Gun rights activists from the Virginia Citizens Defense League have taken issue with a sign located at Louisa Town Hall Community Park that reads, “No weapons.”
Philip Van Cleave, president of VCDL, wrote in an email to Louisa Town Manager Tom Filer that the sign posted in front of the playground is not in compliance with Virginia state law.
Van Cleave cites Code section 15.2-915 which states that no local governing body can make rules concerning guns.
The sign in front of the playground at the park, Van Cleave said, is considered an administrative action and therefore illegal.
Van Cleave argues that even if the town were to change the sign to read, “no illegal weapons,” it would still be out of compliance.
“The town certainly supports people’s Second Amendment rights,” Filer said. “We’re just trying to create a safe park.”
While the town isn’t trying to restrict firearms, a concern over illegal weapons still exists.
“What they may have been thinking of is the list of banned concealed weapons,” Van Cleave said.
Virginia state law does ban some concealed weapons in public areas including throwing stars, nun chucks, metal knuckles and blackjacks.
The word “weapons” applies to firearms as well. Even adding the word “illegal” on the sign, the town would still be making regulations that refer to firearms, in contrast to state laws.
“The sign is illegal. That’s the bottom line,” Van Cleave said.
Van Cleave should just leave it alone. Why must everything be an issue? So Louisa County doesn’t want weapons in its parks. Good for them. Maybe there has been a problem in the past. Maybe something has gotten thrown out of court when some kids were misbehaving with what they consider toys.
With Van Cleave on the loose, I am not going to worry about taking MY issue to far. No one is threatening his rights.
