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Residents criticize council process after Second Amendment resolution; transparency concerns raised
Summary
Multiple residents told council they were angered that a recent Second Amendment–related item was added to a recent agenda with insufficient public notice; speakers from both sides urged transparency and legal clarity, and a councilor apologized for an earlier incorrect statistic about nationwide sanctuary resolutions.
Several Radford residents used the public‑comment period to criticize council process and to voice opposing views on a recent Second Amendment–related resolution.
Resident Lee Slusher said he was "shamed" and disappointed that the resolution was added to the agenda without what he described as adequate public notice and that three council members had pushed the item forward. Liz Alteri told the council the item should have been placed on the agenda as new business and tabled to allow public comment; she called the resolution symbolic and not enforceable under Virginia law. Resident Aaron Gleason (name spelling varied in the record) said petition and social‑media activity preceded the item and argued the mayor and local party leadership were aware of the issue ahead of time, disputing characterizations that the action was an ambush.
At the same time, Preston Beamer defended gun rights and described local crime concerns as reasons for supporting firearm ownership. Councilor Guy apologized for citing an incorrect statistic at a prior meeting about the percentage of jurisdictions that had adopted Second Amendment resolutions (he corrected his figure to about 46%) and urged residents to consider a separate proposed state constitutional amendment on redistricting according to his view of the commission process.
No formal council action on the subject occurred during the meeting; council members reiterated a preference for placing sensitive items on an agenda with clearer public notice and invited continued civic engagement.
