ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The governing body of northern Virginia’s largest city has voted unanimously to ban firearms on all public property.
The Alexandria City Council voted unanimously for the ordinance after a public hearing Saturday.
READ MORE: First Alert Forecast: Severe Thunderstorms May Move Into The Area MondayThe new law takes effect July 1 and bars firearms and ammunition from all city facilities and parks.
The city had a similar ordinance in the 1990s but a state law passed in 2002 barred localities from regulating firearms in their facilities.
That law was overturned by the General Assembly this year.
READ MORE: Van Hollen Suffered Minor Stroke In Western Maryland Over The WeekendAlexandria said it is the first city Virginia to ban firearms under the new law.
Gun-rights activists had occasionally conducted open-carry rallies at City Hall.
A rally organized last week by the Virginia Citizens Defense League in opposition to the proposed law drew more than 200 participants.
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