Please Make Plans to Attend This Important Hearing!
The Ranson City Council is considering an ordinance to ban the possession or carrying of concealed firearms on all “public property.”
The City Council tabled the ordinance earlier this month during first reading, but it may come up again at the council’s next meeting on July 1. This move is in blatant violation of West Virginia’s preemption statutes §8-12-5a.
The ordinance was originally tabled based on opposition voiced by Ranson Police Chief William Roper who felt that the language was too vague. Yet, he failed to mention that according to West Virginia law, “neither a municipality nor the governing body of any municipality may limit the right of any person to purchase, possess, transfer, own, carry, transport, sell or store any revolver, pistol, rifle or shotgun or any ammunition or ammunition components to be used therewith nor to so regulate the keeping of gunpowder so as to directly or indirectly prohibit the ownership of the ammunition.”
The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 312 S. Mildred St. It is critical that the council members know that West Virginia’s law-abiding gun owners will not tolerate illegal and unjust attacks on our Second Amendment freedoms. Please make plans to attend this important meeting and make your voice heard during public comment time.
If you are unable to attend, please contact Mayor David Hamill TODAY and respectfully urge him to oppose this violation of state law and this unjust and unwarranted attack on our right to self-defense and Second Amendment freedoms. Mayor Hamill can be reached by phone at (304) 725-1010.
Please also contact the members of the City Council who originally voted for the ordinance and respectfully ask them to reconsider this illegal measure. The City Council members can be contacted by phone at (304) 725-1010.
City Council Members:
City Recorder
Ray A. "Tony" Braithwaite
Ward 1 Council Member
Scott D. Coulter
Ward 2 Council Member
Donnie Haines
Ward 3 Council Member
Kimberly "Kim" Biddle
At Large Council Member
Keith A. "Duke" Pierson
At Large Council Member
Howard Shade