Heather Bell
RADFORD – In a split 3-2 vote, Radford City Council passed a resolution declaring the City of Radford a Second Amendment sanctuary city at its most recent meeting.
Council member Guy Wohlford brought forth the motion to approve the resolution, which was not on the agenda for the Feb. 23 meeting. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Seth Gillespie. Prior to the reading of the resolution and subsequent vote, Mayor David Horton said he would prefer council put the matter on the agenda for a future meeting.
Wohlford read the resolution, which states in part, that “Radford City Council wishes to express its deep commitment to the rights of all citizens of the city to keep and bear arms and further wishes to express its intent to stand as a city in support of the Second Amendment rights and to oppose within the limits of the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict such rights and to use any legal means at its disposal to protect the rights of the citizens of the City of Radford to keep and bear arms. It declares its intent to oppose any infringement on the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
The resolution also states “no public funds of city may be used to restrict the guarantees of the Second Amendment or aid federal, state or local agencies in any effort to restrict these rights.”
Gillespie said that while he supports the resolution, he “acknowledges that state law supersedes any local ordinance and this resolution, like many of the resolutions we pass here, is symbolic in nature.”
“I personally do appreciate some commonsense gun law measures, but I fully support the Second Amendment, and all amendments of the Constitution,” he said.
Horton, who voted against the resolution, said passing it “sends a message to the General Assembly that we are violating the Dillon Rule, much like if we disagreed with a tax or another law that might be passed in Richmond.”
Dillon’s Rule refers to the principle that a local government is an extension of the state government and only has powers allowed by the state government.
I’m not looking to infringe on anyone’s rights,” he added. “Law enforcement has several hundreds of thousands of dollars it’s received to deal with guns in the City of Radford,” he added. “To say we’re not going to enforce laws, we’re not going to ask our police to work with the state to enforce laws, could jeopardize that funding. We may say it’s a harmless resolution, it’s just a symbolic act, but I would much rather, if we were interested in a symbolic act, is do what we did in 2019 and send letters to our delegate, senator, the attorney general and the governor.”
Horton referred to a letter in support of gun rights the city council sent in 2019 after citizens came before the council to request a similar resolution be passed.
Council member Jessie Foster also voted against the resolution.
“I’m very equal opportunity on this. When we had folks come and ask to be a sanctuary city for folks who are here illegally, I voted no on that measure too, and I will vote no on this measure,” she said. “What I will not do is ask our law enforcement to go against the law. It’s not a political issue for me. It’s an enforcement issue.”
Council member Kellie Artrip joined Gillespie and Wohlford in approving the resolution.
Horton expressed disappointment that citizens did not know the matter was coming before council.
“I think we could have done this a little differently had we had the chance to put it on the agenda prior to the start of the meeting to let people know this was going to happen so they could voice their opinion one way or the other,” he said.
Two citizens did come forward to speak after the agenda was amended to include the vote on the resolution, including Connie Wohlford, wife of Guy Wohlford, and Mary Sims. Both spoke in favor of the resolution.
Following the meeting, Radford Sheriff Mark Armentrout put out a statement in support of the council’s action.
“I wholeheartedly support this principled decision,” he said. “Law enforcement officers have sworn a solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States above all else. That oath is not conditional. Therefore, I give my word: any city, county or state law, rule or mandate that violates the Second Amendment by unconstitutionally restricting the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms will not be enforced by those who honor their oath. We will not use our resources, time or authority to implement or assist in the enforcement of such measures.”
Also at the Feb. 23 meeting, City Manager Todd Meredith said he and Director of Finance Trish Cox had begun meetings with each city department head that day to continue work on the budget. City council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Monday, Mar. 9 at 7 p.m. at 10 Robertson St., Radford.