The Shadow
After a 5-0 vote by city council Tuesday night, Covington has joined the ranks of a Second Amendment sanctuary city.
Over the last two meetings of council, Alleghany Highlands residents came out in huge numbers to express their feelings on the issue regarding the Second Amendment.
One of the recurring themes of those who spoke last week during the work session and Tuesday night during the regular meeting was that they did not want their Second Amendment rights infringed upon.
Along with that theme, the theory of more guns equaling more crime was also discussed Tuesday.
One of those who touched on both subjects Tuesday night was Robert Floyd, a life-long resident of the Alleghany Highlands who is the co-owner of Common-wealth Arms.
Floyd stated to council at one point of his address, “More guns don’t mean more crime. Folks, it’s not about crime, it never was about crime. It’s about the infringement on your rights.”
Floyd also provided an example to accompany his statement which said that while the Highlands has a high rate of gunmanship, the level of crime is low, while Richmond has a low level of gunmanship, but has one of the highest rates of crime in Virginia.
Following Floyd was Corey Clark, a Clifton Forge resident who is seen by many as one of the leaders regarding the Second Amendment sanctuary city movement in the Highlands.
Clark briefly spoke to council where he expressed that the bills which have been proposed by state government are unconstitutional.
Clark also stated that he hoped that Covington would join Alleghany County and other localities in becoming a sanctuary city.
Another individual who spoke Tuesday was Dave Reynolds, a retired veteran.
Reynolds opened his address by saying Tuesday night’s vote was a first step into finding out where people stood on this issue.
“In the end, they might take my life, but they ain’t gonna take my gun,” Reynolds said.
Later in the portion of the meeting where citizens expressed their concerns to council, Nicole Clemons took a few moments to speak.
Clemons, who is a resident of Covington, said she wanted to speak based on the fact that no female has given their thoughts on this issue.
“A lot of people are talking about hunting, girls hunt too, OK?” Clemons said.
Clemons said that she has a seven-year-old daughter who she hopes to teach all there is about hunting and gun safety.
Clemons also stated that there are a lot of people today who are not good.
“If I want to go somewhere with her, there are a lot of bad people out there in the world. I want to make sure that I can protect myself and her,” Clemons said.
Clemons then talked about the bills that are being proposed and asked council, “Do you really see a lot of the city of Covington, your residents ending up as convicted felons because of the things we have done for many years? Hunting with children, owning certain firearms, owning a large capacity magazine, that requires us to be a felon?”
Clemons continued, “That’s putting us up there with people that are murderers, rapists or people that commit grand larceny. So we’re putting gun owners who have not killed anybody in the category with those people?”
Clemons concluded her address by stating that the government should be for the people and the government needs to listen to the people that put them in those positions.
The following agenda items were approved during Tuesday night’s meeting:
— Second reading of Ordinance O-19-12 regarding changes in filing requirements for tax relief for the elderly and disabled;
— Appropriation Resolution R-19-64 regarding acceptance of DARE?Program donation in the amount of $250;
— Resolution R-19-65 regarding acceptance of Local Emergency Management Performance Grant (LEMP Grant) in the amount of $18,692 with a local match of $9,346 (50/50 matching grant);
— Appropriation Resolution R-19-66 regarding LEMP Grant in the amount of $692 due to increase in grant award.
The following moves were discussed during requests, petitions, communications and appointments:
— Josh Haynes has resigned from the Redevelopment and Housing Authority while filling the unexpired term of Jonathan Batten (term ends March 31, 2020), the appointment of Haynes’ replacement will be made in March for a full four-year term;
— Bob McCallister, who is currently filling the unexpired term of Robin Mieras, would like to continue on the Community Services Board for a full three-year term.
