted by the county, educational programs and events with unloaded weapons, wildlife management activities, and the Bull Run Public Shooting Center operated by NOVA Parks.

The state law permits increased security measures like security guards or metal detectors to prevent unauthorized access to those areas. It also requires signage at entrances to the areas where the gun ban is in effect, including building and park entrances, as well as entrances and exits to permitted events.

More information is available on page 205 of the Board of Supervisors July 28 agenda.