DUMFRIES, Va. — Guns will no longer be allowed at council meetings in one Northern Virginia town. On Wednesday, the town of Dumfries voted to ban guns inside of its council chambers and the building where the meetings are held.
The population in the town of Dumfries is about 5,000 people. According to Council Member Tyrone Brown, only about 20 of those 5,000 attend those biweekly council meetings. After a new town ordinance passed, those who decide to attend those meetings will have to leave their guns in the car.
Brown calls it a preventative measure, saying it has little to do with whether people can carry guns around town.
“I had two weapons on me the night we voted, but I have no reason to fear being in those chambers, especially with our police officers in the chambers," he said. "There's no need for me to even have to think about drawing my weapon when I have police presence."
Brown said he and his colleagues decided to put this ordinance to a vote after seeing other public meetings in the area spiral out of control. Until this week, a police officer was on duty at the bi-weekly meetings, but councilmembers want to take precautions a step further.
“Based upon what we see, even at the Capitol, these are law-abiding people and when their emotions get high, there is no telling what these law-abiding people will do,” Brownsaid.
There are a number of other businesses and offices in the building where the council meets. But the way the ordinance is currently written, guns will no longer be allowed in any of those spaces. Brown said that could one day change.
“I didn't like the way it was written but I didn't want to hold up the actual ordinance because the intent behind it was correct,” he said.
One councilman didn’t vote in favor of the ban on guns. WUSA9 reached out for comment but did not get a response.
When asked about the new ordinance, most of the residents WUSA9 spoke to said they didn’t know about the vote. Brown also added the complaints they received about the ordinance came from people who don’t live in Dumfries and don’t attend their meetings.
RELATED: Loudoun County pharmacy incorrectly administered COVID vaccines to 112 children, officials say
WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand.