Manassas Park adopts ban on firearms in city buildings with phased penalties, effect set for Jan. 1

The Manassas Park governing body voted Oct. 21 to amend Chapter 26 of the city code to prohibit possession, carrying or transportation of firearms, ammunition and components inside city-owned or city-controlled buildings, the council announced after a roll-call vote that carried the motion. The ordinance includes statutory exemptions for sworn law-enforcement officers, active military acting within their duties, reserve officer training programs and private security contractors hired by the city.

The council added a three-tier enforcement structure for violations. Under the change approved Oct. 21, a first offense would be enforced as a lower-class violation (class 4 fine), a second offense within one year would escalate to a mid-level fine (class 3), and a third or subsequent violation within a one-year period would be treated as a class 1 misdemeanor. Council members also directed that the one-year clock be used to determine whether subsequent incidents escalate to the next tier.

Council members discussed but rejected an explicit exemption for concealed-carry permit holders; after discussion the ordinance as adopted does not include a concealed-carry exemption and applies uniformly to persons carrying firearms in covered buildings except for the enumerated exemptions. City staff explained the exemptions mirror those used by nearby jurisdictions that have adopted similar ordinances.

The ordinance as presented to council carried a delayed effective date; after a discussion about signage timing and an apparent transposition in earlier paperwork, the governing body amended the effective date to take effect Jan. 1 (next calendar year) to allow time for signage and administrative steps. City staff said the change is intended to give staff time to post compliant signage at the handful of city-owned buildings covered by the code change and to update enforcement procedures.

Mayor Alana Mensing and Vice Mayor Moore participated in the debate; Vice Mayor Moore proposed the graduated fine structure and the one-year buffer. City staff advised enforcement would be complaint-driven rather than proactive screening at building entries.

The motion to adopt the Chapter 26 amendment passed and the council directed staff to finalize signage and implementation guidance before the effective date.