Fairfax City council delays public hearing on expanded firearms ban after staff, police outline logistics and enforcement limits

Fairfax City officials on Sept. 30 discussed proposed amendments to Chapter 54 of the City Code that would expand the city’s existing ban on firearms inside city buildings and parks to include city-permitted events and adjacent public rights-of-way. The city attorney and police department presented legal limits, enforcement logistics and data, and council voted to schedule a public hearing on the draft ordinance for Oct. 14 and to take action at a later meeting.

The proposed change would add language to the current ordinance to prohibit the “possession, carrying or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or components… at city buildings or facilities, on public property, or at permitted public events,” according to staff presentation materials introduced by City Attorney Brian Lubkerman. Lubkerman told the council that local regulation must stay within the enabling authority granted by the General Assembly and cited the state statutory authority discussed during the original 2021 ordinance presentations.

Why it matters: The amendments would bring Fairfax City’s rules closer to those used by surrounding jurisdictions, including an explicit ban at city-permitted events and a possible increase in penalties for violations. City officials said the revisions are intended to reduce the chance of firearm-related incidents at public gatherings, but they also stressed practical constraints — especially the legal requirement to post clear signage where the prohibition applies and limits on citing violations where notice is lacking.

Staff and police presentation

Brian Lubkerman, the city attorney, summarized the technical structure of the existing ordinance enacted in 2021 and the narrow scope localities have to regulate firearms under state law. He noted the statute that serves as the enabling authority for local restrictions and said the proposed amendments aim to match Fairfax County’s language by inserting a prohibition for city-permitted…